Nader Shah Afshar (1736–1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran. He is considered as one of the most powerful monarchs in Iranian history, His army defeated Mughals at the Battle of Karnal (1739) then finally attacked Delhi in March 1739. It exposed the weakness of the already crumbling Mughal empire. The greedy invader took possession of the royal treasury including the famous Koh-i-Nur diamond and jewel studded peacock Throne of Shahjahan .This article will explain to you about Nadir Shah which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Nadir Shah - Early Life

• Nadir Shah was born at the fortress of Dastgerd into the Afshars' Qereqlu clan, a semi-nomadic Turkic Qizilbash pastoralist tribe living in the northern valleys of Khorasan, an Iranian Empire region in the northeast.
• Nader was born in the latter years of the Safavid dynasty, which controlled Iran from 1502.
• Safavid Iran was a formidable empire at its apex, led by leaders such as Abbas the Great, but by the early 18th century, the realm was in serious decline, and the reigning shah, Sultan Husayn, was a weak ruler.
• In 1730, Nader Shah ascended to the throne of Persia.
• In that year, his troops captured Esfahan from the Safavid dynasty and established the Afsharid dynasty.
• After conquering Kandahar, the last bastion of the Hotaki dynasty in Afghanistan, in 1738, Nadir Shah proceeded to conduct expeditions across the Hindu Kush mountains into Northern India, which was then ruled by the Mughal Empire.
• As he went into Mughal territory, he was joined by Erekle II, his Georgian vassal and future ruler of eastern Georgia, who commanded a Georgian detachment as a military commander as part of Nadir's troop.

Afsharid Dynasty

• The Afsharid dynasty was an Iranian dynasty that ruled Iran (Persia) in the mid-eighteenth century, descended from the Turkoman Afshar clan in Iran's north-eastern region of Khorasan.
• The dynasty was established in 1736 by Nadir Shah, a superb military leader who toppled the last member of the Safavid dynasty and proclaimed himself Shah of Iran.
• Iran attained its largest breadth since the Sasanian Empire during Nader's rule.
• It ruled over modern-day Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan Republic, sections of the North Caucasus (Dagestan), Afghanistan, Bahrain, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, as well as parts of Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman at its peak.
• Following his death, the majority of his empire was partitioned among the Zands, Durranis, Georgians, and Caucasian khanates, with Afsharid sovereignty limited to a tiny provincial kingdom in Khorasan.
• Finally, in 1796, Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar overthrew the Afsharid dynasty, establishing a new native Iranian kingdom and restoring Iranian suzerainty over several of the aforementioned provinces.

Invasion of India by Nader Shah

• Emperor Nadir Shah (1736–47), Shah of Persia and founder of the Iranian Afsharid dynasty of Persia, invaded Northern India, finally invading Delhi in March 1739.
• His army handily beat the Mughals in the War of Karnal and would later conquer the Mughal capital as a result of the battle.
• Aurangzeb's death left a hole in the Mughal empire that none of his successors could fill.
• The empire had become weaker as a result of frequent conflicts for the throne and treachery of ministers.
• Nadir Shah, who rose from the ranks of the dacoits to become King of Persia, saw the weak realm as an opportunity.
• Nadir Shah then invaded India in 1738. The invasion was justified because the Mughal ruler Muhammad Shah had insulted the Persian ambassador at the royal court of Delhi.
• In 1739, he overran the Mughal empire's western boundaries, taking Ghazni, Kabul, and Lahore.
• When Nadir Shah crossed the Khyber Pass, the Governor of Punjab requested that the Mughal empire improve Punjab's defences, but the then-Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah turned a deaf ear to his sincere appeal.
• Soon after Nadir Shah entered Punjab, Muhammad Shah, seeing a threat, sent Khan Dauran and Nizam-ul-Mulk to head the Mughal armies against Nadir Shah.
• However, when both were defeated, Muhammad Shah was compelled to take leadership of the army himself.
• The two armies clashed at Karnal, but the Mughal soldiers were quickly trapped and crushed. The Nawab of Awadh, Saadat Khan, was kidnapped, and Khan Dauran was gravely injured.
• The Mughal army's defeat caused disarray among its ranks. The Nizam acted as a go-between, persuading Nadir Shah to return to Persia in exchange for 20 million rupees.
• The Mughal emperor, impressed with Nizam, bestowed the title of 'Amir-Ul-Umra' on him and named him Prime Minister.
• Saadat Khan contacted Nadir Khan and warned him that he should not be content with such a little that even a province governor might provide him.
• This electrified the Persian king, and the splendour of Delhi flashed before his eyes.

