Nader Shah Biography

(Shah of Iran from 1736 to 1747)

Birthday: October 22, 1688 (Libra)

Born In: Dargaz, Iran

Nader Shah Afshar was a powerful Shah of Iran/Persia, who ruled from 1736 to 1747 A.D. He also founded the Afsharid Dynasty. At the height of his reign, his empire stretched from Russia to what is now known as the United Arab Emirates and from the Euphrates to the Indus. Originally from a poor background, he had experienced a deprived childhood. He conquered many countries to become one of the most powerful rulers in history. During the turmoil in Iran, the Afghans had deposed the Safavid ruler, while the Ottomans and the Russians had captured parts of Iran. Nader, who was made the commander of the Iranian army, fought and drove away all the invaders and brought back the Safavid rule. After winning several campaigns, the powerful army-commander crowned himself as the “Shah of Iran” in 1736. Nader Shah’s several victories, including those in Herat, Murche-khort, Karnal, and Khyber Pass, earned him the titles of “The Second Alexander” and “The Napoleon of Persia.” He was considered a military genius. However, he was not good at statesmanship. His cruelties and autocracies led to his destruction. He was assassinated by his own commandos in 1747.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Nader Shah Afshar

Died At Age: 58

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Razia Begum Safavi

father: Emam Qoli

children: Changiz Mirza, Joseph von Semlin, Mohmmad Allah Mirza, Morteza Mirza Afshar, Qoli Mirza Afshar, Reza Qoli Mirza Afshar

Born Country: Iran (islamic Republic Of)

Emperors & Kings Iranian Men

Died on: June 19, 1747

place of death: Quchan, Iran

Cause of Death: Assassination

  • 1

    What was Nader Shah famous for?

    Nader Shah was famous for being a powerful military leader and the founder of the Afsharid dynasty.

  • 2

    What was the impact of Nader Shah's conquests on the Persian Empire?

    Nader Shah's conquests expanded the Persian Empire to its greatest territorial extent, bringing wealth and power to the region.

  • 3

    How did Nader Shah's rule impact Persian culture and society?

    Nader Shah's rule brought about a period of stability and prosperity in Persian society, encouraging trade, art, and intellectual development.

  • 4

    What were some of the key battles fought by Nader Shah during his military campaigns?

    Nader Shah fought and won several significant battles, including the Battle of Karnal against the Mughal Empire and the Battle of Kirkuk against the Ottoman Empire.

  • 5

    What was the legacy of Nader Shah on the Persian Empire and its subsequent rulers?

    Nader Shah's reign had a lasting impact on Persian history, influencing the political landscape and shaping the future of the empire for generations to come.

