r 44 , PERSIA. 



of Thamas Kouli Khan, pretending that his services were not suffici = 

 ently rewarded, he rebelled against his sovereign, made him a prisoner, 

 and, it is supposed, put him to death. 



This usurper afterwards mounted the throne under the title of Shah 

 Nadir. He made an expedition into Hindoostan, from which country- 

 he carried off an amazing booty in money, precious stones, and other 

 valuables; but it has been remarked that he brought back an inconsid- 

 erable part of his plunder from India, losing great part of it upon his 

 return by the Mahrattas and accidents. He next conquered Usbec Tar- 

 tary ; but was not so successful against the Daghistan Tartars, whose 

 country he found to be inaccessible. He vanquished the Turks in se- 

 veral engagements, but was unable to take Bagdad. The great prin- 

 ciple of his government was to strike terror into all his subjects by the 

 most cruel executions. His conduct became so intolerable, and parti- 

 cularly his attempt to change the religion of Persia to that of Omar, 

 and strangling the chief priests who resisted, that it was thought his 

 brain was disordered ; and he was assassinated in his own tent, partly 

 in self-defence, by his chief officers and his relations, in the year 1747'. 

 Many pretenders, upon his death started up ; and it may naturally 

 be supposed, that a chronological and accurate account of these 

 various and rapid revolutions is very difficult to be obtained. The 

 confusion which prevailed through the whole country, from the death 

 of Nadir, until the settlement of Kerim Khan, prevented all attempts 

 of literature, arts, and sciences. During this interval, the whole em- 

 pire of Persia was in arms, and rent by commotions ; different parties 

 in different provinces of the kingdom struggling for power, and each 

 endeavouring to render himself independent of the other, torrents of 

 blood were shed, and the most shocking crimes were committed with 

 impunity. The whole face of the country, from Gombroon to Rus- 

 sia, presents to the view thousands of instances of the misery and 

 devastation which has been occasioned by these commotions. 



From the accounts Ave have been able to collect, the number of 

 pretenders to the throne of Persia, from the death of Nadir Shah 

 until the final establishment of Kerim Khan's government, was no 

 less than nine, including himself. Kerim Khan Zund was a most 

 favourite officer of Nadir Shah, and at the time of his death was in 

 the southern provinces ; Shirauz and other places had declared for 

 him. He found means, at last, after various encounters with doubtful 

 success, completely to subdue all his rivals ; and finally to establish 

 himself as ruler of all Persia. He was in power about thirty years, 

 the latter part of which he governed Persia under the appellation of 

 vakeel, or regent ; for he never would receive the title of Shah. He 

 made Shirauz the chief city of his residence, in gratitude for the as- 

 sistance he had received from its inhabitants, and those of the southern 

 provinces. He died in the year 1779, in the eightieth year of his 

 age, regretted by all his subjects, who esteemed and honoured him 

 as the glory of Persia. His character is most deservedly celebrated 

 for the public buildings which he erected, and the excellent police 

 which he maintained; so that, during his whole reign, there, was not 

 in Shirauz a single riot productive of bloodshed; besides these merits, 

 his aversion to severe punishments, his liberality and kindness to the 

 poor, his toleration of people of different persuasions, his partiality 

 for Europeans, and his encouragement of trade, together with his 

 great military abilities and personal courage, rendered him not only 

 belayed by his own subjects, but greatly respected by foreign powers. 



