TheBarakzai dynasty (Pashto:بارکزایی, "Sons of Barak"), also known as theMuhammadzai dynasty ("the ruling sub-clan of theBarakzai"),^[1][2][3][4] ruled what is nowAfghanistan from 1823 to 1978, when the monarchy endedde jure underMusahibanMohammad Zahir Shah andde facto under his cousinMohammad Daoud Khan. The Barakzai dynasty was established byDost Mohammad Khan after theDurrani Empire ofAhmad Shah Durrani was removed from power. As thePahlavi era in Iran, the Muhammadzai era was known for itsprogressivist modernity, practice ofSufism, peaceful security andneutrality, in which Afghanistan was referred to as the "Switzerland of Asia".^[5]

Barakzai بارکزایی
Country	Principality of Kandahar (1818–1855)  Emirate of Afghanistan (1823–1855) (Emirate of Kabul) (1855–1926) (Emirate of Afghanistan)  Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1973)  Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)
Founded	1823
Founder	Emirul Umara Payinda Khan and his sons.
Current head	Disputed
Final ruler	Mohammad Daoud Khan (asauthoritarian President)
Titles	Emir of Afghanistan King of Afghanistan President of Afghanistan Sardar (Prince) of Afghanistan Father of the Nation Head of the House of Barakzai Ruler of Kandahar
Estate(s)	Afghanistan,Khyber Pashtunkhwa andBalochistan
Deposition	1978 (Saur Revolution)

The Barakzai claim descent fromthe children of Israel in a direct line throughthe first Israeli King Saul, whose family intermarried with the family of his successorKing David.^[6][7]King Saul's grandson the Prince (Malak) Afghana was grown up byKing Solomon, acting as his commander in chief and Manager in the construction of theTemple Mount.^[8][9] However Prince Afghana sought refuge in a place called "Takht-e-Sulaiman", where he settled as Exil Arch.^[10] A direct descendant of Prince Afghana in the 37th generation called Qais heard of the message of theIslamic prophetMuhammad and visited him inMedinah. Qais regarded Muhammad as the awaitedMoschiach and embracedIslam under him. He changed his nameQais to Abdul Rashid Pathan and married a daughter ofKhalid bin Walid.^[11][12][13]

Qais Abdur Rashid's descendant Sulaiman, also known as "Zirak Khan" is regarded as the forefather ofthe Durrani Pashtuns to whom the Barakzai also belonged, next to thePopalzai andAlakozai. It is through Sulaiman's son Barak, that the Barakzai derive their name from, because Barakzai means "children of Barak".^[14]

It was in honor of their ancestor Prince Afghana of Israel, whom some Muslims venerate as a Saint thatthe first Barakzai King Sultan Mohammed Khan and his brotherDost Mohammed Khan named their Kingdom "Afghanistan", a fact someAfghans tried to hide because of internationalantisemitic sentiments that were present in the late 19th century, peaking inWorld War II in the form ofFascism.^[15]

The Barakzai dynasty was the line of rulers in Afghanistan in the 19th and 20th centuries. Following the fall of theDurrani Empire in 1823, chaos reigned in the domains ofAhmad Shah Durrani'sAfghan Empire as various sons ofTimur Shah struggled for supremacy. The Afghan Empire ceased to exist as a singlenation state, disintegrating for a brief time into a fragmented collection of small units.Dost Mohammad Khan gained preeminence alongside his brother,Sultan Mohammad Khan in 1823.Dost Mohammad Khan would found the Barakzai dynasty in about 1837. Thereafter, hisdescendants ruled in direct succession until 1929, when KingAmanullah Khan and his brotherInayatullah Khan abdicated and their cousinMohammed Nadir Shah secured the throne after defeatingHabibullah Kalakani. The most prominent and powerful sub-clan of the Barakzai Pashtun tribe is theMohammadzai, from which the 1823–1973 Afghanistan ruling dynasty comes.^[16]

Prior the seizing of the Durrani empire by the Barakzai dynasty,Loy Qandahar was captured by the Dil Brothers,Sardar Pur Dil Khan,Sardar Kohan Dil Khan,Sardar Sher Dil Khan,Sardar Mir Dil Khan,Sardar Rahim Dil Khan, in the year 1818 and declared their independence, which lasted as an independent state until 1855, when Amir Dost Mohammad Khan unified Qandahar with Kabul.^[17]

At the start of Barakzai rule overEmirate of Kabul in March 1823, the Afghans lost their former stronghold of thePeshawar Valley to theSikh Khalsa Army ofRanjit Singh at theBattle of Nowshera. The Afghan forces in the battle were supported byAzim Khan, half-brother of Dost Mohammad Khan. During the Barakzai era, Afghanistan saw much of its territory lost to theBritish in the south and east,Persia in the west, and Russia in the north. There were also many conflicts within Afghanistan, including the three majorAnglo-Afghan wars and the1928–29 civil war.

