1833–1834 expedition of Shah Shujah Durrani

1833–1834 expedition of Shah Shujah Durrani

Sketch of Kandahar in 1857
DateJanuary 1833 – 1 July 1834
Location
Result
  • Shah Shujah forced to retreat
Belligerents
Barakzai
Principality of Kandahar
 Emirate of Kabul
Durranis
Shah Shujah's forces
Supported by
 British Empire
 East India Company
 Sikh Empire
Commanders and leaders
Kohan Dil Khan
Pur Dil Khan
Mihrdil Khan
Rahmdil Khan
Dost Mohammad
Afzal Khan
Shah Shujah Durrani
William Campbell (POW)
Strength
Numerically inferior
20,000 men from Dost Mohammad
(only 3,000 engaged by Dost Mohammad)
30,000 (Initial)
80,000 men (during siege of Kandahar)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy losses
Up to 16,000 killed

Beginning in January 1833, Shah Shujah Durrani, the deposed Afghan emperor, led an expedition to re-claim his throne. Raising a force while in exile in the Sikh Empire, he marched through Sindh to Kandahar, besieging it from 10 May 1834 until 1 July 1834. Shah Shujah would be defeated by the Barakzai rulers of Kandahar and Kabul.