The massacre by Nadir Shah

• Nadir Shah, triumphant, entered Delhi besides the prostrated Mughal Emperor.
• The keys to the Delhi fort and its wealth had already been handed over. As a condition for his return, a sum was also agreed upon with Nadir Shah.
• However, word spread that Nadir Shah had been assassinated. Riots erupted in Delhi, and a few Persian troops were murdered. When Nadir Shah learned of this, he immediately rode towards the city, where he discovered the death of Persian warriors laying on the streets.
• Some people threw stones at him at the Sunhari masjid of Roshnuddola, and a stray gunshot killed a Persian soldier. He was so incensed that he ordered a massive murder in all areas where the remains of Persian soldiers had been discovered.
• As a result, on March 11, 1739, inhabitants of Delhi were pillaged and slain; some historians estimate that almost 0.2 million people were killed.

Consequences of the Invasion

• The army of Nadir Shah demolished, robbed, plundered, and wrecked the whole city of Delhi.
• Nadir Shah carried the Peacock throne erected by Shah Jahan with him. He also stole the fabled "Koh-i-noor" diamond.
• Aside from that, he stole 10 million rupees in gold, 600 million rupees in jewellery, and 6 million rupees in currency.
• According to historians, his whole collection after invading India was worth 700 million rupees, including 7000 artisans, 200 carpenters, 100 stone-cutters, and thousands of elephants, horses, and camels, which he carried to Persia.
• The invasion of India by Nadir Shah was a stark representation of cruelty and harsh treatment meted out to the residents of the city, the first of its sort in Indian history.
• The carnage at Delhi rendered the Mughals so weak that they were unable to confront other foes or rebuild their power.
• This invasion caused catastrophic harm to the Mughal Empire. The Persians took control of Mughal territories.
• Following Nadir Shah's footsteps, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India many times and assaulted Delhi between 1748 and 1767.

Peacock Throne

• The Peacock Throne was a magnificent jewelled throne that served as the seat of the Mughal Empires in India.
• It was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in the early 17th century and was housed in the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences, or Ministers' Room) of Delhi's Red Fort.
• It was called after a peacock because two peacocks are seen dancing at its back.
• On the Throne was inscribed in emerald a phrase celebrating Shah Jahan's achievements.
• It was made with an estimated 116 emeralds, 108 rubies, and other rare diamonds, sapphires, and pearls.
• There were silver stairs leading up to a platform 6 ft by 4 ft. The platform was raised about 25 inches above the ground on four gold-encased feet.
• Nadir Shah was slain by his own bodyguards in 1747, and Persia sank into turmoil. In the pandemonium that erupted thieves looted the palace and demolished the Peacock Throne.

Conclusion

The Mughal empire was irreparably damaged by Nadir Shah's assault. Mughal lands on both sides of the Indus were given to the Persians. Later, encouraged by Nadir Shah's antics, his successor, Ahmad Shah Abdali, invaded India four times between 1748 and 1767, plundering Delhi.

FAQs

Q1: Who was Nadir Shah, and when did he invade India?

Q2: Why did Nadir Shah invade India?

Q3: What were the consequences of Nadir Shah's invasion of India?

Q4: How did Nadir Shah’s invasion impact the Mughal Empire’s decline?

