Ahmad Shah Durrani vs Shunzhi Emperor

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.

Shunzhi, at age six, was installed as emperor in Beijing after Qing forces captured the city from Li Zicheng. This marked the beginning of Qing rule over China proper, with Prince Dorgon serving as regent.

Qing forces under Dorgon and later Shunzhi's own command conquered the Southern Ming regimes. Key campaigns included the capture of Nanjing and the suppression of loyalist resistance in Fujian and Guangdong.

Shunzhi assumed direct control of the government at age 13, ending the regency of Dorgon. He began to assert his authority, promoting Han Chinese officials and reducing the power of Manchu nobles.

Shunzhi actively promoted Confucian governance, sponsoring the compilation of the Kangxi Dictionary and supporting the civil service examination system. He also patronized Chinese scholars and reduced Manchu privileges.

Shunzhi died of smallpox at age 22. His death led to the succession of his son Xuanye, who became the Kangxi Emperor. Shunzhi's reign laid the foundation for the Qing consolidation of China.