deserted by a large body of Iris troops, and after his
signal defeat Abdurrahman released his father, Afzul
Khan, from prison in Ghazni, and installed him upon the
throne as Amir of Afghanistan. Notwithstanding the new
Amir’s incapacity, and some jealousy between the real
leaders, Abdurrahman and his uncle, they again routed
Sher Ali’s forces, and occupied Kandahar in 1867; and
when at the end of that year Afzul Khan died, Azim
Khan succeeded to the rulership, with Abdurrahman as
his governor in the northern province. But towards the
end of 1868 Sher Ali’s return, and a general rising in his
favour, resulting in their defeat at Tinah Khan on January
3, 1869, forced them both to seek refuge in Persia, whence
Abdurrahman proceeded afterwards to place himself under
Russian protection at Samarkhand. Azim died in Persia
in October 1869.
This brief account of the conspicuous part taken by Abdurrahman in an eventful war, at the beginning of which he was not more than twenty years old, has been given to show the rough school that brought out his qualities of resource and fortitude, and the political capacity needed for rulership in Afghanistan. He lived in exile for eleven years, until on the death, in 1879, of Sher Ali, who had retired from Kabul when the British armies entered Afghanistan, the Russian Governor-General at Tashkend sent for Abdurrahman, and pressed him to try his fortunes once more across the Oxus. In March 1880 a report reached India that he was in northern Afghanistan; and the Governor-General, Lord Lytton, opened communications with him to the effect that the British Government were prepared to withdraw their troops, and to recognize Abdurrahman as Amir of Afghanistan, with the exception of Kandahar and some districts adjacent. After some negotiations, an interview took place between him and Mr (afterwards Sir) Lepel Griffin, the diplomatic representative at Kabul of the Indian Government, who described Abdurrahman as a man of middle height, with an exceedingly intelligent face, and frank and courteous manners, shrewd and able in conversation on the business in hand. At the durbar on 22nd July 1880, Abdurrahman was officially recognized as Amir, granted assistance in arms and money, and promised, in case of unprovoked foreign aggression, such further aid as might be necessary to repel it, provided that he followed British advice in regard to his external relations. The evacuation of Afghanistan was settled on the terms proposed, and in 1881 the British troops also made over Kandahar to the new Amir; but Ayub Khan, one of Sher Ali’s sons, marched mpon that city from Herat, defeated Abdurrahman’s troops, and occupied the place in July. This serious reverse roused the Amir, who had not at first displayed much activity. He led a force from Kabul, met Ayub’s army close to Kandahar, and the complete victory which he there won forced Ayub Khan to fly into Persia. From that time Abdurrahman was fairly seated on the throne at Kabul, and in the course of the next few years he consolidated his dominion over all Afghanistan, suppressing insurrections by a sharp and relentless use of his despotic authority. Against the severity of his measures the powerful Ghilzaie tribe revolted, and were crushed by the end of 1887. In that year Ayub Khan made a fruitless inroad from Persia; and in 1888 the Amir’s cousin, Ishak Khan, rebelled against him in the north; but these two enterprises came to nothing. In 1885, at the moment when (see Afghanistan) the Amir was in conference with the British Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, in India, the news came of a collision between Russian and Afghan troops at Panjdeh, over a disputed point in the demarcation of the north-western frontier of Afghanistan. Abdurrahman’s attitude at this critical juncture is a good example of his political sagacity. To one who had been a man of war from his youth up, who had won and lost many fights, the rout of a detachment and the forcible seizure of some debateable frontier lands was an untoward incident; but it was no sufficient reason for calling upon the British, although they had guaranteed his territory’s integrity, to vindicate his rights by hostilities which would certainly bring upon him a Russian invasion from the north, and would compel his British allies to throw an army into Afghanistan fromt the south-east. His interest lay in keeping powerful neighbours, whether friends or foes, outside his kingdom. He knew this to be the only policy that would be supported by the Afghan nation; and although for some time a rupture with Russia seemed imminent, while the Indian Government made ready for that contingency, the Amir’s reserved and circumspect tone in the consultations with him helped to turn the balance between peace and war, and substantially conduced towards a pacific solution. Abdurrahman left on those who met him in India the impression of a clear-headed man of action, with great self-reliance and hardihood, not without indications of the implacable severity that has too often marked his administration. His investment with the insignia of the highest grade of the Order of the Star of India appeared to give him much pleasure.
From the end of 1888 the Amir passed eighteen months in his northern provinces bordering upon the Oxus, where he was engaged in pacifying the country that had been disturbed by revolts, and in punishing with a heavy hand all who were known or suspected to have taken any part in rebellion. Shortly afterwards (1892) he succeeded in finally beating down the resistance of the Hazara tribe, who vainly attempted to defend their immemorial independence, within their highlands, of the central authority at Kabul.
In 1893 Sir Henry Durand was deputed to Kabul by the Government of India for the purpose of settling an exchange of territory required by the demarcation of the boundary between north-eastern Afghanistan and the Russian possessions, and in order to discuss with 'the Amir other pending questions. The Amir showed his usual ability in diplomatic argument, his tenacity where his own views or claims were in debate, with a sure underlying insight into the real situation. The territorial exchanges were amicably agreed upon; the relations between the Indian and Afghan Governments, as previously arranged, were confirmed; and an understanding was reached upon the important and difficult subject of the border line of Afghanistan on the east, towards India. In 1895 the Amir found himself unable, by reason of illhealth, to accept an invitation from Queen Victoria to visit England ; but his second son Nasrulla Khan went in his stead.
Abdurrahman died on the 1st October 1901, being succeeded by his son Habibulla. He had defeated all enterprises by rivals against his throne; he had broken down the power of local chiefs, and tamed the refractory tribes; so that his orders were irresistible throughout the whole dominion. His government was a military despotism resting upon a well-appointed army; it was administered through officials absolutely subservient to an inflexible will, and controlled by a widespread system of espionage while the exercise of his personal authority was too often stained by acts of unnecessary cruelty. He held open courts for the receipt of petitioners and the dispensation of justice; and in the disposal of business he was indefatigable. He succeeded in imposing an organized government upon the fiercest and most unruly population in Asia; he availed himself of European inventions for strengthening his armament, while he sternly set
