1887.] 
E. E. Oliver —The Safwi Dynasty of Persia. 55 
ments were strong, and were well defended, but again the Af gh ans were 
driven back, with the loss of 4000 men. Ashraf had now to abandon 
Isfahan. He revenged himself by slaying the old ex-King Shah 
Husain, and fell back on Shiraz 1141 H. (1729). Here Nadir fast 
followed him, and again, near the ancient Persepolis, the Af gh ans were 
beaten,* 1142 H., and driven in confusion into Shiraz. Ashraf escaped 
by way of Sijistan, where he was finally murdered by a Biluch chief, 
who sent his head to Tahmasp. Thus ended the Ghilji rule, a period of 
savage terror, that had brought grievous ruin on Persia, and had probably 
cost a million of lives, and the desolation of many of the finest pro¬ 
vinces. Probably few of the Af gh ans, who were a small army of 
foreigners in the midst of enemies, ever got back. Many were killed, 
others sold into slavery. The fate of a few is described at length in 
Malcolm. 
Tahmasp the Second. Nominally Restored. 1142—1145 H. 
The destruction of the Af gh ans had not, however, the effect of 
restoring the line of the Safwis. Although Tahmasp appears as a 
nominal king, it was merely as a puppet of Nadir’s. Always jealous, 
Tahmasp once ventured to proclaim the general for disobedience. This 
dated the annihilation of any little power he ever enjoyed. Nadir at 
once marched to Court, and dictated what terms he chose. Tahmasp 
was treated respectfully, but given to understand he was not to do more 
than play at being king. In 1143 H. (1730) Khurasan. Mazandaran 
Sijistan and Kirman, four of the finest provinces, were formally made 
over to Nadir as a reward for delivering his country, and he was re¬ 
quested to assume the title of Sultan. He accepted all but the title, 
though he ordered coin to be struck in his own name. 
As soon as his troops had rested from thrashing the Af gh ans, 
Nadir turned his attention to the Turks. He encountered and defeated 
the Turkish force under two Pashas at Hamadan, made himself master 
of the cities of Tabriz, Ardibil, and was preparing to besiege fir wan, 
the Armenian capital, when he had to return to put down an Afghan 
rebellion in Khurasan 1144 H. (1731). This he summarily did, reduced 
the fortresses of Farah and Hirat, celebrating his victory in a splendid 
feast, for which the heads of 300 Afghans furnished the decorations. 
While Nadir was engaged in this practical buisness, the weak 
Tahmasp was persuaded into trying a little fighting against the Turks 
on his own account. He had just sent to Mahmud I. who had 
succeeded Ahmad Ill.j* in Constantinople a “ sweet-scented letter of 
* 15th July, 1730 A. D. 
f Mahmud I, bin Mustafa 1143—1167 II. 
