
Nādir Shāh, painting by an unknown artist, c. 1740; in the Victoria and Albert elipsis
(born Oct. 22, 1688, Kobhan,
Ssubdotafavid Iran—died June 1747, near Fat
hsubdotābād) Iranian conqueror and ruler. Originally a bandit of the Turkish Afshar tribes, he helped restore
Tsubdotahmāsp II of the
Ssubdotafavid dynasty to Iran's throne, defeating the Ghilzay Afghan usurper Ma
hsubdotmūd. He later deposed
Tsubdotahmāsp II to place the latter's infant son on the throne; he made himself regent, then deposed the son and took the throne himself in 1736. He engaged in constant warfare with his neighbours, enlarging his empire from the Indus River to the Caucasus Mountains. Suspicious of those around him and capriciously cruel, he was assassinated by his own troops.
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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.