Habibullah Khan (Kabul)
| Habibullah Khan I حبيب الله خان اول | |
|---|---|
| Sardar[a] | |
 Miniature portrait of Habibullah Khan c. 1823 | |
| Sardar of Kabul | |
| Reign | 1823 – August 1824 |
| Predecessor | Office established (Ayub Shah Durrani as King of the Durrani Empire) |
| Successor | Yar Mohammad Khan |
| Born | c. 1799 Kandahar, Durrani Empire |
| Died | Kabul, Principality of Kabul |
| Dynasty | Barakzai |
| Father | Mohammad Azim Khan |
| Mother | a Popalzai lady |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Habibullah Khan Barakzai[b] (born 1799) was the founder and the first Sardar of the Principality of Kabul who ruled from 1823 until his deposition in 1824.[1]
Early life
Habibullah Khan was born in Kandahar in 1799[c] into the Mohammadzai branch of the Barakzai Pashtuns to his father Mohammad Azim Khan and to a Popalzai mother.
Rise to power
Habibullah Khan's father Mohammad Azim Khan was the de facto head of state of Afghanistan from 1818 to 1823, while Ayub Shah Durrani ruled by name. With the Barakzais having power over the Afghan army, treasury and administration, their Durrani puppets would remain heads of state to represent the old Durrani legitimacy of Ahmad Shah Durrani's lineage.[3]
Following his father's succumb to cholera, Habibullah Khan succeeded his position. Ayub Shah lost popularity among the Barakzais and was in a helpless position, which allowed Habibullah to plot against the de jure ruling Durranis, and called the Kandahar Sardars for assistance.
Pur Dil Khan seized the Bala Hissar while the Barakzais led by him looted the palace, leaving Ayub Shah's son Ismail Mirza Durrani killed in the process. Ayub Shah was publicly humiliated by being paraded on a donkey, ransomed, and exiled to India. The Durranis were left helpless for they had no army, nor did they have coherent tribal support nor any ability to enforce authority.[4] Habibullah Khan then founded the Principality of Kabul and assumed the title of Sardar, without any Durrani head of state.[1]
Wanting to curb Dost Mohammad Khan's growing influence, Habibullah Khan sought assistance from the Kandahar Sardars again, but this resulted in another interregnum, and led to him being deposed and imprisoned by Sher Dil Khan.[5][6]
References
Notes
Citations
- 1 2 Lee 2018, p. 187.
- ↑ Alder 1985, p. 321.
- ↑ Sykes 1940, pp. 392–393.
- ↑ Lee 2018, p. 185.
- ↑ Alder 1985, pp. 320–321.
- ↑ Reshtia 1990, pp. 70–78.
Sources
- Lee, Jonathan L. (2018). Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present. Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781789140194.
- Alder, Garry (1985). Beyond Bokhara: The Life of William Moorcroft, Asian Explorer and Pioneer Veterinary Surgeon, 1767–1825. Low Price Publications.
- Reshtia, Sayyed (1990). Between Two Giants: Political History of Afghanistan in the Nineteen Century. Afghan Jehad Works Translation Centre.