AEE 207 — Bala hissar in Kunduz
|AEE 207|
Zahlreiche Männer stehen um einen Bus und warten auf dessen Abfahrt. Das Gepäck wird auf das Dach verladen. Im Hintergrund ein Hügel mit der gut erhaltenen bala hissar von Kunduz.
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A group of men stand around a bus, waiting for its departure, as luggage is loaded on to its roof. In the background are the imposing defensive walls of the well-maintained bala hisar of Kunduz.
[Liste der Negative:] 15-187 – Kunduz: Autobus und seine Fahrgäste vor befestigtem Burghügel. Januar 1941 [sic!].
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N. Dupree (1977): An historical guide to Afghanistan, p. 407-08: “Bala Hissar (High Fort). This was the fortress and residence of the redoubtable Murad Beg, Uzbak ruler of Kunduz in the mid-19th century. Taking over as paramount ruler of the north when his ally-rival Qilich Ali Beg of Khulm (Tashkurghan) died in 1817, he raided annually as far as Ghor for slaves to till his lands; all but a few would succumb to the mosquito before the year was out. Murad Beg’s power was respected even by the Amir of Kabul, Dost Mohammad, who dared not trespass on this northern territory without the permission of Kunduz’ chief; Englishmen cooled their heels in Kabul until Murad Beg was pleased to receive them. Power in the northern khanates was ephemeral, however, dependent upon the personal charisma of the man and his manipulation of events. Absolute for many years, Murad Beg was, in 1839, outmaneuvered by his rival’s son, Mir Ali, son of Qilich Beg, and once again power returned to Khulm.”
“The general outlines of the fort, its moat and citadel, are easy to make out but nothing remains within. A very fine view of the Turkestan Plains may be had from the citadel. Excavations by Japanese archaeolo-gists (1963) revealed layers of Islamic material with only a few Kushan potsherds at the lowest level.”
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