Nader Shah

""How can there be any delights there?""

- Nader's response when he was told there was no war in paradise. Madmonarchs

Nader Shah (? - June 19, 1747) ruled as Shah of Persia (1736-1747) and was one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history. Because of his military genius, as evidenced in numerous martial encounters during the Naderian Wars, such as the battles of Herat, Mihmandust, Murche-Kort, Kirkuk, Yeghevard, Kheiber Pass, Kernal, & Kars, some historians have described him as the Napoleon I of Persia or the second Alexander. Nader Shah was a member of the Turkic Afshar tribe of northern Persia, which had supplied military power to the Safavid state since the time of Shah Ismail I.

Despite being outnumbered six to one, Nader Shah crushed the Mughal army in less than three hours at the huge Battle of Karnal on 13 February 1739. After this spectacular victory, Nader captured Mohammad Shah and entered with him into Delhi. When a rumour broke out that Nader had been assassinated, some of the Indians attacked and killed the Persian troops. Nader, furious, reacted by ordering his soldiers to plunder and attack the city. During the course of one day, (March 22), 20,000 to 30,000 Indians were killed by the Persian troops, forcing Mohammad Shah to beg for mercy.

The Persian troop left Delhi in 1739. Nader's soldiers took with them thousands of elephants, horses, and camels, loaded with the booty they had already collected. The plunder they seized from India was so rich that Nader stopped taxation in Iran for a period of three years following his return. Nader attacked the empire to, perhaps, give his country some breathing space after previous turmoils. His successful campaign and replenishment of funds meant that he could continue his wars against Iran's arch rival and neighbor, the Ottoman Empire, as well as the campaigns in northern Caucasus.

He was surprised in his sleep by Salah Bey, captain of the guards, and stabbed to death with Bey's sword.