One of the most fearsome characters in Persian history, Nader Shah emerged from humble roots to become a strong military tactician and ruler who drastically altered the political climate in most of Central Asia and Persia in the 18th century. Nader Shah, who is also sometimes referred to as “the last great Asiatic conqueror,” expanded the limits of his kingdom via his conquests, overthrowing dynasties, annexing large areas, and impacting the geopolitics of the area in the future. He is an appealing and contentious historical character because of his ascent, rule, and downfall.
Nader Shah’s Early Life
Nader Shah emerged from terrible circumstances to become one of Persia’s most formidable leaders and military masterminds. He was born in the little town of Dastgerd in Khorasan (present-day northeastern Iran) in 1688. Nader was born within the Turkic Afshar tribe’s Qereqlu clan, and his early years were difficult. He and his mother were forced into slavery when his father passed away while they were young. But Nader made it out, and his early life circumstances molded his drive and grit.
Nader’s remarkable military prowess found a platform in a Persia weakened by foreign invasion and domestic turmoil. At the time, the once-powerful Safavid Empire had fallen, leaving many groups controlling a sizable portion of the area, including Afghan and Ottoman armies. Nader started his ascent to prominence by enlisting in the ranks of regional warlords, but his astute leadership and strategic thinking soon established him as a formidable military leader.
Change of Fortunes
After Nader formed an alliance with the exiled Safavid ruler Tahmasp II, who was attempting to retake his throne, his situation drastically changed. Nader assumed command of Tahmasp’s army in 1726, and in the next years, he spearheaded a number of victorious operations to expel the Afghan armies, who had gained possession of Persia after seizing the capital, Isfahan, in 1722. The Battle of Damghan in 1729 saw Nader’s soldiers soundly defeat Ashraf Hotak’s Afghan army, ensuring Tahmasp’s return to power. This was his most well-known early success.
But Nader’s devotion to the Safavids was swiftly replaced by his ambition. Nader lost faith in Tahmasp’s leadership after regaining the majority of Persia because he thought it was insufficient. Nader removed Tahmasp from power in 1732 and installed his young Safavid son Abbas III as king, serving as regent in the process.
The Afsharid dynasty was formally established in 1736 when Nader proclaimed himself Shah of Persia after consolidating his rule and exhibiting military superiority over foreign powers such as the Ottomans and Russians, as well as competing Persian nations.
Nader Shah Noteable War Victories
His armed forces career is characterized by notable achievements that showcased his tactical brilliance and capacity to bring diverse Persian armies together.
1. The Damghan Battle (1729)
At the Battle of Damghan in 1729, Nader Shah decisively beat Ashraf Hotak’s Afghan army, marking one of his first significant victories. His attempt to reinstate the Safavid monarchy and free Persia from Afghan rule began with this triumph. Isfahan and a large portion of Persia had been taken over by the Afghans, but Nader’s military prowess and discipline allowed him to decisively defeat the Afghan army, regaining control of northern Persia and restoring Persian government.
2. Herat’s Conquest (1731)
Capturing the strategically important Afghan city of Herat was essential to Nader Shah’s ambitions to extend his kingdom eastward. Herat was governed by Afghan soldiers. Nader successfully overran Herat in 1731, bringing the city under control and expanding his dominion. This triumph enhanced Nader’s hold on the area’s commerce networks while also expanding Persian authority into Afghanistan.
3. Yeghevard Battle (1735)
In the Battle of Yeghevard in 1735, Nader Shah won a crucial victory in his fight against the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans were driven to withdraw after taking advantage of the unrest in Persia during the Safavid era. Nader’s victory dealt a serious blow to Ottoman ambitions in the area by enabling him to regain territory in the Caucasus and solidify Persian dominance over Armenia and Georgia.
4. Invasion of Great Mughal India’s (1739)
Nader Shah’s invasion of the Mughal Empire in 1739 is one of his most well-known operations. Having advanced far into Indian territory and crossed the Indus River, Nader’s army confronted the Mughal forces at the Battle of Karnal. Emperor Muhammad Shah was captured by Nader’s men after they convincingly beat the Mughal army despite being outnumbered. Following his entry into Delhi, Nader’s army is renowned for plundering the city and stealing enormous amounts of riches, including the renowned Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond. One of Nader’s biggest military triumphs, this invasion proved his superiority over one of the most prosperous empires at the time.
5. Kars Battle (1745)
Nader Shah carried on his military assaults against the Ottomans into his elderly years. During his final conflict with the Ottoman Empire in 1745, he achieved one of his last significant wins at the Battle of Kars. Nader’s armies took the Ottoman fortress of Kars, consolidating Persian dominance over most of the eastern frontier, in spite of mounting difficulties inside his kingdom. His status as the world’s greatest military commander was further enhanced by this victory.
Domestic Policies of Nader Shah
After years of chaos in Persia, Nader Shah’s internal policies were intended to stabilize his enormous kingdom, centralize authority, and consolidate control. After becoming king in 1736, he enacted laws intended to fortify the armed forces, enhance government, and promote religious tolerance. But his strict control frequently eclipsed his policies.
Reorganizing the military in a way that was fashioned after the modernized forces of Europe was one of his major efforts. Nader established stringent discipline, increased the strength of the army, and established a standing force, all of which helped Persia successfully fend off foreign threats and keep control of its large territory.
In a clearly divided nation, Nader Shah likewise aimed to promote religious unity. His goal was to promote Sunni Islam and implement laws that would encourage religious tolerance in order to heal the centuries-old Sunni-Shia rift that had afflicted Persia. Nevertheless, the Shia majority resisted this, and it mainly failed to bring the people together.
