Back Kamran Xah Durrani Catalan کامران میرزا درانی Persian Kamran Shah Durrani Italian Камран-Шах Дуррані Ukrainian
| Kamran Mirza Durrani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ruler of Herat | |
| Tenure | Summer 1826 – 1842 |
| Predecessor | Mahmud Shah Durrani |
| Successor | Yar Muhammad Khan Alakozai |
| Died | 1842 |
| House | Durrani dynasty |
| Father | Mahmud Shah Durrani |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Kamran Mirza Durrani (Pashto/Persian: کامران میرزا دورانی) was the last Durrani ruler of Herat from 1826 to 1842. He was the son and successor of Mahmud Shah Durrani (r. 1801–1084, 1809–1818).
During Kamran Mirza's early life, a lengthy struggle for control of Kabul occurred between his father and the latters half-brother, Shah Shujah Durrani (r. 1804–1809). During both of Mahmud Shah's rules in Kabul, Kamran Mirza held the governorship of Kandahar. During this period, Kamran Mirza's brother Firuz al-Din Mirza governed Herat under Iranian suzerainty but rebelled twice, in 1807 and 1814. During the second time, Kamran Mirza defeated him.
In 1818, the Durrani minister Fateh Khan Barakzai deposed Firuz al-Din Mirza, leading to the plunder of Herat and the rape of Kamran Mirza's sister by Fateh Khan's brother Dost Mohammad Khan. Kamran vowed revenge and, under the guise of reconciliation, captured and imprisoned Fateh Khan, who was executed some months later. This lead to the destabilization of the the Durrani kingdom, caused by the rebellions of Fateh Khan's brothers, forcing Mahmud Shah and Kamran Mirza to retreat to Herat, which became the last Durrani stronghold.
Since Herat was under loose Iranian control, they attempted twice to strengthen their rule during Kamran Mirza's reign. In 1833, the crown prince Abbas Mirza besieged Herat, but his death ended the siege, resulting in a settlement where Kamran Mirza retained autonomy while acknowledging nominal Iranian suzerainty. A second siege occurred in 1837–1838 under Mohammad Shah Qajar (r. 1834–1848), but British intervention forced the Iranians to withdraw. In February 1841, after the British embassy left Herat, Kamran Mirza renewed his allegiance to Iran.
Most assessments are negative about Kamran's personality and style of government, with European and Persian records typically referring to his traits as being related to debauchery. He was completely reliant on his minister Yar Muhammad Khan Alakozai to run his administration. The latter had been slowly reducing Kamran Mirza's authority, ultimately killing him in 1842, thus marking the end of the Durrani dynasty.