Ahmad Shah Abdali was the first emperor of the Durrani Empire. He is considered the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan. He was titled as Padishah-i-Ghazi (Victorious Emperor) and Durr-i-Durrani (Pearl of pearls or Pearl of the age). He is reminded as ‘Ahmad Shah Baba’ by the Afghans.
Wiki/Biography
Ahmad Shah Abdali was also known as Ahmed Shah Durrani or Ahmad Shah Abdali Durr-i-Durrani. He was born in the year 1722 (age 50-51 years at the time of death) in Herat (then Hotak Empire, present-day Afghanistan) or Multan (then Mughal Empire, present-day Pakistan). [1]Google Books
Family, Caste & Wife
Ahmad Shah was born in the Sardozei Clan (an Abdali tribe) of Afghans. His fatherâs name is Muhammad Zaman Khan Abdali, who was from Sardozei tribe, and his motherâs name is Zarghuna Begum, who was from Alakozai tribe. Ahmad Shah Abdaliâs father, Mohammad Zaman Khan, was imprisoned by the Persian army and was released in 1715. After being released, Zaman went to Multan to meet his relatives, and as per some sources, Abdali was born in Multan (now a city in Pakistan). He had a brother, Zulfiqar, who became the Governor of Mazandaran, Iran. Abdali got married thrice. Ahmad’s first wife was Mimtta, his second wife was Iffat-un-Nissa Begum, and his third wife was Hazrat Begum, with whom he got married in 1757. One of his children was Timur Shah Durrani, who was born in 1748. Timur was the second child and the eldest son of Ahmad and Mimtta.
Timur Shah
Early Years of Ahmad Shah Abdali
In 1738, Ahmad and his brother, Zulfiqar were freed from the imprisonment of Hussain Hotak, the Ghilji ruler of the Kandahar region, and they both joined the army of Nadar Shah (ruler of Afsharid dynasty, Iran).
Fort Where Abdali and His Brother Zulfikar were Imprisoned
Zulfiqar was appointed as the Governor of Mazandaran while Ahmad Shah worked as the personal attendant of Nadar. Later, Ahmad was promoted as the commander of Abdali cavalry of 4000 soldiers, who later assisted Nader Shah’s military in the invasion of the Mughal Empire in 1738. According to a Pashtun legend, when Nader Shah was in Delhi, he said,
Come forward Ahmad Abdali. Remember Ahmad Khan Abdali, that after me the Kingship will pass on to you.â
Nader Shah
Rise to Power
In 1747, Nader Shah was assassinated by his own guards. The guards planned the murder so secretly that Abdaliâs regiment could not rescue him. One of Ahmad Shahâs wives told him that Nader was killed. Ahmad, along with his army, rushed to save him, but when they reached, their leader, Nader, had already died. The loyal Abdali regiment cried over their leaderâs demise, and they headed back to Kandahar. Before leaving, Ahmad removed the royal seal from Nader Shah’s finger and the Koh-i-Noor diamond tied around the arm of his deceased master. After Nader Shah’s demise, the Durraniâs unanimously accepted Ahmad as their new leader, and thus, Abdali became the sovereign ruler of Afghanistan.
Ahmad Shah Abdali
Invasions of India
After the demise of Nader Shah, Abdali married his widow, Iffat-un-Nissa Begum. He formed his trustworthy army consisting of his fellow Durranis and other Pashtuns, Tajiks, Qizilbash, and other Muslims.
Coronation of Ahmad Shah Abdali
He started his military conquest by capturing Ghazni from the Ghiljis followed by capturing Kabul from the local ruler. He invaded the Punjab region three times from 1747 to 1753. In 1750, he successfully captured Herat (now a city in Afghanistan).
Afghan Empire of 1762
Ahmad Shah invaded India eight times from 1748 to 1767. The main aim of these invasions was to plunder Indiaâs wealth; as India was a wealthy nation. In 1748, he invaded India for the first time and was defeated in the Battle of Manupur. The second invasion was in 1749, in which they successfully took control over the territory to the west of Indus. The third invasion was the Battle of Lahore (1752), in which Ahmad Shah won over Mir Mannu (Mughal governor of Punjab). In the fourth invasion, his army successfully plundered the cities of Lahore, Sirhind, Delhi, Mathura, and Vrindavan.