Childhood & Early Life
He was born Nader Qoli Beyg, either on August 6, 1698, or on November 22, 1688, in Kobhan/Dastgerd in the Khorasan province, Iran, into a family belonging to the Turkish nomadic tribe of Afshars. The tribe was loyal to the Safavid rulers. His father, Emam Qoli, earned a living by making and selling sheepskin caps and coats. Emam died when Nader was still a child.
At 13, Nader supported himself and his mother by collecting and selling firewood in the market. In 1704, a plundering gang of Uzbek tartars raided the Khorasan province, killing many and taking away several, including Nader and his mother, as slaves. His mother died in captivity, while he managed to escape. He returned to Khorasan in 1708.
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Adult Life
There are different versions regarding the events that happened after Nader’s escape. Some references state that he became a soldier and made rapid progress in the army of a chieftain. It is believed he became a rebel later and formed an army of his own. Another version states that he initially stole for a living and then worked for a Baig, who soon grew unhappy with Nader. Nader then killed the Baig and ran away with his daughter in the hills, where he gathered an army of his own.
A third version states that Nader initially worked for Malek Mahmud, the local Afghan governor of Mashhad, only to rebel later and build his own army.
At the time, the ruling Safavid dynasty of Iran was waning. When the Afghans invaded during 1719, the reigning Shah, Sultan Husayn, could not fight them off. In 1722, Sultan Husayn was defeated by the Afghan leader Mahmud Hotaki/Mahmoud Ghilzai, in the Battle of Gulnabad, and the Afghans besieged the Safavid capital of Isfahan. Some references state that the Afghans massacred the Isfahan people, while others state that the citizens starved to death due to the siege.
After Sultan Husain’s abdication, his son, Shah Tahmasp II, became the ruler. In the beginning, Nader joined the Afghans to drive away the Uzbeks. However, later, he went to work for the Safavid heir Tahmasp II. Nader found out that his army-commander, Fateh Ali Khan (also spelled as Fath Ali Khan), was betraying the Shah and brought this to the notice of the Shah. Soon, Nader was made the chief-of-army in his place. Nader then declared himself the “Tahmasp Qoli” (the “Servant of Tahmasp”).
The Afghan ruler Mahmud Hotaki/Mahmoud Ghilzai was assassinated by his own men in 1725. Following this, his cousin, Ashraf, became the “Shah of Afghans.” Nader led many campaigns against the Afghans. He first removed them from Khorasan. He then recaptured Mashhad in 1726 and fought and won against the Afghans in Herat.
Nader achieved a resounding win against the “Shah of Afghans,” Ashraf, in the Battle of Damghan in September 1729. He secured another win at Murchakhort (in November). Shah Tahmasp made Nader the governor of many provinces and also got his sister married to Nader.
During the Safavid dynasty’s decline, the Ottoman Turks and the Russians had captured parts of Iran/Persia (the ‘Russo-Ottoman Treaty of Constantinople,’ 1724). Nader charged against the Ottomans in 1730 and won back major portions of the land that were earlier seized by the Ottomans. He also spent more than a year controlling the uprising of the Abdali Afghans in Khorasan.
While Nader was away at the battle, Shah Tahmasp, who wanted to emphasize his power, attacked the Ottomans to get back Yerevan. However, he lost the battle and also the territories of Georgia and Armenia. He also lost the territories that Nader had won back. Upset with this, Nader made Tahmasp step down and declared his infant son, Abbas III, the “Shah,” with Nader himself as his regent.
Between 1730 and 1735, during the Ottoman-Persian war, Nader conquered all the lost territories and drove away the Ottomans and the Russians from Persia. The only battle that he could not win was the battle to capture Baghdad, in which the Ottoman general Pasha subjugated Nader’s army. Later, Nader overpowered Pasha and killed him. He also won a major battle at Baghavard.
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By then, Nader had all the power and decided to declare himself the “Shah.” On March 8, 1736, Nader was crowned the “Shah of Iran.”
Although, reportedly, Nader was not particularly religious, during his reign, he unsuccessfully tried to bring the Shia and Sunni factions together. He probably did this because his army had soldiers from both the sects, and he wanted to maintain a peaceful and large army.
The Mughal Empire in India was on the decline. Nader’s enemies, the Afghans, were hiding in India. Thus, Nader charged on the Indian Empire in 1738–1739. In an excellently thought-out military attack, he led a small troop through the narrow Khyber Pass and startled the army of the governor of Peshawar, conquering their large forces. After conquering Ghazni, Lahore, Kabul, Peshawar, and Sindh, on February 13, 1739, he took on the large army of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah at the Battle of Karnal.
Nader massacred thousands of Indians. He was furious because his 900 men were killed by Indians after a rumor of Nader’s assassination. He plundered the rich treasures of the Mughals and reportedly took away 700 million rupees, the famous be-jeweled ‘Peacock Throne,’ and innumerable jewels, including the precious ‘Koh-i-Noor’ diamond. He took away hundreds of elephants and thousands of camels and horses, too.
It is believed, after the loot, He did not collect any taxes from the Persian subjects for 3 years. The money also funded his campaigns against the Ottomans. Before his return from India, Nader’s son killed Tahmasp II and his sons in 1740. Subsequently, Nader conquered Transoxania. He also built a navy for Iran. In 1743, he conquered Oman.
Later, Nader began suffering from serious health issues. It became difficult for his subjects to tolerate his greedy and cruel ways. He levied heavy taxes to pay for his large army. Those who did not pay taxes had to face the death penalty. With his selfish, greedy ways, he was not concerned about the welfare of his country.
After a failed assassination attempt, he became suspicious and paranoid. He suspected that his eldest son had tried to assassinate him. Thus, he had him blinded. Following this, he began executing his court nobles who had witnessed the blinding of his son, one by one. Nader became increasingly cruel and mercilessly killed those who revolted.
Nader went to Khorasan in 1747, to suppress the revolt of the Kurds. Because of his cruel, paranoid attitude, his own officers were afraid to be around him. A group of his commandos conspired and attacked him when he was sleeping. He managed to kill two of them before they assassinated him.
Not much is known about Nader’s personal life, except that he had married four times and had five sons and 15 grandsons.
Facts About Nader Shah

Nader Shah was known for his love of poetry and literature, often composing verses himself and surrounding himself with poets and scholars.

Nader Shah was a skilled chess player and enjoyed playing the game in his free time, often challenging his courtiers and generals to matches.

Nader Shah had a fascination with astronomy and astrology, seeking guidance from astrologers before making important decisions during his reign.

Nader Shah was a patron of the arts and architecture, commissioning grand buildings and monuments that still stand today as a testament to his legacy.

Nader Shah had a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors, often retreating to his gardens and hunting grounds to relax and unwind from the stresses of ruling an empire.

See the events in life of Nader Shah in Chronological Order

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- Nader Shah Biography
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URL
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