Payandah Khan Barakzai

Sardar Payandah Khan Barakzai, (1758 – October 1800) also known as Payinda Khan, and by his honorific title as the Exalted Khan, was chief of the Barakzai tribe, as well as a civil servant and the Grand Vizier of the Durrani Empire under the reigns of Timur Shah Durrani and Zaman Shah Durrani from 1774 until his execution in 1800, after being stripped of all his powers.

Early life Payandah was born as a fourth son in 1758 to Hajji Jamal Khan, a member of the Mohammadzai branch of the Barakzai Pashtun tribe. His father was a former opponent to Ahmad Shah Durrani, and later the chief of the Barakzai tribe, and the Grand Vizier of the Durrani Empire under his reign, as well as under the reign of Timur Shah Durrani until his death in 1772.

Rise to power The previous head of the Barakzais, Payandah Khan's elder brother Rahimdad Khan, eventually became unpopular among the Barakzais, which led to Timur Shah replacing him with Payandah Khan in 1774, and Payandah Khan was given the title Sarfaraz Khan (The Exalted Khan) ever since.

Payandah Khan helped Zaman Shah Durrani in seizing the Durrani throne, and supported him throughout his campaigns after helping him and his legitimacy of being king.

In December of 1793, Payandah Khan routed the Sikhs at Attock.

Death and legacy As Zaman Shah Durrani got rid of his enemies in the long run, the Durrani Empire saw a period of prosperity that it had not seen for a while. He had at least twenty-one sons, several of whom became major political and military figures after his death.

The maternal groupings of Payandah Khan's sons later became politically significant. Full brothers often acted together as factions, while different groups of half-brothers became associated with separate regional centres, especially Kabul, Kandahar and Peshawar.

Sons The following list gives Payandah Khan's sons according to their maternal grouping, as preserved in dynastic and historical accounts. Some dates remain approximate or uncertain.

By a Mohammadzai wife: Wazir Fateh Khan Barakzai (1778–1818), his eldest son and later vizier.

By a lady of the Nusrat Khel clan: Sardar Timur Quli Khan (1780–1822). Sardar Mohammad Azim Khan (1785–1823), later governor of Kashmir.

By a Barakzai wife: Nawab Asadullah Khan (born 1778). Nawab Abd al-Samad Khan (1785–1828). Sardar Tura Baz Khan (born 1795).

By a Kohistani or Hazara consort: Nawab Abd al-Jabbar Khan (1782–1854).

By an Idu Khel Hotak Ghilji wife; these full brothers later became associated with the Kandahar branch: Sardar Pur Dil Khan (1785–1830). Sardar Sher Dil Khan (1786–1826). Sardar Kohan Dil Khan (1793–1855). Sardar Rahim Dil Khan (1796–1859). Sardar Mehr Dil Khan (1797–1855).

By an Alakozai wife; these full brothers later became associated with the Peshawar branch: Sardar Ata Muhammad Khan (1786–1824). Sardar Yar Muhammad Khan (1790–1828). Sultan Mohammad Khan Telai (1795–1861), ancestor of the later Musahiban royal line. Sardar Said Mohammad Khan (1797–1860). Sardar Pir Muhammad Khan (1800–1871).

By Zainab, a Jawansher Qizilbash wife; these sons later became associated with the Kabul branch: Amir Dost Mohammad Khan (1792–1863), founder and first emir of the Barakzai dynasty. Sardar Amir Muhammad Khan (1794–1834).

By other consorts, described in some accounts as Farsi or otherwise unidentified: Sardar Juma Khan (–1871). Sardar Islam Khan, who died at the age of twelve.

Daughters Payandah Khan had at least four daughters. One of the most historically prominent was a full sister of Dost Mohammad Khan by Zainab, the Qizilbash wife, and the mother of Madad Khan. Noelle states that she was active in the political and military arena on behalf of Dost Mohammad Khan during the First Anglo-Afghan War.