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Durrani Empire
Empire
Level 2
1747 – 1823
Empire of Ahmad Shah Abdali, victor at the Third Battle of Panipat.
- Capital
- Kandahar, later Kabul
- Region
- Northwest
- Duration
- 76 years
- Main period
- Maratha Empire & Regional Powers
Approximate extent.
Rulers
- Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) Shah1747 – 1772Won the Third Battle of Panipat.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1747 | Ahmad Shah Durrani founds the Durrani Empire | Kandahar |
📚 Recommended reading on the Durrani Empire
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Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
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India and the Contemporary World I & II (Classes 9–10)
Nationalism in Europe and India, the French Revolution and the making of a global world.
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History of Modern India
The old-NCERT modern India classic, from the decline of the Mughals to independence.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Durrani Empire for a significant part of its history.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Dutch Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1658 – 1796
Dutch Malabar (Cochin)
Coastal · 1663 – 1795
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Rohilkhand
Gangetic Plain · 1721 – 1774
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
North · 1722 – 1947
Awadh (Nawabs of Oudh)
Gangetic Plain · 1722 – 1856
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949
Holkar State (Indore)
Central · 1731 – 1948