Shir 'Ali Khan, Dost Mohammad's third son, then became amir, but his two elder brothers took the throne from him in May 1866. Shir 'Ali regained his throne in September 1868. Shir 'Ali's reception of a Russian mission at Kabul and his refusal to receive a British one, on British terms, led directly to the war of 1878-80. Shir 'Ali, leaving his son, Ya'qub Khan, as his regent in Kabul, sought help from the Russians, but they advised him to make peace. Shir 'Ali died in Mazar-e Sharif on Feb. 21, 1879.