List of Pashtun Empires and Dynasties.

The following is a list of Pashtun empires and dynasties. It includes; states, princely states, empires and dynasties in the history of Central and South Asia which were founded by Pashtun rulers.

The Pashtuns, alternatively known as ethnic Afghans or Pathans, are an eastern Iranian ethnic group originating from Afghanistan and have an extensive military history in the region.

As a result of migration and military conquests in South Asia, a large number of communities throughout the region claim Pashtun ancestry, especially in areas which were previously ruled by Pashtun dynasties.

A. Empires and Dynasties.

1. Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526), founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi, born in Multan.

2. Sur Empire (1540–1557), founded by Sher Shah Suri, born in Bihar.

3. Hotaki Dynasty (1709–1738), founded by Mir Wais Hotak, born in Kandahar.

4. Durrani Empire (1747–1862), founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, born in Herat or Multan.

1. Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526), founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi, who belonged to the Lodi tribe born in Multan. The Dynasty encompassed much of Pakistan and northern India, with its capital at Delhi. It was the last of the dynasties which ruled during the Delhi Sultanate era.

2. Sur Empire (1540–1557), founded by Sher Shah Suri, a Pashtun military and political figure born in Bihar who belonged to the Sur tribe of Ghilzai confederation.

The Sur Dynasty displaced the Mughals in north India and controlled areas encompassing eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India and up to Bengal, with Delhi as its capital. The Surs were supplanted by the Mughals in 1557 after a seventeen-year rule.

3. Hotaki Dynasty (1709–1738), established by Mir Wais Hotak from Kandahar, who declared independence from the Persian Safavids. Hotak was a tribal chief of the Ghilzai Pashtuns.

The Hotaki Dynasty ruled very briefly over Afghanistan, most of Iran (Persia) and western Pakistan at its peak. The Dynasty lasted until 1738 when it was overthrown by the Afsharids of Persia under Nader Shah.

4. Durrani Empire (1747–1862), a Persianate empire founded by the Pashtun military commander Ahmad Shah Durrani, with its origins in the Durrani Dynasty of Afghanistan. Ahmad Shah belonged to the Durrani tribe (also known as the Abdali).

In 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani united the various Pashtun and Afghan tribes and formed the powerful Durrani Dynasty in Afghanistan. Kandahar in modern Afghanistan served as the empire's first capital.

He rallied the tribes against neighboring powers, pushing towards the Mughals and the Marathas of the Indian subcontinent in the east, the Afsharids of Persia to the west and the Khanate of Bukhara to the north. The rise of the Durrani Dynasty established the Durrani Empire in South–Central Asia.

At its peak, the Durrani Empire encompassed all of Afghanistan, most of Pakistan and parts of northern India (including Kashmir), northeastern Iran and eastern Turkmenistan. In the second half of the 18th century, the Durrani Empire was the second-largest Muslim empire in the world after the Ottoman Empire.

Local Dynasties.

1. Barakzai Dynasty (1826–1973). From the early nineteenth century to early twentieth century, the Barakzais were the royal family of Afghanistan.

2. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001). Founded by Mohammed Omar, the spiritual leader of the Taliban movement.

Dynasties in Punjab.

1. Lodhi Dynasty of Multan (961–1040), founded by Hamid Khan Lodhi after Arab rule.

2. Langah Dynasty (1445–1526), founded by the Langah tribe. The Langah claim to be a tribe of Afghan origin who came to Multan from Sibi. They ruled Multan for eighty years. The Langah Dynasty was terminated by the Arghun Dynasty who captured Multan in 1526. Shortly after, the Arghuns submitted to the Mughal Empire led by Babur, who made conquests in the region at around the same time.

3. Kheshgi Dynasty of Kasur (1525–1807), founded by the Kheshgi tribe. The Kheshgi claim to be a tribe of Afghan origin who came to Kasur The city of Kasur was founded by Kheshgi tribe who had migrated to the region, during the reign of Babur and built several small forts in the area. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Kasur in 1807.

4. Sadozai Dynasty of Multan (1738–1818), founded by Nawab Zahid Khan. He hailed from the Sadozai tribe. In 1738, he was appointed Nawab of Multan when Nadir Shah invaded India. In 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded India and confirmed his appointment. The Sadozai were defeated by Ranjit Singh who attacked Multan and captured it in 1818 and ended its rule.

