All,
It is not often i post in the before 1900 forum so please bear with me.
The topic might have been debated to death already, but I fail to find anything.
I am busy reading Dalrymple's "Return of a King". Fascinating book with a lot of background.
It does not jump into the retreat asnd the revenge, but actually trying to sketch the complex Afghan society and power bases.
My previous knowledge is sketchy and influenced by "Flashman" which of course is a very good source (not!)
It becomes abundantly vlear that if anyone had set out to destroy the army of the Indus they could not have done a better job than OTL.
My understanding is now that it was much more than a power struggle between Dost and Shuja and supporting one or the other is not so simple.
Could it all have been avoided? Could McNaghten have forced an alliance? Between the ancient families?
Or could he have made more of "divide and rule?
Dalrymple is claiming that the Indian revolt was a direct consequence of the Afghan debacle (the British officers leaving their Indian troops to fend for themselves, etc).
If that is so, would a solution in Afghanistan have prevented the Indian revolt?
Please enlighten me a bit on this here as I am not so clued up on this part of the history?
Ivan
It is not often i post in the before 1900 forum so please bear with me.
The topic might have been debated to death already, but I fail to find anything.
I am busy reading Dalrymple's "Return of a King". Fascinating book with a lot of background.
It does not jump into the retreat asnd the revenge, but actually trying to sketch the complex Afghan society and power bases.
My previous knowledge is sketchy and influenced by "Flashman" which of course is a very good source (not!)
It becomes abundantly vlear that if anyone had set out to destroy the army of the Indus they could not have done a better job than OTL.
My understanding is now that it was much more than a power struggle between Dost and Shuja and supporting one or the other is not so simple.
Could it all have been avoided? Could McNaghten have forced an alliance? Between the ancient families?
Or could he have made more of "divide and rule?
Dalrymple is claiming that the Indian revolt was a direct consequence of the Afghan debacle (the British officers leaving their Indian troops to fend for themselves, etc).
If that is so, would a solution in Afghanistan have prevented the Indian revolt?
Please enlighten me a bit on this here as I am not so clued up on this part of the history?
Ivan