Iran struggling in war is in the headlines. Despite losing the Supreme Leader, it stands firmly in front of America-Israel. It is also attacking Arab countries that are helpful to America. These attacks are taking place on American bases in Arab countries. No one knows what the outcome of this war will be, but the current activities of the Iranian army show that they are fighters. And it is a historical truth that in Iran there were rulers who won, everyone achieved power only through struggle. Be it Khomeini becoming the supreme leader after the Islamic Revolution or Nader Shah who removed the king and gained power in Iran from an ordinary soldier.
The history of Iran shows that it was repeatedly broken, fell victim to occupation and then stood up again. Let us know how Nadir Shah, a young man from a poor family, ascended the throne of Iran? Then what main works did he do for Iran?
Shepherd’s son became the king of Iran
The story of Nadir Shah is one of the most exciting chapters in Iranian history. His journey from a simple shepherd’s son to becoming the Napoleon of Asia is a long story of courage, strategy and cruelty. There have been only a few personalities in history who have traveled from zero to the top. Nadir Shah was one of them. He was also known as Nadir Quli Beg. He was born in the year 1688 in a poor family in Khorasan province of Iran. The father was an ordinary shepherd who earned his living by making caps and coats from the skin of camels.
Nadir Shah was born in the year 1688 in a poor family in Khorasan province of Iran. Photo: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Robbers made mother a slave
Nadir’s childhood was very difficult. When he was young, Uzbek robbers had enslaved him and his mother. After a few years he succeeded in escaping from slavery. After returning he joined the service of a local clan leader. Due to his bravery and sharp intelligence, he soon emerged as a skilled soldier. This was the time when the situation in Iran (Persia) was very bad. The Safavi dynasty had become weak. Afghans had captured a large part of Iran. The Russians from the north and the Ottoman Empire from the west were grabbing Iran’s land. Iran was on the verge of complete disintegration.
first step towards power
During this period, Nadir formed a small army of his own and decided to help the Safavid prince Tahmasp II. He defeated the Afghan rebels in one battle after another. In the year 1729 he liberated Mashhad and Herat. His biggest victory was the battle of Damghan, where he crushed the Afghans badly. In this way, after many victories, Nadir’s stature became greater than that of the prince. He realized that weak Safavid rulers could not protect the country. In 1736 he called a grand assembly and declared himself the Shah of Iran. In this way a poor soldier became the king of Iran.
Major works of Nadir Shah for the country
Nadir Shah not only fought wars but also gave a new identity to Iran. In the pages of history, the works of Nadir Shah have been described as follows.
- Security and expansion of borders: Nadir Shah recovered the lost lands of Iran. He forced the Russians to retreat and captured many areas from the Ottoman Turks. He expanded the borders of Iran so much that it became reminiscent of the great Persian empires of ancient times.
- Also remained ahead in military reform: Nadir was a military genius. He modernized Iran’s army. He strengthened the cavalry and made extensive use of jamburaks (small cannons mounted on camels). His army was considered the most powerful army in Asia at that time.
- Efforts for religious unity: There were deep differences between Shia and Sunni communities in Iran. Nadir tried to reduce these differences. He tried to get the Ja’fari sect recognized as the fifth legal school of Islam so that peace could be maintained with the Ottoman Empire.
- Campaign to fill treasury: Nadir launched several campaigns to fill Iran’s empty coffers. His most famous campaign was the attack on India in the year 1739. He defeated the Mughal emperor Mohammad Shah amid heavy bloodshed and looted immense wealth from Delhi. He also took Takht-e-Taus and Kohinoor diamond with him. It is said that after this robbery, he had waived three years’ tax of the people of Iran.
- Foundation of Navy laid: Nadir Shah felt that Iran should also be powerful at sea. He laid the foundation for building a strong navy in the Persian Gulf. He arranged for wood and craftsmen to build the ship, which was a new idea for Iran at that time.
fall of nadir shah
Nadir Shah was as great a commander as he was a cruel ruler. He had become very suspicious in the last years of his rule. He had his own son’s eyes gouged out. Even his own officers were afraid of his cruelty. In the year 1747, his own bodyguards murdered him while he was sleeping. After his death, Iran again entered a period of instability. But despite being in power for a very short time, Nadir Shah did a lot for his country Iran.
The life of Nadir Shah, who remained in power for barely 11 years, is seen as an example of strong will. With this support, he united a scattered Iran and made it a major power in the world. Although his cruelty tarnished his name, he will always be remembered in the history of Iran as a protector and great conqueror. It is believed that if Nadir Shah had got some more time, he would have completely changed the map of Asia. He was a warrior who wrote his own destiny with the help of his sword.
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