Battle of Kandahar
Kandahar, Afghanistan
What happened
A British and Indian army under General Frederick Roberts fought Afghan forces led by Ayub Khan. After a British defeat at Maiwand, Ayub Khan's forces besieged the British in Kandahar. Roberts marched about 10,000 troops some 320 miles from Kabul in 20 days, using thousands of mules and ponies and paying locals for supplies. On 1 September the British attacked, and Ayub Khan abandoned his camp.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Roberts's march made him famous.
What came next
Abdur Rahman Khan became emir of Afghanistan, with Britain controlling its foreign policy. The last British troops left in April 1881.
Did you know?
Roberts later took the title 'Baron Roberts, of Kandahar', and a statue of him stands in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park.
Timeline
- 27 July 1880Ayub Khan wins at Maiwand.
- 8 August 1880Roberts leaves Kabul.
- 1 September 1880The British win at Kandahar.
- April 1881The last British troops leave.
- 23 February 1892Roberts becomes Baron Roberts of Kandahar.