Showing revision 1AHMAD SHAH (1724-1773), founder of the Durani dynasty in
Afghanistan, was the son of Sammaun-Khan, hereditary chief of
the Abdali tribe. While still a boy Ahmad fell into the hands
of the hostile tribe of Ghilzais, by whom he was kept prisoner at
Kandahar. In March 1738 he was rescued by Nadir Shah, who
soon afterwards gave him the command of a body of cavalry
composed chiefly of Abdalis. On the assassination of Nadir in
1747, Ahmad, having failed in an attempt to seize the Persian
treasures, retreated to Afghanistan, where he easily persuaded
the native tribes to assert their independence and accept him
as their sovereign. He was crowned at Kandahar in October 1747,
and about the same time he changed the name of his tribe to
Durani. Two things may be said to have contributed greatly
to the consolidation of his power. He interfered as little
as possible with the independence of the different tribes,
demanding from each only its due proportion of tribute and
military service