Famous Afghan Historical Personalities

Mahmud of Ghazni was the sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire on two separate occasions. He first ascended the throne upon the death of his father, Mahmud, in 1030. However, he was soon overthrown by his twin brother Ma'sud I. Years later, he was reinstated as sultan but was soon executed by his nephew Maw'dud. His entire family was also killed. 

Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last king of Afghanistan, in power from 1933 until he was deposed in 1973. During his reign, he focused on modernizing the economy, improving Afghanistan’s relations with other countries, and creating a new constitution. Following his deposition, he remained in exile for many years before returning to Afghanistan.

Mughal empress and the 20th wife of Emperor Jahangir, Nur Jahan is remembered for her political influence. Though nothing concrete is known about her childhood, it is known that she was initially married to Mughal official Sher Afgan Khan who died in a battle. Jahangir’s reckless lifestyle made her dominate the political scene.

Muhammad of Ghor of the Ghurid Empire went down in history as the man who established Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent and set the tone for the upcoming Mughal dynasty. He ruled over a vast area, which included India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, among others, along with his brother, Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad.

Nur Jahan was the chief consort of Mughal emperor Jahangir. She reigned as Badshah Begum of the empire from 1620 to 1627. Nur Jahan is often credited with influencing Jahangir's decisions for much of his reign. She is also remembered for her strength and courage and her skills in hunting ferocious tigers. Her life has inspired many books and movies.

Mid-15th-century Timurid Empire ruler Abu Sa'id Mirza was the paternal grandfather of Babur, who later established the Mughal empire in India. He had multiple encounters with Timurid princes and went to war with the kingdom of Aq Qoyunlu. He succeeded in reuniting much of the Timurid empire.

The 17th-century ruler of Bijapur, Muhammad Adil Shah is known for helping the Mughals fight the Ahmednagar Sultanate. He is believed to have built the Gol Gumbaz, a structure with the second-largest tomb in the world, as a mausoleum for himself, and was buried in it.

The 5th-century Sasanian shahanshah of Iran, Peroz I faced famine and war during his reign. He had seized the throne after a long struggle with his brother, Hormizd III. He went into war with Armenia and was eventually killed after being ambushed in the Battle of Herat.

A 9th-century Iranian coppersmith, Yaʿqūb ibn Layth al-Ṣaffār established the Saffarid dynasty of Sistan. He once almost captured Baghdad. His dynasty also witnessed a revival of the Persian language after it was overshadowed by Arabic for a long time. He remains to be a popular Iranian folk hero.