A History of the Mahrattas v1.c24.79

v1.c24.79

The season of 1747-48 is memorable in Hindoostan by its being the period of the first invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdallee, king of the Afghans, who are distinguished in India by the various appellations of Dooranee, Abdallee, and Giljya.¹ Ahmed Abdallee, the person who was now their acknowledged sovereign, was son of a chief of a tribe of Afghans named Abdallee, settled in the province of Herat, when it was conquered by Nadir Shah. Ahmed from being the prisoner became a military follower of Nadir, and was gradually promoted to considerable rank. On the assassination of Nadir Shah, Ahmed left the Persian army with the whole of his tribe, who were in camp, and retiring to Herat, which he occupied, was soon acknowledged as king by the whole Afghan nation, and now possessed the eastern half of the dominions of Nadir Shah.