Amanullah Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amanullah Khan |
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| King of Afghanistan Ghazi |
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| King of Afghanistan | |
| Reign | 9 June 1926 – 14 January 1929 |
| Predecessor | Himself (as Emir) |
| Successor | Inayatullah Khan |
| Emir of Afghanistan | |
| Reign | 28 February 1919 – 9 June 1926 |
| Predecessor | Nasrullah Khan |
| Successor | Himself (as King) |
| Born | 1 June 1892 Paghman, Principality of Afghanistan |
| Died | 25 April 1960 (aged 67) |
| Burial | Jalalabad, Afghanistan |
| Spouse | Soraya Tarzi |
| Issue |
See
Princess Ameenah Shah
Princess Abedah Bibi Princess Meliha Crown Prince Rahmatullah of Afghanistan Prince Saifullah Prince Hymayatullah Princess Adeela Prince Ehsanullah Princess India Princess Nagia |
| House | Barakzai |
| Father | Prince Habibullah I, Prince of Afghanistan |
| Mother | Sarwar Sultana Begum |
Ghazi Amanullah Khan (born June 1, 1892 – died April 25, 1960) was a very important leader in Afghanistan. He was the ruler of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929. He started as an Emir (a type of prince or ruler) and later became King in 1926.
After a war called the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, Afghanistan became fully independent. This meant it could make its own decisions about how to deal with other countries, without the United Kingdom telling it what to do. Amanullah Khan wanted to make Afghanistan more modern, like countries in the West. He tried to bring many changes to the country. However, his plans faced problems, and he had to leave his throne in 1929. He went to British India and then to Europe, where he lived for 30 years. He died in 1960, and his body was brought back to Afghanistan to be buried in Jalalabad.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming King
Amanullah Khan was born on June 1, 1892, in Paghman, a place near Kabul, Afghanistan. He was the third son of the ruler, Emir Habibullah Khan. Amanullah was put in charge of the Kabul area and also controlled the army and the country's money. Many tribal leaders supported him.
In February 1919, his father, Emir Habibullah Khan, was killed during a hunting trip. After his father's death, Amanullah quickly took control of the money in Kabul. He then became the new leader, even though his uncle, Nasrullah Khan, was supposed to take over. Nasrullah Khan did not want a fight, so he agreed to let Amanullah become Emir.
On February 28, 1919, Amanullah declared himself Emir. Later, he had Nasrullah Khan arrested. In April 1919, Amanullah held a special meeting called a Durbar. At this meeting, a military officer was found guilty of killing Habibullah and was executed. Nasrullah Khan was also found guilty, but on false evidence. He was put in prison and later killed about a year later.
Around this time, Russia had a big change with its Communist revolution. Amanullah Khan saw this as a chance for Afghanistan to become truly independent from British influence. He started a surprise attack against the British in India in May 1919. This began the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The war ended with an agreement, and Afghanistan gained full control over its own foreign affairs.
Making New Rules and Changes
Amanullah Khan wanted to modernize Afghanistan. He worked with his father-in-law, Mahmud Tarzi, to create a new constitution. This constitution was the first for Afghanistan. It gave equal rights and freedoms to all people. It was approved by many tribal elders and government officials in 1922.
Improving the Economy
Amanullah Khan also worked on improving Afghanistan's economy. He wanted the country to sell more goods to other countries and buy fewer goods from them. He also aimed to build more industries within Afghanistan. These changes helped the country's economy grow after it became independent.
Schools and Learning
Amanullah was very popular at first, and he used his popularity to modernize the country. He opened many new schools for both boys and girls. He also changed old traditions, like strict dress codes for women. Over 320 schools were started across Afghanistan. At first, teachers from India taught there, but later, French teachers came. Going to primary school became a must, and special classes were made to help people learn to read. Amanullah Khan even taught some classes himself.
Even though Dari was the main language, Amanullah Khan also promoted the Pashto language. He wanted Pashto to be an important part of Afghan identity. By the 1930s, there was a big effort to make Pashto the official language of the Afghan government. It was officially declared an official language in 1936.
