Editing Ahmad Shah Durrani (section)

==Return to Kandahar==
[[File:Kandahar City during 1839-42.jpg|thumb|right|Lithograph of Kandahar during the [[First Anglo-Afghan War]]]]
Having driven off the Persians and Qizilbash, Ahmad Shah departed for Kandahar with his regiments, and his [[Maimana Khanate|Uzbek ally]], Hajji Bi Ming. Ahmad Shah first settled the dispute of leadership, asserting himself as the leader of Durrani tribesmen by forcing the former leader to step down. Ahmad Shah also killed 'Abd al-Ghani Khan, his uncle and the governor of [[Kandahar]] to secure complete power over the Durrani regiments. With the dispute over leadership concluded, Ahmad Shah's forces grew to 6,000 Afghans.{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=105}}

Following this, Ahmad Shah moved through [[Khabushan]], advancing to [[Kashmar]]. While on-route, Ahmad Shah accumulated supplies for his army and proceeded toward [[Torbat-e Heydarieh]], where they received news that [[Adel Shah]] had sent a force to halt the Afghans. As a result, Ahmad Shah led his forces to [[Ferdows|Tun]] and then [[Farah, Afghanistan|Farah]], where they defeated an army sent by Adel Shah. With Farah under his control, the Afghans proceeded to [[Grishk]], and then Kandahar.{{sfn|Nejatie|2017|p=306}}{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=105}}

While on-route to Kandahar, Ahmad Shah recovered a military convoy that contained the annual tribute from [[Sindh]]. The value of the treasure is disputed, but it is given within an estimate of 3,000,000–260,000,000 rupees. The convoy was escorted by [[Mohammad Taqi Khan Shirazi]], a disgruntled former officer of Nader Shah, and Nasir Khan, the governor of [[Kabul]] and [[Peshawar]]. Taqi Khan joined Ahmad Shah and divided the wealth, while Nasir Khan refused and was imprisoned. Later, he was ransomed on the conditions of an annual tribute of 500,000 rupees, and that he would enter Ahmad Shah's [[suzerainty]]. The army of Ahmad Shah grew to over 18,000 men, also including [[war elephants]].{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=106-107}}{{sfn|Nejatie|2017|p=307}}{{sfn|Singh|1959|p=32}}

===Accession and coronation===
[[File:Coronation of Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747 by Breshna.jpg|thumb|right|Legendary [[coronation]] of Ahmad Shah Durrani by [[Durrani|Abdali]] chiefs at [[Kandahar]] in 1747]]
Upon reaching Kandahar, Ahmad Shah established camp in [[Naderabad, Kandahar|Naderabad]] and prepared to be crowned as King. According to legend, Ahmad Shah declared a [[Jirga]], summoning all [[Pashtun tribes|tribal leaders]] who unanimously selected Ahmad Shah as king. A piece of wheat or barley was then placed on Ahmad Shah's turban.{{sfn|Singh|1959|p=24-27}} [[Ganda Singh (historian)|Singh]] cites this account, despite there being no contemporary evidence to suggest this occurred.{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=106}}

In reality, Ahmad Shah was brought to power through a nine-man military council. Ahmad Shah's accession was further disputed by Jamal Khan, the leader of the [[Barakzai]] tribe. The Barakzai were the most powerful clan of the Durranis centered in the [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] and [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] regions. The dispute over accession continued until an agreement was made where Jamal Khan would submit to Ahmad Shah as king, while Ahmad Shah would make Jamal Khan and his descendants [[Vizier|Wazir]]. With an agreement reached, Sabir Shah, Ahmad Shah's advisor, took a piece of greenery or stalk and attached it to Ahmad Shah's cap, officially crowning him. Scholars state that Ahmad Shah's rise to power was effectively a military [[coup]], rather than an [[election]].{{sfn|Lee|2022|p=107-113}}

Following his accession, Ahmad Shah adopted the epithet "Durr-i Durrān", meaning "Pearl of Pearls", also changing the name of his tribe from Abdali to [[Durrani]].{{sfn|Nejatie|2017|p=334}}{{sfn|Mehta|2005|p=248}}{{sfn|Barfield|2022|p=98}}