Abdurrahman (Abder-Rahman Khan)

(ca. 1844-1901)

Born c.. 1844 in Kabul. The son of Afzal Khan and the grandson of Dost Muhammad, the founder of the dynasty. Shortly before his death in 1863, Dost Muhammad appointed heir of his third son, Sher Ali. Against him was made by Afzal Khan, which led to civil war. Rahman took part in them actively involved, but after five years of hostilities had been forced to flee to Samarkand (1868).

The coming to power of Abd al-Rahman was linked with 2-second Anglo-Afghan War of 1879, shortly after which the victorious British recognized the Emir Abd al-Rahman Kabul. See. AFGHANISTAN. In 1881 he extended his power to Kandahar and Herat, and the end of the decade won Hazarajat, Afghan Turkestan and Kafiristan. Rahman has created a strong army, has introduced an effective system of tax collection and centralized bureaucratic control. Despite the fact that the British side demanded control over foreign affairs of Afghanistan, Amir pursued an independent foreign policy. Rahman died in Kabul on Oct. 1, 1901. Abdurrahman's successor was his son Habibullah.