Sher Ali Khan

Sher Ali Khan (Pashto: شېر علي خان‎)(c. 1825 – February 21, 1879) was Amir of Afghanistan from 1863 to 1866 and from 1868 until his death in 1879. He was one of the sons of Dost Mohammed Khan,[2] founder of the Barakzai Dynasty in Afghanistan.

"Shir Ali Khan" redirects here. For the village in Iran, see Shir Ali Khan, Iran. For the Khan of Kokand, see Shir Ali Khan (Kokand).

Sher Ali Khan
Emir of Afghanistan
Amir Sher Ali Khan in 1869
Emir of Afghanistan
Reign	9 June 1863 – 21 February 1879
Predecessor	Dost Mohammad Khan
Successor	Mohammad Yaqub Khan
Born	1825 Kabul, Afghanistan
Died	21 February 1879 (age 53 or 54) Kabul, Afghanistan
Burial	Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
Full name Sher Ali Khan Barakzai
Dynasty	Barakzai dynasty
Father	Dost Mohammed Khan
Mother	Bibi Khadija Begum[1]
Religion	Sunni Islam

Sher Ali Khan initially seized power when his father died, but was quickly ousted by his older brother, Mohammad Afzal Khan. Internecine warfare followed until Sher Ali defeated his brother and regained the title of Emir. His rule was hindered by pressure from both Britain and Russia, though Sher Ali attempted to keep Afghanistan neutral during their conflict. In 1878, the neutrality fell apart and the Second Anglo-Afghan War erupted. As British forces marched on Kabul, Sher Ali Khan decided to leave Kabul to seek political asylum in Russia. He died in Mazar-e Sharif, leaving the throne to his son Mohammad Yaqub Khan.

Sher Ali was closely affiliated to the modern-day region of the Pothohar Plateau in Pakistan. He married off one of his daughters to a prominent tribal chief of the Gakhars, Khan Bahadur Raja Jahandad Khan. After independence, the Gakhars tribe became part of Pakistan.

Sher Ali Khan

See also

• List of leaders of Afghanistan
• The Great Game

References

1. Vogelsang, Willem (2002). "16-War with Britain". The Afghans. LONDON: Willey-Blackwell, John Willey & SOns, Ltd, UK. p. 257. ISBN 978-1-4051-8243-0.
2. Dupree, Louis (1997). Afghanistan (2nd ed.). Oxford Pakistan Paperbacks. p. 403. ISBN 978-0-19-577634-8.

External links

• Profile: Amir Sher Ali Khan

Regnal titles
Preceded by Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai dynasty Emir of Afghanistan 9 June 1863 – 1866	Succeeded by Mohammad Afzal Khan
Preceded by Mohammad Azam Khan	Barakzai dynasty Emir of Afghanistan 7 October 1868 – 21 February 1879	Succeeded by Mohammad Yaqub Khan