Zahir Shah was the last king of Afghanistan, reigning from 1933 until 1973. He was born on October 15, 1914, and became king after the assassination of his father, King Nadir Shah. Zahir Shah's rule was marked by efforts to modernize the country, including reforms in education and infrastructure. In 1973, Zahir Shah was overthrown in a coup led by his cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, while he was in Italy for medical treatment. After his exile, Zahir Shah lived in Italy for nearly three decades before returning to Afghanistan in 2002, following the fall of the Taliban regime.