54 
E. E. Oliver —The Safwi Dynasty of Persia. 
[No. 2, 
Ashraf, 1137—1142 H. 
Asliraf who succeeded his cousin (22nd April 1725), joined, according 
to Han way “ the valour of Mahmud to the moderation and cunning of 
Mir Wis.” His first measures, however, were hardly less cruel than those 
of the former, and sadly wanting in the diplomacy of the latter. His first 
order was for Mahmud’s head, and his next to put to death the nobles 
and commanders who had served, and in many cases well served, his 
cousin. With Af gh an cunning he invited Tahmasp II. to come to Isfahan 
as a friend, but that prince had sufficient acuteness to wait till he could 
come with an army, and Ashraf had for the time being to be content 
with putting to death Tahmasp’s correspondents. 
The Turks had now got far ahead of the Russians in their partition 
of Persia, and in 1138 H. (1726 A. D.), marched a large army to the 
capital. Ashraf, however, between diplomacy and generalship, com¬ 
pletely outmanoeuvred and defeated them, with the loss of 12,000 men, 
the Turks having to retire to Karmansliah, and finally to Baghdad. 
Eventually, as his object was to make peace with so powerful an enemy 
as soon as possible, he concluded a treaty, ceding Kurdistan, Khuzistan, 
part of Azarbaijan, Sultaniyali, Tihran, and certain cities of ’Iraq, in 
return for which the Turks were to recognize him as sovereign. This 
gave him time to turn his attention to other dangers. A brother of 
Mahmud’s held Qandahar. Malik Mahmud, the governor of Sijistan, 
proclaimed himself independent. The Abdali Afghans were still in 
possession of Hirat. But by comparison these were minor evils ; before 
long he had to face a still more formidable enemy,—a soldier of fortune, 
at first a mere obscure peasant, a Turkman by birth, a robber by pro¬ 
fession, but who was destined to make himself a world wide reputation 
as a conqueror. This was Nadir Quli, then in the service of Tahmasp. 
The latter had fixed his court at Farahab&d in Mazandar&n, where he 
was supported by the Qajars of Astarabad. Nadir, already well known 
as an irregular leader of fame, joined him in 1139 H. (1727 A. D.) with 
5000 men. So did Path ’AH Khan Qajar with 3000. This deter¬ 
mined Tahm&sp to act on the defensive, and he appointed Nadir to the 
sole command. Nadir at once disposed of a possible rival in Fath ’All 
KMn. reduced Mashhad and Hirat, and the first season compelled 
Khurfisdn to acknowledge; Tahmasp. 
Ashraf had just succeeded in taking Yazd, and as soon as Nadir, 
now christened Tahmasp Quli Khan, took the field, advanced boldly to 
meet him. The armies mot at Damaghan 1111 H. (1729), and the 
Afghans were defeated. The Qlnlji. however, was by no means inclined 
to give up the game, and prepared to defend the capital. Ilis entrench- 
