Durrani Empire

Durrani Empire was an empire in Afghanistan and the northwest (South Asia) that lasted from 1747 to 1823 CE, about 76 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

Ahmad Shah Durrani, chosen at a tribal jirga after Nader Shah's death, built an empire from Khorasan to Kashmir and Punjab and crushed the Marathas at Panipat in 1761. Dynastic wars and Sikh expansion broke it apart.

See Durrani Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1747 to 1823 CE

Duration

76 years

Type

Empire

Region

Afghanistan and the northwest, South Asia

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Kandahar, later Kabul

Became

• Emirate of Afghanistan 1823 to 1926 CE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 1757 Battle of Plassey
• 1761 Third Battle of Panipat

Neighbours in South Asia

• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE
• Ahom Kingdom 1228 to 1826 CE
• Kingdom of Mysore c. 1399 to 1950 CE
• Kingdom of Kandy 1469 to 1815 CE
• Kingdom of Nepal 1768 to 2008 CE
• Hyderabad State 1724 to 1948 CE
• Maratha Confederacy 1674 to 1818 CE
• Company rule in India 1757 to 1858 CE
• Sikh Empire 1799 to 1849 CE
• Kingdom of Mewar c. 728 to 1949 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America
• New Spain 1521 to 1821 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean

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