Mir Mannu
The fifth invasion was one of the most significant eras in the history of India; as it consisted of many battles including- the Battle of Lahore (1759), Second Battle of Sikandarabad (1760), Siege of Kunjpura (1760), Third Battle of Panipat (1761), and Battle of Sialkot (1761). The last three invasions were from the year 1762 to 1767.
Flag of Ahmad Shah Abdali’s Army
The Third Battle of Panipat (1761)
In 1758, the Marathas pushed Timur Shah Durrani, son of Abdali, out of Punjab and Kashmir. Abdali took revenge of this by striking back in 1759 along with his army and reached up to Lahore and Delhi. As per the sources, it is considered as one of the reasons for ‘The Third Battle of Panipat.’ The battle took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat (now Haryana), between the Marathas, led by Sadashivrao Bhau, and the Afghan army, led by Ahmad Shah Abdali. It is considered as one of the most significant battles of the 18th century in India. Abdaliâs army was supported by three Indian allies- the Rohillas Najib-ud-daulah, Afghans of the Doab region, and Shuja-ud-Daula the Nawab of Awadh; as they all were Muslim leaders.
Sadashivrao Bhau
The main Maratha army was stationed in Deccan with the Peshwa. The Marathaâs chief, Sadashivrao Bhau headed towards the north with an army of 1,00,000 men. In one of the initial battles, Abdali forces killed the Maratha warrior, Dattaji Shinde or Dattaji Rao Scindia. This battle was followed by a few more battles which continued for several days.
Dattaji Rao Scindia
Picture Depicting the Third Battle of Panipat
The Marathas pushed back the Rohillas, who were supporting Afghans, but soon, Marathas came in a weaker position. The Afghan forces were in a large number as compared to Marathas, and Afghanâs allies were stronger than that of Marathas. On 14 January 1761, the battle started, initially, Marathas were winning it, but when Afghans killed Vishwasrao (Bhauâs nephew) and Sadashivrao Bhau the war came to an end resulting in the victory of Afghans.
The Aftermath of the Battle
According to the Bakhar (a historical narrative written in Marathi prose) by Shuja-ud-Daula’s Diwan Kashi Raj, about 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered the day after the battle was won by the Afghans. The children & women of Maratha clan were imprisoned by the Afghans. After the battle, Abdali sent a letter to Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao on 10 February 1761, appealing that,
There is no reason to have animosity amongst us. Your son Vishwasrao and your brother Sadashivrao died in battle, was unfortunate. Bhau started the battle, so I had to fight back unwillingly. Yet I feel sorry for his death. Please continue your guardianship of Delhi as before, to that I have no opposition. Only let Punjab until Sutlaj remains with us. Reinstate Shah Alam on Delhi’s throne as you did before and let there be peace and friendship between us, this is my ardent desire. Grant me that desire.â
Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao
Death
Ahmad Shah Abdali had a tumour on his nose which resulted in cancer. After struggling with cancer for a few years, he died in Murghah, Herat Province, Afghanistan in June 1773.
Facts/Trivia
- His body was buried in Kandahar, Afghanistan (known as the Tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani). There is a sacred cloak in the Tomb that Prophet Muhammad wore.
Tomb of Ahmad Shah Abdali
- After Abdali’s death, his empire was succeeded by his son, Timur Shah Durrani.
- The epitaph on his tombstone read:
The King of high rank, Ahmad Shah Durrani,
Was equal to Kisra in managing the affairs of his government.
In his time, from the awe of his glory and greatness,
The lioness nourished the stag with her milk.
From all sides in the ear of his enemies there arrived
A thousand reproofs from the tongue of his dagger.
The date of his departure for the house of mortality
Was the year of the Hijra 1186 (1772Â A.D.)â
- He was a great poet and wrote many poems in his native language ‘Pashto.’ His famous poem was âLove of a Nationâ:
By blood, we are immersed in love of you.
The youth lose their heads for your sake.
I come to you and my heart finds rest.
Away from you, grief clings to my heart like a snake.
I forget the throne of Delhi
when I remember the mountain tops of my beautiful Pakhtunkhwa.â
If I must choose between the world and you,
I shall not hesitate to claim your barren deserts as my own”
- A park is made in Kala Amb, Panipat, Haryana commemorating the âThird Battle of Panipat (1761).â
Memorial of Third Battle of Panipat
- In 2019, a Hindi film on the âThird Battle of Panipatâ was released; titled âPanipat- The Great Betrayal,â in which Sanjay Dutt played the role of âAhmad Shah Abdaliâ and Arjun Kapoor played the role of ‘Sadashivrao Bhau.’
