{"id":58414,"date":"2025-08-05T13:15:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T07:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=58414"},"modified":"2025-08-06T13:19:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T07:49:53","slug":"nadir-shah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/nadir-shah\/","title":{"rendered":"Nadir Shah, Early Life, Afsharid Dynasty, Invasion of India, Massacre"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Afsharid Dynasty of Iran was established in 1736 by one of the powerful monarchs, Nader Shah Afshar. During the Battle of Karnal in 1739, he defeated Mughals then attacked Delhi later. This invasion exposed the decline of the Mughal Empire. Nader Shah seized the imperial treasury, including the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond and the jewel studded Peacock Throne of Shah Jahan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Nadir Shah Early Life<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nader Shah Afshar ruled Iran from 1736 to 1747 and founded the Afsharid dynasty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is considered one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1739, he defeated the Mughal army at the Battle of Karnal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the victory, he invaded Delhi and launched a violent assault in March 1739.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The invasion highlighted the Mughal Empire\u2019s weakening control and internal instability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nader Shah looted immense wealth from Delhi, including the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Afsharid Dynasty<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Afsharid Dynasty ruled Iran in the mid-18th century.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was founded by Nadir Shah in 1736, who came from the Turkoman Afshar clan in Khorasan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nadir Shah overthrew the last Safavid ruler and declared himself the Shah of Iran.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under Nadir Shah, Iran reached its largest territorial extent since the Sasanian Empire.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The empire covered modern-day Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, parts of the North Caucasus (Dagestan), Afghanistan, Bahrain, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, UAE, and Oman.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the death of the Afsharid Dynasty, the power of his empire was divided among the Zands, Durranis, Georgians, and Caucasian khanates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Afsharids were left ruling only a small area in Khorasan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dynasty came to an end in 1796 when Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar established the Qajar dynasty, reclaiming several former provinces.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Invasion of India by Nader Shah<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nadir Shah ruled Persia from 1736 to 1747 and founded the Afsharid dynasty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1739, he invaded Delhi after defeating the Mughals at the Battle of Karnal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mughal Empire was already weakened post-Aurangzeb due to succession struggles and ministerial corruption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nadir Shah started to rise from his origin and saw the decline of the Mughal Empire which he converted into an opportunity to invade India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His invasion of India in 1738 was supposedly triggered by an insult to a Persian ambassador at the Mughal court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He first captured Ghazni, Kabul, and Lahore, crossing into India through the Khyber Pass.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor of Punjab warned of the threat, but Emperor Muhammad Shah ignored the alert.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Nadir advanced, Mughal generals Khan Dauran and Nizam-ul-Mulk were sent to confront him.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They were defeated, and Muhammad Shah himself had to lead the army.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mughal army was decisively crushed at Karnal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saadat Khan was captured, Khan Dauran severely wounded, and Mughal morale collapsed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nizam-ul-Mulk tried negotiating with Nadir Shah, offering 20 million rupees for his withdrawal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impressed by Nizam, Muhammad Shah appointed him Prime Minister and gave him the title Amir-Ul-Umra.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, Saadat Khan secretly encouraged Nadir to take more, claiming Delhi\u2019s wealth far exceeded the offer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tempted by Delhi\u2019s wealth, Nadir Shah captured the Mughal capital, leading to one of the most brutal battles in history.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Nadir Shah Massacre<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After his entry into Delhi, Nadir Shah was received by a defeated Mughal Emperor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The keys to the Red Fort and its treasures had already been surrendered. But then, a rumor spread that Nadir Shah had been killed. Chaos followed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Riots broke out, and several Persian soldiers were attacked and murdered in the streets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nadir Shah stormed back into the city and found his men dead across various neighborhoods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the Sunhari Masjid, someone hurled a stone at him, and a gunshot killed one of his troops.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enraged, he ordered a brutal massacre wherever Persian bodies had been found.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On March 11, 1739, Delhi witnessed one of the bloodiest days in its history, an estimated 20,000 to 200,000 people were killed, depending on the account.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Consequences of the Invasion<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nadir Shah\u2019s army robbed, plundered, and devastated Delhi completely. He took the Peacock Throne built by Shah Jahan and the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also looted 10 million rupees in gold, 600 million in jewellery, and 6 million in cash. His total loot was estimated at 700 million rupees, including:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7000 artisans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">200 carpenters<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">100 stone-cutters<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thousands of elephants, horses, and camels<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His invasion is remembered for its brutality and unprecedented cruelty towards Delhi\u2019s residents. The Mughal Empire was left shattered and too weak to resist further threats or recover.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persian forces seized control of Mughal territories after the invasion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inspired by Nadir Shah, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India repeatedly between 1748 and 1767, targeting Delhi multiple times.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Peacock Throne<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peacock Throne was a throne which served the king who ruled from the Mughal Empire in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the invasion, the throne was given to the Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century in Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences, or Ministers&#8217; Room) of Delhi&#8217;s Red Fort.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was called the Peacock Throne as two peacocks are visible on the back dancing of the throne, and also had an emerald which depicts the achievements of Shah Jahan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was designed with 116 emerald, 108 rubies and other diamonds, sapphires, and pearls approximately.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A set of silver stairs led up to a platform measuring 6 feet by 4 feet. This platform stood approximately 25 inches above the ground, supported by four feet encased in gold.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1747, Nadir Shah was assassinated by his own bodyguards. Following his death, Persia descended into chaos. Thieves entered the royal palace and destroyed the legendary Peacock Throne.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nadir Shah, founder of the Afsharid Dynasty, invaded India in 1739, looted Delhi\u2019s treasures, massacred thousands, and exposed the Mughal Empire\u2019s decline.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":58303,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[2050],"class_list":{"0":"post-58414","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-nadir-shah","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58414"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58414\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}