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{{Battle|result = Indecisive
{{Era|Timeline}}{{WP-REAL}}
*British military withdrawal upon agreement with Afghans
{{Battle Infobox
*Dost Mohammad reinstalled to the throne|side1 = [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg.png|20px|border]] [[Emirate of Afghanistan]]|side2 = [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.png|20px|border]] [[British Empire]]
|prev = [[Trienio Liberal]]
*[[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).png|20px|border]] [[East India Company]]|date = March 1839|end = October 1842|place = [[Afghanistan]]}}The '''First Anglo-Afghan War''' (also known as '''Auckland's Folly''') was fought between the British East India Company and [[Emirate of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] from 1839 to 1842.
|next = [[California Gold Rush]]
|image = ACCI Silent Assist Main.jpg
|date = March 1839 – October 1842
|place = [[Afghanistan]]
|result = Afghan victory
|side1 = [[File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg.png|20px|border]] [[Afghanistan|Emirate of Afghanistan]]
|side2 = [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.png|20px|border]] [[British Empire]]
*[[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).png|20px|border]] [[East India Company]]<br>[[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Templars]]
|commanders1 = *{{Wiki|Dost Mohammad Khan}}
*[[Akbar Khan]]
|commanders2 = *[[William Hay Macnaghten|Sir William Hay Macnaghten]]
*{{Wiki|John Keane, 1st Baron Keane|John Keane}}
*{{Wiki|Willoughby Cotton|Sir Willoughby Cotton}}
*{{Wiki|George Pollock|Sir George Pollock}}
*[[William Elphinstone]]
}}
The '''First Anglo-Afghan War''' was the first of three invasions of [[Afghanistan]] by the [[United Kingdom]]. Among the first major conflicts in the {{Wiki|Great Game}}, the 19th-century competition for power and influence in Central [[Asia]] between the [[British Empire|British]] and [[Russia|Russian Empires]], it is infamous for the near annihilation of the main force of the [[British Army]] by local Afghan fighters, for which it earned the nickname, '''Auckland's Folly'''.<ref name="Database: The First Anglo-Afghan War">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India]]'' – [[Database: The First Anglo-Afghan War]]</ref>


It is famous for the loss of 4,500 British and Indian soldiers, plus 12,000 of theircamp followers, to Afghan tribal fighters, but the British defeated the Afghans in the concluding engagement.
==History==
In 1839, the campaign was initiated by [[George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland]]. Thereupon, it was largely waged through the forces of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[East India Company]].<ref name="Database: The First Anglo-Afghan War" />


It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between Britain and Russia.{{ACC}}
The expedition was intertwined with a [[Templars|Templar]] operation under the command of Major General [[William Sleeman]] to uncover [[Isu]] sites such as the [[Herat Temple]]. In spite of initial successes, such as the capturing of the [[Herat Citadel|Citadel]] of [[Herat]] in 1841 for the aforementioned purpose,<ref name="The Enemy Revealed">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India]]'' – [[The Enemy Revealed]]</ref><ref name="The Silent Assist">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India]]'' – [[The Silent Assist]]</ref> the campaign ended in a [[1842 retreat from Kabul|bloodbath]] in 1842 with the virtual destruction of the main detachment of the British Army led by Major General [[William Elphinstone]].<ref name="Database: The First Anglo-Afghan War" /><ref name="Underworld">''[[Assassin's Creed: Underworld]]''</ref>
 
Much like the scenario in the aftermath of the [[Siege of Fort William Henry]] during the [[Seven Years' War]] almost a century earlier,<ref name="Honour and Loyalty">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[Honour and Loyalty]]</ref> this occurred during a disastrous [[1842 retreat from Kabul|withdrawal]] from the capital of [[Kabul]] to [[Jalalabad]] when Afghan fighters under the command of [[Akbar Khan]] betrayed the negotiations for a protected retreat.<ref name="Underworld" /> The incident became iconic to the war, shocking the British Empire and leading to its defeat, although they would return in two further invasions by starting the {{Wiki|Second Anglo-Afghan War}} in 1878,<ref>{{WP|First Anglo-Afghan War}}</ref> and the {{Wiki|Third Anglo-Afghan War}} in 1919.<ref>{{WP|Third Anglo-Afghan War}}</ref>
 
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Underworld]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India]]''
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Timeline}}
{{ACUW}}
{{ACC}}
[[Category:Timeline]]
[[Category:Wars]]

Latest revision as of 14:10, 4 May 2026

The First Anglo-Afghan War was the first of three invasions of Afghanistan by the United Kingdom. Among the first major conflicts in the Great Game, the 19th-century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the British and Russian Empires, it is infamous for the near annihilation of the main force of the British Army by local Afghan fighters, for which it earned the nickname, Auckland's Folly.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

In 1839, the campaign was initiated by George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland. Thereupon, it was largely waged through the forces of the British East India Company.[1]

The expedition was intertwined with a Templar operation under the command of Major General William Sleeman to uncover Isu sites such as the Herat Temple. In spite of initial successes, such as the capturing of the Citadel of Herat in 1841 for the aforementioned purpose,[2][3] the campaign ended in a bloodbath in 1842 with the virtual destruction of the main detachment of the British Army led by Major General William Elphinstone.[1][4]

Much like the scenario in the aftermath of the Siege of Fort William Henry during the Seven Years' War almost a century earlier,[5] this occurred during a disastrous withdrawal from the capital of Kabul to Jalalabad when Afghan fighters under the command of Akbar Khan betrayed the negotiations for a protected retreat.[4] The incident became iconic to the war, shocking the British Empire and leading to its defeat, although they would return in two further invasions by starting the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878,[6] and the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.[7]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]