Sanjay Dutt as Ahmad Shah Abdali
References
| ↑1 | Google Books |
|---|
Very useful information regarding Ahmad S Abdali
FEED IS WRONG.HE DIDNT DIE OF TUMAR OR ANY DISEASE. HE WAS CAPTURED AND KILLED BY SIKHS IN A WAR “BABA DEEP SINGH JI” WAS THE ONE WHO KILLED HIM IN WAR.
no baba had died and ahmad shah died cuz of tumor
The Sikh hasnât been born who could stand up against Abdali.
heartbroken the way sadashiv was betrayed and died .So noble,so brave fighting to his last breath . wish he and his beloved parvati bai will have the life they both missed out together in re-birth .
The Marathas also had forces of Pathans from the Malwa region – e.g Kurwai State.
In ‘Waqa-e-Dileri’ – a brief Urdu historical record of the state – it mentions this alliance & the Nawab’s participation in the battle of Panipat:
‘…..Due to the de facto collapse of the Mughal Empire, in all but name, the political contours were changing fast and furiously and confusion abounded. In inverse proportion to the diminution of the Mughal fortunes, the Maratha power was in the ascendancy. The Maratha domination in vast stretches of western and central parts of the Mughal Empire (effectively speaking India) was at its zenith. In the 1740s, Kurwai came under the suzerainty of Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. Under prevailing circumstances, Izzat Khan thought it prudent to strike an understanding with the Maratha confederacy in supporting their policies, and in acceding to their supremacy. The latter became even more necessary as the Maratha confederacy had defeated Nawab Dost Mohammad Khan in a battle that took place at Bhopal. This led to Bhopal along with Kurwai, and its fraternal states to come under the suzerainty of the Marathas, becoming tributaries of theirs.
Consequently, in order to safeguard and preserve the autonomy and integrity of Kurwai, Izzat Khan entered into a solemn alliance with the Maratha confederacy, on an equal and honourable footing, each party pledging to support the other in case of external aggression. This was to have a very far-reaching consequence, this has already alluded to in the very first paragraph. Thus, when Ahmad Shah invaded India, Izzat Khan accompanied the Maratha Peshwa to confront the Afghans. The Kurwai infantry eventually joined the Maratha army as a reinforcing force to face Ahmad Shah at Panipat on 14th January 1761.
As destiny would have it, one of the Ministers and a General in Ahmad Shah Durrani’s army was Nawab Nasrullah Khan, a maternal uncle of Izzat Khan. When he came to know that his nephew, along with his forces, had allied himself with the Marathas to face Ahmed Shah’s forces at Panipat, he wrote to Izzat Khan that it would be an act of suicide to join battle against Ahmed Shah, and sincerely and patronisingly advised his nephew Izzat, to pull his forces out of the confederation, immediately.
Nawab Izzat Khan wrote back to his uncle explaining his inability to comply with the command. He explained that by the terms of the treaty, solemnly executed, he (Izzat Khan) was bound, in good faith, to assist the Peshwa, and despite the odds, he would not contravene any clause of the treaty which required giving armed support to the Marathas, should they ever require it. In Izzat Khanâs opinion, the Hindu Peshwa, had justifiably requisitioned his support as an ally against the Muslim invader, and he (Izzat Khan) could not contemplate an act of treachery by deserting his Maratha allies in time of need. Under the circumstances, he pleaded for his uncleâs forgiveness and expressed his decision to tread the path of suicide in preference to dishonour.’
they were same like now pashtuns in pakistan army ! slaveminded dogs ! and then killed by durrani and sent to hell together with maratha dogs !
Yess you are right, abdali was killed by sikhs and these kind of history paragraphs are biased and try to push back sikh history
very nice definition of abdali
very nice definition
Hindus were as secular as they r foolishly secular now.Sadashiv Rao Bhau,the maratha commander was not able to get support of sikhs,rajputs and jats while an invador could manage local army and support of all muslim grandies of the time.Even shia-shujaudaula was also won over by Abdali in the name of majhab.
This communalism was the main reason behind the victory of durranies in third battle of panipat and this constitute the basic reason of defeat of most of the battles between India and foreign invaders.
Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked dasna village in 1760 and crushed this fort. now located in ghaziabad There is an ancient goddess temple here. During the Revolution of 1857, the British had built a hanging house to hang the patriots here.