Dynasties in South Asia.

1. Karrani Dynasty (1564–1576), founded by Taj Khan Karrani. He hailed from the Karrani tribe. He formerly served Sher Shah Suri and had moved to Bengal. The Karrani Dynasty ruled over all of Bengal, as well as Orissa and parts of Bihar. It was the last Dynasty of the Bengal Sultanate. The Karrani were defeated by the Mughals, losing all their territory to the latter by the seventeenth century.

2. Babi Dynasty (1654–1948), founded in 1654 by Muhammed Sher Khanji Babi. He belonged to Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) tribe of Pashtuns. The Babi Dynasty ruled over parts of Gujarat.

Babi's descendants controlled the following princely states:

Junagadh State

Sardargarh Bantva

Bantva Manavadar

Radhanpur State

Balasinor State

3. Rohilla Chieftaincies (1710–1857). Ali Mohammed Khan founded a strong Rohilla state in western U.P. After his death in 1748, RohilKhand split up into several independent Rohilla Chieftaincies. Notable Chiefs were Hafiz Rahmat Khan, Najib ad-Dawlah, Faizullah Khan, and Dundy Khan. In 1772 the total Rohilla armed forces were estimated at 80,000 cavalries and infantry. Rohillas were the main allies of the Durranis in Third Panipat War in 1761. Most of the Rohilla leaders were defeated in Anglo-Rohilla wars. Only Rampur, under Faizullah Khan, survived as a princely state.

4. Kurwai Dynasty (1713–1948), was founded by Muhammad Diler Khan, a Pashtun rising through merit in the Mughal Army. Muhammad Diler Khan belonged to the Firoz Khel clan of the Orakzai tribe from Tirah and was a cousin of Dost Mohammad Khan, the founder of the neighboring Bhopal State. Diler Khan's state consisted of the town of Kurwai and several surrounding villages in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Diler Khan's descendants continued to rule the state until 15 June 1948, when the last ruler acceded to India.

The Princely States.

Several independent princely states founded by Pashtuns existed during the British Raj era. Most of the Pashtun region to the east of the Durand Line was annexed by the British in the twentieth century and created the North-West Frontier Province by cutting the western areas of Punjab in 1901.

The Pashtun tribal agencies along the Durand Line, further west from the North-West Frontier Province, formed a buffer zone between Afghanistan and the North-West Frontier Province of British India.

Following the end of the Raj and the independence of Pakistan and India, the North-West Frontier Province and tribal agencies became part of Pakistan.

The princely states were also given the choice to formally accede to the Dominion of Pakistan or Dominion of India, depending on their geographical location. The princely states were eventually abolished and integrated into the federation.

The Princely States in North-West Frontier.

1. Dir (1626–1969), a small princely state comprising the present-day Upper Dir and Lower Dir districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. The state was founded in the seventeenth century by an Akhun Khel clan of the Malizai sept of Yusufzai tribe, with Dir serving as the capital. Dir Nawab acceded to Pakistan in 1948. In 1969, the state along with the royal house was abolished.

2. Amb (1772–1972), Amb was a princely state of the former British Indian Empire ruled by the Pashtun Tanoli tribe of Ghilji confederation. In 1947 by the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British abandoned their supremacy, and following the Partition of India Amb's Tanoli Nawab decided to give up his state's independence by acceding to the new country of Pakistan. However, Amb continued as a distinct state within Pakistan until 1969, when it was incorporated into the North- West Frontier Province (now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa). In 1972, the royal status of the Nawab was abolished by the Government of Pakistan.

The Princely States of Punjab.

1. Malerkotla State (1657–1948), The Malerkotla state was founded in 1454 A.D. by Sheikh Sadruddin-i-Jahan, a pious man of the Sherwani tribe of the Darban Kalan and Frontier Region of Drazinda. The State of Malerkotla was established in 1657 by Bayazid Khan. Bayazid Khan was granted the privilege to build a fort, which he named Malerkotla and eventually gave its name to the state. On 3 May 1809 Maler Kotla became a British protectorate and was made part of the Cis-Sutlej states until 1862. Many local people attribute this peaceful strain to the presence of the shrine of 'Baba Haidar Sheikh', the Sufi saint, who founded the town of Malerkotla more than 500 years ago.

