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DurrÄnÄ«
people, Afghanistan
Also known as: AbdÄlÄ«, DurÄnÄ«
DurrÄnÄ«, one of the two chief tribal confederations of Afghanistan, the other being the Ghilzay. In the time of NÄdir Shah, the DurrÄnÄ« were granted lands in the region of KandahÄr, which was their homeland, and they moved there from HerÄt.
In the late 18th century the DurrÄnÄ« took up agriculture. Under Aįø„mad Shah DurrÄnÄ« and TÄ«mÅ«r Shah, the DurrÄnÄ« constituted the most significant political and military support of the monarchy. The later 18th-century policy of reducing their power aroused DurrÄnÄ« resistance and served as one of the principal causes of the 18th- and early 19th-century civil wars. Nevertheless, the DurrÄnÄ« continued to dominate the ruling class in Afghanistan into the 21st century.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan.
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