The Royal Barakzai or "Muhammadzai" are the descendants of the founder of the Barakzai dynasty the Emir ul Umara (Emir of all Emirs) Payindah Mohammed Khan, who plotted against the Durrani Imperial Family, proclaiming himself Emir. The hereditary titleSardar (Prince) is bestowed upon all descendants of Emir Payindah Mohammed.^[18]

The Seraj cadet-branch are the descendants of EmirDost Mohammed Khan, who alongside his predecessor and brotherSultan Mohammad Khan consolidated Barakzai rule in Afghanistan. The Seraj were mainly the Emirs of the firstEmirate of Afghanistan that ended with theSaqqawist Coup led byHabibullah Kalakani. With support from the royal family, the Telai cadet branch killed Kalakani and re-established the second Barakzai Kingdom.

The Telai cadet-branch are the descendants ofSultan Mohammad Khan "Telai", 2nd Emir of Afghanistan succeeding his father Payindah Mohammed Khan. The descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Yahya Khan Telai (Yahya-Khel) to whom Nadir Shah andZahir Shah belonged were closely related toAmanullah Khan through marriages.^[19]

Another Telai branch that had immense power in Afghanistan's military was that of His Royal Highness Field Marshal Prince Abdul Aziz Khan Telai and his children. Prince Abdul Aziz Telai was son ofthe Afghan King HM Sultan Mohammed Khan Telai and acted as a Field Marshal of the Afghan Army, preceding his grand-nephewMuhammad Nadir Shah as Minister of war under his other grand-nephewKing Amanullah Khan. Prince Abdul Aziz additionally acted as Governor ofKandahar andBadakhshan. His eldest son was Prince Abdul Qayyum Khan, who acted as Governor of many central Afghan Provinces. Prince Abdul Qayyum Khan's son was the Afghan father of physics and Royal Afghan UN ambassador Professor Prince Abdul Khalek Khan Telai, who was aMurid (religious novice) of his father-in-law Mir Muhammad Jan son of Mir Fazlullah Agha. Prince Abdul Khalek's descendants consequently call themselves theMir Muhammad Jan Khel and chose the surname Dakik (Persian for "Exact") after theSaur Revolution. Next to the title Sultan (aboveSardar/Prince but belowShah/King),^[20] they also bear the titleMir andSayyid to denote their descent toMuhammad through General Mir Muhammad Jan.^[21][22]

Another known son of Prince Abdul Aziz was Field Marshal Prince Amir Muhammad Khan Telai, who proclaimed himself Shah in exile in Peshawar contesting the rule of his rival cousinMohammad Nadir Shah, siding with theBritish. His son Assadullah, whose nickname was "Sharza" became ageneral in theUS Air Force, representing Telai interests inWashington DC.^[21][22]

Another well known son of Prince Abdul Aziz was Brigade General Sardar Abdul Ghafar Khan, who acted as commander of the Personal Royal Brigade of his cousinKing Nadir Shah. Prince Abdul Ghafar Khan executed theAmanist Charkhi family, who had plotted against his cousinHM King Nadir Shah. These executions made by Prince Abdul Ghaffar Khan led to Ghulam Nabi Khan Charkhi's daughter convincing a HazaraAmanist called Abdul Khaliq Hazaragi to take revenge for the Charkhi family's massacre and murderKing Nadir Shah.^[21][22]

The Shaghasi cadet-branch is another prominent and powerful sub-tribe of Barakzai, descending from the brothers of Emir Sultan Mohammed Khan and Emir Dost Mohammed Khan.^[23]

