Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant
Nader Shah, ruler of Persia from 1736 to 1747, embodied ruthless ambition, energy, military brilliance, cynicism and cruelty. His reign was filled with bloodshed, betrayal and horror. Yet, Nader Shah is central to Iran's early modern history. From a shepherd boy, he rose to liberate his country from foreign occupation, and make himself Shah. He took eighteenth century Iran in a trajectory from political collapse and partition to become the dominant power in the region, briefly opening the prospect of a modernising state that could have resisted colonial intervention in Asia. He recovered all the territory lost by his predecessors, including Herat and Kandahar, and went on to conquer Moghul Delhi, plundering the enormous treasures of India. Nader commanded the most powerful military force in Asia, if not the world. He repeatedly defeated the armies of Ottoman Turkey, the preeminent State of Islam, overran most of what is now Iraq and threatened to take Baghdad on several occasions.
But from the zenith of his success he declined into illness, insane avarice and horrific savagery, committing terrible atrocities against the Persian people, his friends, and even his family, until he finally died as violently as he had lived. The "Sword of Persia" recreates the story of a remarkable, ruthless man, capable of both charm and brutality. It is a rich narrative, full of dramatic incident, including much new research into original Iranian and other material, which will prove indispensable to historians and students. The book includes many contemporary illustrations, and maps.
1120348904
Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant
Nader Shah, ruler of Persia from 1736 to 1747, embodied ruthless ambition, energy, military brilliance, cynicism and cruelty. His reign was filled with bloodshed, betrayal and horror. Yet, Nader Shah is central to Iran's early modern history. From a shepherd boy, he rose to liberate his country from foreign occupation, and make himself Shah. He took eighteenth century Iran in a trajectory from political collapse and partition to become the dominant power in the region, briefly opening the prospect of a modernising state that could have resisted colonial intervention in Asia. He recovered all the territory lost by his predecessors, including Herat and Kandahar, and went on to conquer Moghul Delhi, plundering the enormous treasures of India. Nader commanded the most powerful military force in Asia, if not the world. He repeatedly defeated the armies of Ottoman Turkey, the preeminent State of Islam, overran most of what is now Iraq and threatened to take Baghdad on several occasions.
But from the zenith of his success he declined into illness, insane avarice and horrific savagery, committing terrible atrocities against the Persian people, his friends, and even his family, until he finally died as violently as he had lived. The "Sword of Persia" recreates the story of a remarkable, ruthless man, capable of both charm and brutality. It is a rich narrative, full of dramatic incident, including much new research into original Iranian and other material, which will prove indispensable to historians and students. The book includes many contemporary illustrations, and maps.
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Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant

Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant

by Michael Axworthy
Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant

Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant

by Michael Axworthy

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Overview

Nader Shah, ruler of Persia from 1736 to 1747, embodied ruthless ambition, energy, military brilliance, cynicism and cruelty. His reign was filled with bloodshed, betrayal and horror. Yet, Nader Shah is central to Iran's early modern history. From a shepherd boy, he rose to liberate his country from foreign occupation, and make himself Shah. He took eighteenth century Iran in a trajectory from political collapse and partition to become the dominant power in the region, briefly opening the prospect of a modernising state that could have resisted colonial intervention in Asia. He recovered all the territory lost by his predecessors, including Herat and Kandahar, and went on to conquer Moghul Delhi, plundering the enormous treasures of India. Nader commanded the most powerful military force in Asia, if not the world. He repeatedly defeated the armies of Ottoman Turkey, the preeminent State of Islam, overran most of what is now Iraq and threatened to take Baghdad on several occasions.
But from the zenith of his success he declined into illness, insane avarice and horrific savagery, committing terrible atrocities against the Persian people, his friends, and even his family, until he finally died as violently as he had lived. The "Sword of Persia" recreates the story of a remarkable, ruthless man, capable of both charm and brutality. It is a rich narrative, full of dramatic incident, including much new research into original Iranian and other material, which will prove indispensable to historians and students. The book includes many contemporary illustrations, and maps.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780857733474
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 03/24/2010
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 368
File size: 6 MB

About the Author

MICHAEL AXWORTHY studied History at Peterhouse, Cambridge and was Head of the Iran Section, Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1998 to 2000. He has been to Iran many times both as a visitor and as a diplomat. He now teaches Middle East History at Exeter

Table of Contents

List of Maps and Illustrations vii
Acknowledgments ix
Note on Transliteration xi
Preface xv
Prologue Zenith 1
Chapter One The Fall of the Safavid Dynasty 17
Chapter Two Tahmasp Qoli Khan 57
Chapter Three War with the Afghans 75
Chapter Four War with the Ottomans 99
Chapter Five Coup d'État 117
Chapter Six Nader Shah 137
Chapter Seven To the Gates of Delhi 175
Chapter Eight The Ruin of Persia 211
Chapter Nine Towers of Skulls 243
Chapter Ten Full Circle 275
Notes 287
Select Bibliography 329
Index 339
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