Amanullah Khan vs King Abdullah I of Jordan

Amanullah Khan launched a surprise attack on British India, triggering the Third Anglo-Afghan War. After a brief conflict, the Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed, granting Afghanistan full independence in foreign affairs, ending British control.

On August 19, 1919, Amanullah Khan declared Afghanistan's complete independence from British influence. This date is now celebrated as Afghan Independence Day, marking the end of British suzerainty and the beginning of full sovereignty.

Amanullah Khan implemented sweeping reforms including abolishing purdah, mandating Western dress, establishing coeducation, and introducing a new legal code. These reforms aimed to modernize Afghanistan but alienated conservative tribal and religious leaders.

Amanullah Khan promulgated Afghanistan's first constitution, establishing a centralized state, a council of ministers, and civil rights. The constitution was a cornerstone of his modernization drive but was opposed by traditionalists who saw it as un-Islamic.

Facing a rebellion led by Habibullah Kalakani, Amanullah Khan abdicated the throne in January 1929 and fled to British India. He later lived in exile in Italy and Switzerland, never returning to Afghanistan, where his reforms were largely reversed.

Abdullah, with British support, established the Emirate of Transjordan, becoming its Emir. This created a buffer state between British Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula, laying the foundation for the modern Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Emirate of Transjordan gained full independence from the British Mandate, and Abdullah was crowned King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The treaty with Britain was revised, granting Jordan sovereignty over its foreign and domestic affairs.

Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Abdullah annexed the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, into Jordan. This move was condemned by most Arab states and the Arab League, but it significantly expanded Jordan's territory and population.

King Abdullah was assassinated by a Palestinian gunman while entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The assassin was motivated by Abdullah's perceived willingness to negotiate with Israel and his annexation of the West Bank. His son Talal succeeded him.