Kamran Shah Durrani
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| Kamran Mirza Durrani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ruler of Herat | |
| Tenure | 1826–1842 |
| Predecessor | Mahmud Shah Durrani |
| Successor | Yar Mohammad Khan Alakozai |
| Died | 1842 |
| House | Durrani dynasty |
| Father | Mahmud Shah Durrani |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Kamran Mirza Durrani (Pashto/Persian: کامران میرزا دورانی) was the last Durrani ruler of Herat from 1826 to 1842.[1]
Background and early career
[edit]Kamran Mirza is referred to as "prince" in both the Iranian and Afghan texts, although they use distinct words. He is frequently referred to as "Kamran Mirza" by the 19th-century Iranian historian Mohammad Taqi Sepehr, while 19th-century Afghan sources use the term "Shahzada Kamran". During Kamran Mirza's lifetime, the Mohammadzai dynasty rose to power while Durrani power declined. A lengthy struggle for control of Kabul between Kamran Mirza's father, Mahmud Shah Durrani (r. 1801–1084, 1809–1818), and the latters half-brother, Shah Shujah Durrani (r. 1804–1809), reflected the political changes that were occurring..[1]
Qajar Iran, which had helped Mahmud Shah and Firuz al-Din Mirza Durrani, held onto its weak hold on Herat in despite the intense dynastic struggles within the Durrani family.[2] Uncertainty over Herat's status as an Iranian tributary influenced many developments in the early 19th century.[3] In 1807 and 1814, Firuz al-Din Mirza Durrani, who governed Herat, attempted to rebel against Iran, but was defeated both times. During the second time, he was defeated by Kamran Mirza, who at the time governed Kandahar.[2]
Reign
[edit]In late 1831, the Iranian crown prince Abbas Mirza received the governorship of Khorasan, which amongst other things led to growing hostilities with Kamran Mirza. The latter received an ultimatum from Abbas Mirza at the beginning of 1833 with two options: either have the name of the Iranian shah (king) mentioned on coin engravings and Friday prayers, pay taxes, and release hostages, or relinquish Herat and appear at the Iranian court.[4]
Kamran Mirza responded by offering a "gift" of 15,000 toman in gold coins, cautioning Abbas Mirza to prepare for war if he wanted more.[5] In the summer of 1833, Abbas Mirza sent an army to besiege Herat.[6] Abbas Mirza wanted to capture to Herat to both show his military capabilities and to advance the eastern objectives of the Russian Empire, following diplomatic directives from the court in Tehran. Iran's control of Herat was seen by the Russians as a threat to British India and a challenge to British objectives in Afghanistan. The Iranian army against Herat was led by Abbas Mirza's sons Mohammad Mirza and Khosrow Mirza, as well as his minister Abol-Qasem Qa'em-Maqam.[2]
As a result, Kamran Mirza made an alliance with the British, whose operatives convinced him to oppose a military takeover by Iran. Capturing a portion of Iranian territory in Sistan was something he also considered. Mohammad Mirza was forced to end the siege and return to Tehran after learning of Abbas Mirza's death in Mashhad in November 1833. There, he was crowned the new crown prince.[2] In late November 1833, Mohammad Mirza summoned the vizier of Herat, Yar Muhammad Khan Alakozai, to Mashhad and put him in charge of negotiating a deal with Herat. A treaty was shortly made afterwards, in which Kamran Mirza was required to send one of his sons as a hostage, have the name of the Iranian shah mentioned on coin engravings and Friday prayers, and provide 15,000 toman and 50 rolls of cashmere wool as a "gift".[6]
Even though Herat was officially under Iranian control due to the Iranian shah being mentioned on coin engravings and Friday prayers, the income generated from there had significantly decreased compared to 1817 and was insignificant when compared to the income generated by the provinces that were more well-established in Iran.[6]
Personality
[edit]Some assessments, such as the one by George William Forrest, are positive about Kamran's personality and style of government. However, European and Persian records typically refer to Kamran Mirza's traits as being related to debauchery.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Noelle-Karimi 2010, pp. 439–440.
- ^ a b c d Amanat 2003, pp. 219–224.
- ^ Noelle-Karimi 2014, p. 218.
- ^ Noelle-Karimi 2014, pp. 224, 334.
- ^ Noelle-Karimi 2014, pp. 224–225.
- ^ a b c Noelle-Karimi 2014, p. 225.
Sources
[edit]- Amanat, Abbas (2003). "Herat vi. The Herat question". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume XII/2: Hedāyat al-mota'allemin–Herat VII. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 219–224. ISBN 978-0-933273-75-7.
- Noelle-Karimi, Christine (2010). "Kāmrān b. Shah Maḥmud". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume XV/4: Kafir Kala–Ḵamsa of Jamāli. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 439–440. ISBN 978-1-934283-26-4.
- Noelle-Karimi, Christine (2014). The Pearl in its Midst: Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan (15th-19th Centuries). Wien: Austrian Academy of Sciences. ISBN 978-3700172024.