Shaghasi Khel are descendants of Mirdaad Khan Barakzai,Işik Aqasi (Minister of the Royal Court "Chemberlain") during the reign of the KandahariSardars (Dost Muhammad Khan's brothers), as well as the reign ofDost Muhammad Khan 1863 – 1866 and 1868 – 1879. His father, Bazar Khan Barakzai was a local Barakzai chief, and his grandfather wasSardar Yasin KhanOmar Khanzai (Barakzai), resident of Maruf District (at that time part of Arghistan District) of Kandahar, and one of the notable Sardars of Kandahar during the reigns ofTimur Shah Durrani^[24][25] and brother to Muhammad of theMohammadzai. The Shaghasi's were even more powerful than theMohammadzai's during the ruling of EmirSher Ali Khan – Emir of Afghanistan, and EmirAmanullah Khan – Emir of Afghanistan (February 28, 1919 – 1926), later King of Afghanistan (1926 – January 14, 1929). Prominent Afghan historian, Abdul Hai Habibi denotes that during KingAmanullah Khan's reign, the former governor of Kabul was Mahmoud Khan Yawar and the later one was Ali Ahmad Khan (both Shaghasi) Barakzai. Abdul Aziz Khan (later Minister of war, and Prime Minister, Mohammad Sarwar Khan and Abdul Karim Khan wereNaib -ul- Hukuma's (all of them were Shaghasi) Barakzai. In Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat Abdul Karim and Mohammad Ibrahim Khan (later Minister) were alsoKhan Naib -ul- Hukuma's, and Abdul Rahman and Nik Mohammad Khan wereFirqa Meshar (all of them were Shaghasi) Barakzai. Abdul Karim Khan in Paktya, and Dost Mahammad Khan Nazim (laterNaibSalar, Sipah

Salar, Dar-ul-Adalat, and Hakim-e-Ala) in Ghazni, Uruzgan and Kandahar

were equally (Shaghasi) Barakzai, Mohammad Alam Khan in Lugar and Kuchi and other governors were the same.^[26] To the Shaghasi Khel is relatedKing Amanullah Khan's mother Queen Sarwar Sultana Begum,Sirajul-Khwatin, theAliyaHazrat (b. at Kabul, 1875;d. at Istanbul, Turkey, 1965), eldest daughter ofLoinab Sher Dil Khan Shaghasi, by his third wife, Benazir Begum, a lady from the Popalzai clan.^[27]

Ali Ahmad KhanShaghasi (1883–1929) who was declared Emir of Afghanistan twice in 1929 son of GeneralLoinab Khushdil Khan, sometime Governor of Kabul and Kandahar, by his wife Sahira Begum, daughter ofAmir al-Mumenin, Amir al-Kabir, Amir Dost Muhammad Khan, Amir of Afghanistan, by his wife, a daughter of Agha Muhammad Qizilbash was also Shaghasi Barakzai.  Ali Ahmad's sister,the Ulya Mukhadara Zarin Jan Begum was the mother ofHumaira Begum who was the Queen consort of Afghanistan.^[28]

Principality of Qandahar (1818–1855)

Emirate of Afghanistan
(Emirate of Kabul 1823–1855)

Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1929)

Saqqawist Emirate and the1928–1929 civil war

Kingdom of Afghanistan (restored; 1929–1973)

Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)

• Mohammed Daoud Khan As first president of Afghanistan, renouncing the titleShah after taking power (1973–1978)
• Abdul Khaliq Khan, forSaratanists as lone Barakzai survivor of theSaur Purge (1978–1992)
• Mohammed Zahir Shah (17 July 1978 – 23 July 2007)
• Crown PrinceSardar Ahmad Shah Khan (1964 Constitution of Afghanistan) (23 July 2007 – 4 June 2024)
• Prince Muhammad Zahir Khan (4 June 2024 – Present)

The principal language of the Barakzai isPashto. Formerly,Persian was used as the language for records and correspondence; until the late nineteenth century tombstones were also inscribed in Persian.^{[citation needed]} The language of the Barakzai tribes inPishin,Quetta,Gulistan and Dukki (District. Loralai) is just like the language spoken inKandahar. Those who have settled away from Pishin speak local languages (Pushto), such asMultani orSaraiki inMultan,Hindko inHazara,Urdu inBhopal andSindhi inSindh. Barakzai, a dialect ofPashto, is the language spoken byHarnai Barakzai.^[35][36][37]

The Barakzai are adherents to the Sunni Sufi branch of Islam, following mostly theHanafi school of Jurispudence andMaturidi school of theology. In the historySardar Ata Mohammad Khan Barakzai, another brother ofSultan Mohammed Khan Telai, acting as Governor ofKashmir underShah Shuja Durrani issued coins in honor of the Sufi SaintNund Rishi and renovated his shrine.^[38] Some Barakzai including the Mir Muhammad Jan Khel sub-cadet branch of the Telai (known by the surname Dakik) are following theHanbali school of jurispudence andAthari school of Theology.^[39]

