Abbas the Great vs Nader Shah

Abbas the Great moved the Safavid capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. He initiated a massive building program, constructing the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the Shah Mosque, and the Ali Qapu palace. Isfahan was transformed into a grand city with parks, bridges, and bazaars, becoming a center of Persian culture and commerce.

Abbas the Great established a new military corps of ghulams (slave soldiers) recruited from Christian subjects in the Caucasus. These troops were trained in modern firearms and artillery, reducing the Safavid reliance on the Qizilbash tribal forces. This reform created a loyal, professional army that strengthened the central government.

Abbas the Great led the Safavid army to victory against the Ottoman Empire at Sufiyan near Tabriz. This battle was part of the Ottoman-Safavid War of 1603-1618. The victory allowed Abbas to recapture Tabriz and other territories lost to the Ottomans in earlier wars.

Abbas the Great allied with the English East India Company to expel the Portuguese from the island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. A joint Persian-English force captured the Portuguese fort after a siege. This victory ended Portuguese dominance in the Persian Gulf and opened trade routes for Persian and English merchants.

Abbas the Great led a campaign to recapture Baghdad from the Ottoman Empire. The Safavid army besieged the city and forced the Ottoman garrison to surrender. This victory restored Safavid control over Mesopotamia, a region lost since the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514.

Nader Shah, then a general for the Safavids, defeated a rebel army at Mihmandust in Khorasan. This victory established his military reputation and allowed him to become the leading military commander in the region. It was a key step in his rise to power.

Nader Shah defeated the Afghan Hotaki dynasty at the Battle of Damghan, driving them from Isfahan. He then restored the Safavid prince Tahmasp II to the throne as shah. This campaign ended Afghan rule in Persia and reestablished Safavid authority, with Nader as the de facto military ruler.

Nader Shah invaded the Mughal Empire and defeated the Mughal army at Karnal in northern India. The Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah surrendered. Nader Shah then entered Delhi, where he sacked the city and massacred thousands of inhabitants. He returned to Persia with immense plunder, including the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Nader Shah led a campaign into Central Asia, defeating the Khanate of Bukhara. He captured the city of Bukhara and forced the khan to submit. This campaign extended Persian influence into Transoxiana and secured the northern borders of his empire.

Nader Shah was assassinated in his sleep by a group of his own officers, including members of his Qizilbash guard. The assassination was motivated by his increasing paranoia, harsh rule, and demands for taxes. His death led to the collapse of the Afsharid dynasty and plunged Persia into civil war.