Sahle Selassie vs Timur Shah Durrani

Sahle Selassie became King of Shewa, a semi-independent kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire. He expanded Shewa's territory through conquest and diplomacy, laying the foundation for its later dominance under his grandson, Menelik II.

Sahle Selassie led military campaigns to incorporate neighboring Oromo regions into Shewa. These conquests significantly increased Shewa's size and resources, but also involved forced assimilation and tribute collection.

Sahle Selassie initiated contact with British and French envoys, seeking European recognition and military technology. This opened Shewa to European influence and set a precedent for later Ethiopian engagement with colonial powers.

Timur Shah led several military campaigns against the Sikh Confederacy in the Punjab region. While he achieved some tactical victories, he failed to permanently subdue the Sikhs, who continued to expand their territory. These campaigns drained the empire's resources.

Timur Shah faced multiple revolts from Pashtun tribes, particularly the Ghilzai and Abdali, who opposed his rule. He used military force to suppress these uprisings, executing rebel leaders and imposing heavy taxes, but the revolts weakened the empire's cohesion.

Timur Shah Durrani moved the capital of the Durrani Empire from Kandahar to Kabul. This shift was intended to better control the eastern provinces and counter threats from the Mughal Empire and Sikhs. It also reduced the influence of Pashtun tribal leaders in Kandahar.