Dost Mohammad, founder of the Barakzai Dynasty…

Dost Mohammad, founder of the Barakzai Dynasty in Afghanistan, had retaken Herat with British acquiescence in spring 1863.

He had died a few month later and named Sher Ali Khan, his third son, as successor, passing over his two surviving elder sons, Mohammad Afzal Khan and Mohammad A'zam Khan.

At first, the new Amir had been quietly recognized, but after a few months, Afzal Khan had raised an insurrection in the north of the country, where he had been governing when his father died.

This had initiated a fierce contest for power between Dost Mohammad's sons, which is to last or nearly five years.

In this war, the young Abdur Rahman has become distinguished for ability and daring energy.

Although his father, Afzal Khan, who has none of these qualities, had come to terms with Sher Ali, the son's behavior in the northern province had soon excited the Amir's suspicion, and Abdur Rahman, when summoned to Kabul, had fled across the Oxus into Bokhara.

Sher Ali had thrown Afzal Khan into prison, and a serious revolt had followed in southern Afghanistan.

The Amir had scarcely suppressed it by winning a desperate battle when Abdur Rahman's reappearance in the north signaled for a mutiny of the troops stationed in those parts and a gathering of armed bands to his standard.

After some delay and desultory fighting, he and his uncle, Azam Khan, occupy Kabul (March 1866).