The Princely States in South Asia.

01. Palanpur State (1370–1948), Palanpur state was founded in 1370 by Malek Khurram Khan and was ruled by the Jhalore Dynasty, of the Lohani tribe a forbearer of the family is reputed to have wedded the foster-sister of the Mughal emperor Akbar and received Palanpur and surrounding areas as dowry.

02. Savanur State (1672–1948), Savanur State was founded in 1672 when Abdul Karim Khan, a Pathan of the Miyana or Miani tribe, in the service of the Sultanate of Bijapur, was granted the Jagir of Sarkar Bankapur near Bijapur in 1672. His successors ruled over extensive territories almost independently for over a century. However, Savanur was located between the increasing power of the Marathas and the equally powerful Nizam of Hyderabad, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, of Kinkdom of Mysore which gradually eroded away Savanur’s territory. By the second half of the eighteenth century, more than half of Savanur had been ceded to the Marathas. By the end of the century, Tipu Sultan had annexed the remainder. The occupation by the Kingdom of Mysore (Mahisur) had begun on 29 Oct 1786 and lasted until 17 December 1791.The name Savanur is said to be the corruption of the Persian/Urdu word Shahnoor, which means 'King of Light'.

03. Bhopal State (1707–1949), a princely state existing from 1707–1949, although its origins date back to 1707 when the Bhopal State was established by Dost Mohammad Khan, a Pashtun soldier in the Mughal Army who belonged to the Mirazi Khel clan of the Orakzai tribe from Tirah (located in the present-day tribal areas of northwest Pakistan). The state came under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad shortly after its foundation in 1723 and then came under the Marathas in 1737 after their victory in the Battle of Bhopal. It became a princely state in 1818, following the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War. Islamnagar served as the first capital, followed by Bhopal (in present-day Madhya Pradesh). The city of Islamnagar and Bhopal was founded by Dost Mohammad Khan in 1716 and early 1720s. It was the second largest Muslim princely state in pre-independence India, after Hyderabad State. In 1949, the state acceded to the Dominion of India.

04. Kurwai State (1713–1948), founded by Muhammad Diler Khan, a Pashtun rising through merit in the Mughal Army. Muhammad Diler Khan belonged to the Firoz Khel clan of the Orakzai tribe, Diler Khan's state consisted of the town of Kurwai and several surrounding villages in present-day Madhya Pradesh. The town of Kurwai was founded by Mohammed Diler Khan in 1715.

05. Junagadh State (1730–1948), 1st Nawab, Muhammad Sher Khan Babi, a Pathan belonging to the family of last deputy Governor of Gujarat province in Mughal Empire. Muhammad Sher Khan Babi belonged to the Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) of Pashtuns, its headquarters were at Junagadh in present-day Gujarat.

06. Sardargarh Bantva (1733–1948), 1st Nawab, Khan Shri SherzamanKhanji Babi, a Pathan belonging to the family of last deputy Governor of Gujarat province in Mughal Empire. Khan Shri Sher Zaman Khanji Babi belonged to the Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) tribe of Pashtuns, its headquarters were at Bantva in present-day Gujarat.

07. Bantva Manavadar (1733–1947), 1st Nawab, Diler Khan Salabat Muhammed Khan Babi, a Pathan belonging to the family of last deputy Governor of Gujarat province in Mughal Empire. Dilawer Khan Salabat Muhammed Khan Babi belonged to the Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) of Pashtuns. Its headquarters were at Manavadar in present-day Gujarat.

08. Radhanpur State (1753–1948), [Jawan Mard Khan Babi II], 1st Nawab, a Pathan belonging to the family of last deputy Governor of Gujarat province in Mughal Empire. Nawab Khan Jahan Babi belonged to the Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) of Pashtuns, its headquarters were at Radhanpur in present-day Gujarat.

09. Basoda State (1753–1947), established by Muhammad Ahsanullah Khan son of Muhammad Diler Khan founder of Kurwai State belonged to the Firoz Khel clan of the Orakzai tribe, its headquarters were at Ganj Basoda in present-day Madhya Pradesh.

