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Nader Shah's conquests and the Qajar century of lost provinces and reform.

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Afsharid, Zand & Qajar Iran · 1736-1925 AD
The Long Nineteenth Century

Afsharid, Zand & Qajar Iran

From the conquering Nader Shah and the sack of Delhi through the gentle interlude of Karim Khan Zand, the Qajar founding of Tehran, the loss of the Caucasus to Russia and the pressures of the Great Game, to the Tobacco Protest and the Constitutional Revolution that ended the Qajar century. Slide across the years to read the major events of Iran between the Safavids and the Pahlavis.

1736 AD
Nader Shah
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Nader Shah, the Napoleon of Persia

The soldier Nader Shah crowns himself and launches a decade of brilliant, brutal conquests across Asia.

1736 AD

Nader Shah
  • Military

    Nader Shah, the Napoleon of Persia

    Contemporary portrait of Nader Shah (r. 1736–1747)
    Via Wikimedia Commons

    The soldier Nader Shah crowns himself and launches a decade of brilliant, brutal conquests across Asia.

9 milestones

Meanwhile

Around 1736 AD

Full Chronicle

Afsharid, Zand & Qajar Iran

From the conquering Nader Shah and the sack of Delhi through the gentle interlude of Karim Khan Zand, the Qajar founding of Tehran, the loss of the Caucasus to Russia and the pressures of the Great Game, to the Tobacco Protest and the Constitutional Revolution that ended the Qajar century. Slide across the years to read the major events of Iran between the Safavids and the Pahlavis.

  1. Nader Shah

    • Nader Shah, the Napoleon of Persia

      The soldier Nader Shah crowns himself and launches a decade of brilliant, brutal conquests across Asia.

  2. Nader Shah

    • The sack of Delhi and the Peacock Throne

      Nader invades India, crushes the Mughals at Karnal, and carries home the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

  3. Karim Khan Zand

    • Karim Khan and the peace of Shiraz

      Karim Khan Zand restores order to much of Iran and rules from Shiraz with rare moderation and care for his people.

  4. The Qajar Dynasty

    • Agha Mohammad Khan founds the Qajar dynasty

      The ruthless Agha Mohammad Khan reunites Iran, is crowned shah, and makes Tehran his capital.

  5. The Qajar Dynasty

    • Iran loses the Caucasus to Russia

      After two disastrous wars, the Treaty of Turkmenchay cedes Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to the Russian Empire.

  6. Reform and Reaction

    • Amir Kabir and the Babi movement

      The reforming minister Amir Kabir modernizes Iran and suppresses the new Babi faith, forerunner of the Baha'i religion.

  7. The Great Game

    • The Tobacco Protest

      A nationwide boycott forces the shah to cancel a tobacco monopoly granted to a British company, the first mass political victory.

  8. Constitutional Revolution

    • The Constitutional Revolution

      Popular pressure forces the shah to grant a constitution and Iran's first parliament, the Majles.

  9. End of the Qajars

    • The coup of Reza Khan

      The Cossack officer Reza Khan seizes power in a coup and rises to become the strongman of a shattered Iran.