06.18.2007 - By George Hageman
Nader Shah was the founder of the Afsharid Dynasty of Persia, lasting
from 1736 to 1747. During this time, this "second Alexander" returned
Persia to its Sassanid-era borders. After pushing the anti-Safavid
Afghan invaders out of Persia, Nader invaded Afghanistan and took the
cities of Kabul, Kandahar, and Lahore. In the western theater, Nader
Shah gained many cities from Ottoman Mesopotamia, including Najaf,
Karbala, and Basra. However, he was stopped at the walls of Baghdad.
In the Eastern Theater, Nader Shah defeated the Mughals decisively at
the Battle of Karnal. From here, he continued on into Delhi, where he
indirectly killed 30,000 civilians and took many crown jewels,
including the Peacock Throne (valued at $1 billion dollars now) and two
180+ carat diamonds.
Nader Shah also conquered Oman and Bahrain. He founded the modern
Persian Navy. He even tried to reconcile Shiite Islam and Sunni Islam
but failed. Upon his assassination in 1747, the Persian Empire
descended, once again, into chaos.
For more information, read:
http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-225443
http://www.iranchamber.com/history/afsharids/afsharids.php
http://irane-man.tripod.com/NaderShah.html
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