10. Balasinor State (1758–1948), 1st Nawab, Sardar Muhammed Khan Babi, a Pathan belonging to the family of last deputy Governor of Gujarat province in Mughal Empire. Sardar Muhammed Khan Babi belonged to the Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) tribe of Pashtuns, its headquarters were at Balasinor in present-day Gujarat.

11. Rampur State (1774–1949), The Rohilla State of Rampur was established by Nawab Faizullah Khan on 7 October 1774 in the presence of British Commander Colonel Champion and remained a pliant state under British protection thereafter. Nawab Faizullah Khan founded the city of Rampur and proposed to rename the city 'Faizabad' but many other places were known by the name Faizabad so its name was changed to Mustafabad alias Rampur. Nawab Faizullah Khan ruled for 20 years. He was a great patron of scholarship and began the collection of Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Urdu manuscripts which now make up the bulk of the Rampur Raza Library

12. Pataudi State (1804–1947), established in 1804 by Nawab Faiz Talab Khan of Barech tribe during the rule of the British East India Company and capital as Pataudi.

13. Tonk State (1806-1949), The founder of the state was Muhammad Amir Khan an adventurer and military leader of Pashtun descent and belonged to the Salarzai subtribe of the Tarkani tribe and a Rohilla. In 1817, upon submitting to the British East India Company, he kept his territory of Tonk and received the title of Nawab. While retaining internal autonomy and remaining outside British India, the state consisted of six isolated districts. Four of these were under the Rajasthan province, namely, Tonk, Chhabra, Pirawa and Nimbahera. The other two, Aligarh (formerly Rampura and Sironj were in Madhya Pradesh province.

14. Dujana State (1806–1948), established in 1806 by Nawab Abdus Samad Khan of Yusufzai tribe during the rule of the British East India Company and situated in Jhajjar district.

15. Jaora State (1808–1948), founded by Abdul Ghafur Muhammad Khan, a Pashtun cavalry officer and a Rohilla serving Muhammad Amir Khan, the Pashtun founder of the princely state of Tonk. Abdul Ghafur Muhammad Khan also served the Holkar ruler, annexing Rajput territories in northern Malwa. For his services, he was designated the title of a Nawab. His state existed in modern Madhya Pradesh, comprising the tehsils of Jaora, Barauda, Tal, and Barkhera, along with the dependencies of Piploda and Panth-Piploda.

16. Mohammadgarh State (1818–1947), established by Muhammad Khan son of Muhammad Ahsanullah Khan founder of Basoda State belonged to the Firoz Khel clan of the Orakzai tribe, its headquarters were at Muhammadgarh in present-day Madhya Pradesh. The town of Muhammadgarh was founded by Muhammed Khan and named by his name.

Princely Taluqdars, Jagirdars, Petty Nawabs.

1. Nanpara Taluqdari (1632–1947), The Nanpara principality was founded by a Rasul Khan Kakar a Pathan, he was appointed keeper of the fort at Bahraich in 1632 by Emperor Shah Jehan in Bahraich District. He was also granted five villages as Jagir, and these five villages formed the core of what was to become the Nanpara Taluqdari. His descendant, Karam Khan taking advantage of the collapse of Mughal authority in the early 18th Century, extended his rule over pretty much the entire district. The Nanpara Taluqdari was one of the Taluqdars (feudatory states) in British India of Oudh. The title of "Raja" was conferred on the Nanpara House in 1763 by the Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, the King of Oudh and has then recognized by British. Withholding of 439 villages it was the largest Muslim Taluqdars (landowners) in British India.

2. Mamdot Nawabi (1800–1947), Qutubuddin Khan, a Kheshgi Hasanzai and Chief of Kasur 1794/1807, Nawab of Mamdot 1800/1831 in Ferozepur district in Indian Punjab; he conquered Mamdot from the Rai of Raikot in 1800, but lost control of Kasur in 1807. Jalalabad, Firozpur was founded by Nawab of Mamdot as its capital. It has been named after Nawab Jalaluddin Khan Mamdot s/o Qutubuddin Khan. Mamdot Nawabi was the largest Muslim Nawabi of the Punjab chiefs.