Changes in Culture
Amanullah's wife, Queen Soraya Tarzi, was very important in his plans for women's rights. However, these quick changes caused some people to rebel. One big uprising was called the Khost rebellion in 1924–1925, but it was stopped.
Amanullah Khan's changes faced problems for many reasons. One reason was that some people in power did not like the new ideas. Also, other countries like the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom were trying to gain influence in Afghanistan. This was known as the Great Game. Amanullah tried to balance these influences. He even got some planes from the Soviet Union to start a small Afghan Air Force.
Visiting Europe
In late 1927, Amanullah Khan and his wife, Queen Soraya, traveled to Europe. They started their trip from Karachi. Along the way, they met with King Fuad of Egypt in Cairo.
They visited many European countries very quickly. In Italy, they met with King Victor-Emanuel III and his Prime Minister, Benito Mussolini. They also met Pope Pius XI in the Vatican City. In France, they met with President Doumergue. They also visited Belgium, meeting with King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. Next, they went to Germany and met with President Paul von Hindenburg.
They then traveled to Great Britain as guests of King George V and Queen Mary. After leaving England, they went to Poland. In Poland, they met with Polish ministers and President Ignacy Mościcki. They also met with Józef Piłsudski, a very important Polish leader. After their visit to Poland, they traveled towards the Soviet Union.
Civil War and Leaving Afghanistan
While Amanullah was visiting Europe, people in Afghanistan became more and more unhappy with his rule. An uprising started in Jalalabad, and many soldiers left the army instead of fighting.
In January 1929, Amanullah gave up his throne and went to British India for a short time. His brother, Inayatullah Khan, became king for only a few days. Then, a leader named Habibullah Kalakani took over.
Amanullah tried to come back to Afghanistan in March 1929. He gathered forces in Kandahar to try and take back Kabul from Kalakani. But his forces could not advance. On May 23, 1929, he fled to India again. He never returned to Afghanistan after that.
Life in Exile
Kalakani ruled for only nine months. He was then replaced by Nadir Khan in October 1929. Amanullah Khan tried to return to Afghanistan, but he did not have much support from the people.
From British India, the former king traveled to Europe and settled in Italy. He bought a house in Rome. Meanwhile, Nadir Khan made sure Amanullah could not return to Afghanistan by spreading negative information about him. Many of Amanullah's modernizing changes were undone. However, a later king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, brought back some reforms more slowly.
Even in exile, Amanullah still had some loyal supporters in Afghanistan. These supporters tried several times in the 1930s and 1940s to bring him back to power, but they were not successful.
Death
After leaving Afghanistan, King Amanullah Khan found a safe place to live in Italy. He died in 1960, either in Italy or in Zürich, Switzerland. His body was brought back to Afghanistan and buried in the city of Jalalabad. He left behind his wife and several children, including Princess India of Afghanistan.
Family Life
Amanullah Khan married Soraya Tarzi (1899–1968). She was the daughter of Mahmud Beg Tarzi, who was a Foreign Minister. Amanullah and Soraya had six daughters and four sons:
- Princess Ameenah Shah (1916–1992)
- Princess Abedah Bibi
- Princess Meliha (1920–2011), who became a medical doctor.
- Crown Prince Rahmatullah of Afghanistan (1921–2009)
- Prince Saifullah, who died young.
- Prince Hymayatullah, who also died very young.
- Princess Adeela (1925–2000)
- Prince Ehsanullah (1926–2017)
- Princess India (born 1929)
- Princess Nagia, the youngest daughter.
Amanullah also married another wife, 'Aliya Begum, who was his uncle's daughter. Later, in Rome, he married an Italian lady and had one son with her:
- Prince Nadiru'llah Khan (born 1943)
Images for kids
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A traditional way to punish bandits in Afghanistan, around 1921.
See also
In Spanish: Amanulá Khan para niños
- History of Afghanistan
- Reforms of Amānullāh Khān and civil war
- Lycées Esteqlal and Malalaï in Kabul
- Order of the Supreme Sun
- Amir Amanullah Khan Award
