Herat (1793–1863)
The Principality of Herat (Persian: شاهزادهنشین هرات), the Emirate of Herat (Persian: امارت هرات), the Herat Khanate (Persian: خاننشین هرات) or simply Herat (Persian: هرات) was a state in Afghanistan from 1793 to 1863, and one of the 3 main khanates in 19th century Afghanistan (the others being the Khanates of Kabul and Qandahar).
Principality of Herat شاهزادهنشین هرات | |||||||||
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| 1793–1863 | |||||||||
First is the flag of Herat from 1818 until 1842, the second is the flag of Herat in 1856, when Mohammad Yusuf and 'Isa Khan declared Herat a vassal of Britain and hoisted the British flag | |||||||||
Map of Herat at its height in 1848 | |||||||||
| Capital | Herat | ||||||||
| Languages | Persian (primary), Pashto, Turkmen, Balochi | ||||||||
| Ethnic groups | Durrani Pashtuns, Ghilzai Pashtuns, Farsiwan, Qizilbash, Aimaq, Tajiks, Hazaras, Jews, Hindus, Baloch, Sistanis, Turkmen, Uzbeks, Armenians | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam, Shia Islam with Judaism and Hinduism as a minority | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Herati | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Emir | |||||||||
• 1793–1797 (first) | Mahmud Shah Durrani | ||||||||
• March 1863–May 1863 (last) | Shah Navaz Khan | ||||||||
| Establishment | 1793, independent state established | ||||||||
| Historical era | 19th century | ||||||||
• Tributary to Iran | 1804 | ||||||||
• Independent state | 1818 | ||||||||
• Dependent on Iran | 1856 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1863 | ||||||||
• Established | 1793 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1863 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Iran Afghanistan Turkmenistan | ||||||||
In 1793, Timur Shah Durrani died and Mahmud Shah took control of Herat, becoming independent. In 1801, the principality was revived by Firuz al-Din Mirza. Herat was prosperous under his reign in spite of multiple Iranian invasions. In 1818, Mahmud and later Kamran Shah took over, attempting to keep the region stable as a buffer between the Barakzais and Qajars. However, the region was devastated by constant infighting and Iranian invasions.
The Iranian invasion of 1837 weakened the principality, eventually allowing Yar Mohammad Khan Alakozai to overthrow the last ruler, Kamran Shah Durrani, in 1842, and expand the principality's borders towards the Chahar Wilayat, Aimaq territory, and Lash-Joveyn. With his death in 1851 the principality began to decline due to a series of incompetent rulers as well as a civil war and an Iranian invasion in 1856.
The weakening of the principality allowed the Barakzais to intervene and besiege Herat. Ultimately they were able to capture the city on May 27, 1863, ending Herat's existence as an independent state.