AsSufis the Barakzais are devotees ofMuhammad's cousin and son in lawAli ibn Abi Talib, who according toAfghans is buried inMazar Sharif. TheEmirs andKings acted as custodians of the "Hazrat Ali Mazar". Kings who are buried in theHazrat Ali Shrine Complex are the following:^[40]

• Dost Mohammed Khan
• Wazir Akbar Khan
• Sher Ali Khan

It is because of this emphasis made by the Barakzai that some claim that the Mosque in theAfghan Flag stands for theHazrat Ali Mazar.

Although many Barakzai were practicing the faith of Islam, and integrating conservativeSharia Law in their legal system, they were known for their anti-fundamentalist policies, regarding fundamentalists as primarily politically motivated, rather than religiously motivated.Abdur Rahman Khan's chief justice Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha contributed essentially to the definition of the conservativeratio legis of the Emirate of Afghanistan, that was later adopted in theKingdom. Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha was especially suspicious towards fundamentalistShiite Movements, whom he regarded as fundamentalist proxies ofthe Shiite Qajar Dynasty. He was also credited for anti-corruption enforcement andrule of law in Afghanistan by forcingAbdur Rahman Khan to adhere to the Law despite being a King.^[41] UnderPrince Daoud Khan's regime,fundamentalists were regarded as political enemies of the regime, being suppressed along withCommunists.

•  
  Flag of Afghanistan before 1901
•  
  Flag of Afghanistan after 1901
•  
  Flag of Afghanistan during His Majesty King Zahir Shah's Kingdom
•  
  Flag of Afghanistan underHis Royal Highness Prince Daoud Khan's regime

•  
  Emblem of theEmirate of Afghanistan
•  
  Emblem of theKingdom of Afghanistan
•  
  Emblem ofPrince Daoud Khan's regime

•  
  Private Standard ofHis Majesty King Zahir Shah andSardar Ahmad Shah Khan
•  
  Presidential seal ofDaoud Khan

After the fall of theTaliban in the year 2001, negotiations about the reestablishment of theKingdom of Afghanistan were held, including negotiations about the re-installation ofMohammad Zahir Shah as theking of Afghanistan. However, pressure from the side ofEthnic Tajiks who threatened to revolt against Zahir Shah and pressure from the government ofPakistan on the question of theDurand Line, forced Zahir Shah to renounce his claim to the throne, he accepted the title ofBaba-e-Millat (transl. Father of the Nation), which weakened his political role.[42]^[43]

Since then Prince Ali of the Seraj cadet branch and Prince Nadir Naeem of the Yahya-Khel of the Telai cadet branch ran for Presidency of Afghanistan in 2009 and 2014.^[44][45]

After theFall of Kabul in 2021, Prince Raphael Dakik of the Mir Muhammad Jan-Khel of the Telai cadet branch, assessed the reestablishment of the Barakzai dynasty throughlobbyist measures conducted by an anti-Taliban lobby group called "Royal Afghan Government in Exile" (RAGE). Next toSwiss politicians, especially from theSwiss People's Party, seniorWEF officials and research experts onlobbying,anti-corruption anddiplomacy, some of his special envoys are former US congressmen, includingSteve Watkins andCurt Weldon.^[46][47]

Envoys of Prince Raphael's lobby group, RAGE, were invited in an ambassador conference inVaduz,Liechtenstein, which attracted media attention. Although Prince Raphael's private office shares a strong relationship with the princelyHouse of Liechtenstein, RAGE was not accredited as an official government byLiechtenstein'sforeign ministry in order to avoid international clashes of interest.^[48]

• History of Afghanistan
• History of the Jews in Afghanistan
• Bani Isra'il
• Barakzai
• Mohammadzai
• Yahya Khel
• Amanism
• Shaghasi
• Theories of Pashtun origin
• Pashtunistan
• Pashtunization
• Pakthas
• European influence in Afghanistan
• Anglo-Afghan War
• Loya jirga – "grand jirga", a large congress called to discuss a particularly important event
• Meshrano Jirga – "elders' jirga", theupper house of the Afghan legislature

• Khyber.org: Encyclopaedia Iranica − Barakzai Dynasty^[usurped]