First Herat War
The First Herat War (Persian: جنگ اول هرات, romanized: Jang-e Avval-e Herāt, 1837–1838) was an attack on the Principality of Herat by Qajar Iran during the Great Game. Herat was held by Kamran Shah and his vizier Yar Mohammad Khan Alakozai. The Shah of Persia was Mohammed Shah Qajar. Four Europeans were involved: the British, Sir John McNeill and Eldred Pottinger as well as the Russians, Count Simonich and Yan Vitkevich. Sher Mohammad Khan Hazara, an ally of Kamran and chieftain of the Qala-e Naw Hazaras, helped form a Sunni confederacy of Aimaq, Turkman, and Uzbek tribes and played a crucial role in defending Herat when the city was besieged. The siege ended when neither side gained a clear advantage, the British threatened to take military action and the Russians withdrew their support.
First Herat War | |||||||
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Part of The Great Game | |||||||
A Qajar lacquer book cover depicting preparations for the Siege of Herat. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Emirate of Herat Supported by: British Empire Aimaq tribesmen Maimana Khanate Andkhui Khanate Sheberghan Khanate Sar-i Pul Khanate Bukhara Emirate Khiva Khanate |
Persia Supported by: Russian Empire Principality of Qandahar | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Yar Mohammad Khan Alakozai |
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Strength | |||||||
~ 45,000 total troops
Ships:
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40,000 total troops
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Location within Afghanistan |