Economically, Nader burdened the general populace greatly by imposing high taxes to finance his military conquests. Despite the money his conquests brought, a large portion of it was spent on keeping his army in order, which caused unrest among the populace.
Nader Shah’s Contradictory Image by Historians
Despite Nader Shah’s military skills and massive conquests being well known, his cruel tactics, autocratic leadership, and the long-lasting harm he caused to the areas he conquered have prompted many historians to strongly condemn his reign. Historians have been known to draw attention to a number of his leadership controversies.
Sir John Malcolm
First, the primary cause of Nader Shah’s unfavorable historical picture is his brutality. Despite their military success, his operations were characterized by great brutality and widespread crimes. For instance, one of the most catastrophic sackings in Indian history occurred as a result of the attack on Delhi in 1739. Thousands of people were slaughtered by Nader’s soldiers, and the Mughal Empire suffered severe economic damage as a result of the widespread plundering. In his “History of Persia,” eminent historian Sir John Malcolm denounced Nader’s use of violence to maintain power and called his treatment of Delhi “savage barbarism.”
Michael Axworthy
The authoritarianism and paranoia of Nader are another source of criticism. Nader’s rule was marked by a rising amount of authoritarianism and mistrust. Important individuals within his kingdom were enraged by his execution of intimate advisors, military commanders, and members of his own family. Widespread uprising and turmoil resulted from this. Historians such as Michael Axworthy highlight Nader’s spiral into violence and paranoia in his book The Sword of Persia, pointing out that his extreme ruthlessness eventually weakened the kingdom he had devoted his life to creating.
One such factor contributing to Nader’s unpopularity is religious persecution. Despite his early support for religious tolerance, many Persians were offended by his subsequent attempts to impose Sunni Islam in an area that was mostly Shia. This policy created discontent and animosity inside.
Laurence Lockhart
Nader’s reputation was further damaged by the economic destruction brought about by his ardent military activities and high taxes. In their book Nadir Shah: A Critical Study Based Mostly Upon Contemporary Sources, historians such as Laurence Lockhart bemoan Nader’s failure to preserve the prosperity and stability of the lands he conquered, contending that his military triumph in the short term came at the expense of long-term stability.
Nader Shah’s Decline and Demise
The same brutality and paranoia that had characterized the last phase of Nader Shah’s rule also precipitated his downfall. Nader Shah was one of the most formidable military commanders in Persia. Following his quick ascent to prominence and a string of victories, his latter years were marked by a growing sense of unrest in both his personal and imperial lives.
Nader Shah’s physical and emotional well-being had declined by the middle of the 1740s. He was once renowned for his tactical skill, but as time went on, he developed a growing paranoia and began to suspect everyone. As he carried out ruthless purges and put military leaders, family members, and everyone else he suspected of being disloyal to death, his regime grew increasingly repressive.
His severe taxing measures, which were put in place to pay for his ongoing military expeditions, further polarized the populace and sparked uprisings across the empire.
His army, the core of his authority, was also affected by the unrest. The soldiers lost trust in him as a result of their weariness from constant wars and their resentment of his autocratic actions. When a plot to kill him was hatched by some of his own officers in June 1747, things reached a breaking point.
As Nader slept in his tent at Quchan in Khorasan on the night of June 19, 1747, a group of his officers, under the leadership of his closest allies, broke into his tent and killed him. His demise came quickly, but it also meant that the enormous empire he had created would fall apart right away.
His demise sent the empire into disarray, causing it to break up into smaller nations and usher in a time of political unrest. Nader Shah established the Afsharid dynasty, but it disintegrated fast, and his successors were unable to hold onto the lands they had taken. His later years were brutal and unstable, casting a shadow over his once magnificent career.
Conclusion
Nader Shah was a fascinating person whose legacy combines severe rule with military skill. He climbed from low beginnings and accomplished great achievements, like his well-known invasion of Mughal India, to reestablish Persian dominance. But in his later years, he was characterized by extreme harshness, paranoia, and authoritarian rule. His oppressive reign and high taxes made his people hostile, and as his mistrust grew, he carried out purges that undermined his kingdom. After Nader was assassinated in 1747, the empire he had laboriously constructed fell apart quickly. Nader Shah’s reputation as one of history’s greatest conquerors has been tarnished by the instability and destruction that his rule brought, despite his military prowess.
FAQs
Who Triumphed Over Nadir Shah?
The soldiers under Mohammad Khan Baloch were besieging, and after hours of combat, Nader’s army was beaten and withdrew. This was his only defeat in warfare.
What Did Nader Shah Acquire From India?
Nadir Shah took the peacock throne, which Shah Jahan had built. He also acquired the famed Koh-i-Noor diamond. He also stole 10 million rupees’ worth of gold, 600 million rupees’ worth of jewelry, and 6 million rupees’ worth of currency.
How Many Battles Did Nader Shah Win?
Nader’s men defeated the Ottomans in six important battles, including three victories over the Ottoman state’s main field army.
Who Received the Koh-i-Noor After Nadir Shah?
Following Nader Shah’s death, the Koh-i-Noor was given to his Afghan companion Ahmed Shah Abdali, and the stone spent the next 100 years in Afghanistan before being recovered from fleeing Afghans by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1813.
What is Nader Shah Renowned For?
Nader Shah Afshar founded the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and was one of the most powerful Iranian monarchs in history, serving as Shah of Iran from 1736 until 1747, when he was murdered after a revolt.
