Abd Al-Rahman (1844 - 1901)

Also known as Abdur Rahman Khan, Abd Al-Rahman was the amir (king) of Afghanistan under whom the country's current borders were established.   He was the son of Afzul Khan, and his grandfather, Dost Moahomed Khan, had founded the ruling dynasty.   When his grandfather passed over his two eldest sons and instead named Afzul's younger brother Shere Ali as his successor, civil war broke out in 1863.   Abdur fought alongside his father in the five year conflict, distinguishing himself on the battlefield.   After they seized the throne in 1866, Abdur ruled as a governor until a counter-revolt in 1869 by Shere Ali forced Abdur and his uncle (his father had died the year before) to flee to Persia.   From there Abdur fled to Samarkand in Turkestan and placed himself under Russian protection. Shere Ali died in 1879, at a time when British troops had moved in to occupy Afghanistan.  The Russians convinced Abdur to attempt to retake the Afghan throne.   He returned to Afghanistan in 1880 and the following year a withdrawal of British troops and an alliance between the British and Abdur were negotiated.   Despite insurrections by Shere Ali's son and one of Abdur's cousins, and periodic rebellions by some of the Afghan tribes, his position on the throne remained secure. In 1893 and 1895, negotiations were made which finalized Afghanistan's borders with Russia and India.   In 1895, Abdur was invited to come to England by Queen Victoria, but ill health forced him to send his son in his stead.   The Afghan amir died in 1901.   He is remembered to this for his diplomatic brilliance in keeping his country free from the European imperialism which had enveloped so much of the rest of Asia.   Every western diplomat that spoke with him remarked on his intelligence and his perfect manners and hospitality.   He is also noted for his devotion to Islam, adopting the title "Light of the Nation and the Faith."   His autocratic yet just rule is in sharp contrast to the Taliban regime which until recently ruled his homeland. Links: Chronology of Afghan History ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN, amir of Afghanistan KeywordTitleAuthor