Q5: What treasures did Nadir Shah take from India?

MCQs

1. In which year did Nadir Shah invade India?

A) 1725

B) 1739

C) 1757

D) 1780

2. What was the major consequence of Nadir Shah’s invasion?

A) Strengthening of Mughal power

B) Emergence of regional powers

C) British annexation of India

D) Founding of a new dynasty

3. Which famous treasures did Nadir Shah take from India?

A) Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond

B) Golden Temple and Sanchi Stupa

C) Red Fort and Taj Mahal

D) Mysore Palace jewels

4. How did Nadir Shah’s invasion influence the decline of the Mughal Empire?

A) Strengthened alliances with European powers

B) Eroded the empire’s authority and financial stability

C) Led to the revival of Mughal rule

D) Unified the Indian subcontinent

5. Which Indian city suffered the most during Nadir Shah’s invasion?

A) Delhi

B) Agra

C) Lahore

D) Hyderabad

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Examine the impact of Nadir Shah’s invasion on the Mughal Empire.

Answer: The invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 significantly impacted the Mughal Empire, weakening it both politically and economically. His plunder of Delhi devastated the Mughal treasury, taking away iconic treasures like the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond. The massacre in Delhi also damaged the prestige of the Mughal rulers. Following the invasion, regional powers like the Marathas and Sikhs gained prominence, further diminishing the central authority of the empire. This invasion marked a turning point in the decline of the Mughal Empire, making it more vulnerable to external invasions and internal revolts.

Q2. How did the political instability in the Mughal Empire enable Nadir Shah’s invasion?

Answer: The political instability within the Mughal Empire—marked by weak leadership, internal divisions, and administrative inefficiencies—created an opportunity for Nadir Shah to invade. Emperor Muhammad Shah’s inability to control his nobles and manage rebellions weakened the empire. This lack of centralized power, along with the rich resources of India, attracted Nadir Shah. His invasion exploited the incompetence of the Mughal court, leading to devastating consequences for the empire.

Q3. Analyze the reasons behind the Mughal Empire’s failure to defend itself against Nadir Shah’s invasion.

Answer: The Mughal Empire failed to defend itself due to military unpreparedness, internal strife, and poor leadership under Muhammad Shah. The Mughal army, weakened by years of internal rebellions and regional conflicts, was no match for Nadir Shah’s well-trained forces. Additionally, the empire’s poor financial management left it unable to mobilize resources effectively. The absence of a unified command structure and disorganized defense strategies further contributed to the Mughal Empire’s inability to resist the invasion.

Previous Year Questions on  Nadir Shah

1. UPSC CSE 2016

Question. "Discuss the impact of Nadir Shah's invasion on the Mughal Empire." 

Answer: Nadir Shah’s invasion of 1739 was a significant blow to the Mughal Empire. The massacre in Delhi and the looting of treasures like the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond not only depleted the Mughal treasury but also tarnished the prestige of the empire. The invasion exposed the military and administrative weaknesses of the Mughals, which accelerated the empire’s decline. Additionally, the financial loss from the plunder strained the central authority, allowing regional powers like the Marathas and Sikhs to rise. This invasion marked the beginning of the fragmentation of the empire, setting the stage for future colonial interventions.

2. UPSC CSE 2014

Question. "How did Nadir Shah’s invasion accelerate the decline of the Mughal Empire?" 

Answer: Nadir Shah’s invasion in 1739 acted as a catalyst in the decline of the Mughal Empire. The financial strain caused by the looting of Delhi and the loss of invaluable treasures like the Peacock Throne crippled the empire economically. The massacre of civilians further eroded the moral authority of the Mughal rulers. The political instability following the invasion allowed regional powers to assert independence, weakening the empire’s central control. The invasion also exposed the military vulnerabilities of the Mughals, making them susceptible to future invasions by Afghan and British forces. Thus, the invasion significantly contributed to the fragmentation and eventual collapse of the Mughal Empire.