Ahmad Shah Durrani vs Maria I of Portugal

Ahmad Shah Durrani was elected as the leader of the Pashtun tribes at a loya jirga in Kandahar, following the assassination of Nadir Shah of Persia. He was crowned as the first King of Afghanistan, founding the Durrani Empire and the modern Afghan state.

Ahmad Shah Durrani made Kandahar the capital of his new empire. He built a new city, including the famous mausoleum of the Prophet Muhammad's cloak, and established it as the political and cultural center of the Durrani Empire.

Ahmad Shah Durrani captured the cities of Herat and Mashhad from the declining Persian Empire. These conquests expanded the Durrani Empire's territory into modern-day Iran and secured control over key trade routes and religious centers.

Ahmad Shah Durrani led Afghan forces to a decisive victory against the Maratha Empire at the Third Battle of Panipat in India. The battle halted Maratha expansion in northern India and established Afghan influence in the region, but also weakened both empires.

Maria I ascended the throne upon the death of her father, King Joseph I. She became the first undisputed queen regnant of Portugal, immediately dismissing the powerful Marquis of Pombal and reversing many of his reforms, signaling a shift in policy.

One of Maria I's first acts as queen was to dismiss the powerful and controversial Marquis of Pombal. She ordered an investigation into his administration, leading to his exile and the reversal of many of his Enlightenment reforms, restoring power to the aristocracy and Church.

Maria I began exhibiting severe symptoms of religious mania and mental illness, including delusions and anxiety. This condition, possibly exacerbated by the French Revolution and the death of her husband and son, rendered her incapable of ruling, leading to her son John becoming regent.

As Napoleon's forces invaded Portugal, the incapacitated Queen Maria I was transported with the royal family and court to Brazil under British escort. She spent the remainder of her life in Rio de Janeiro, where she died, never returning to Portugal.