Afsharid

Afsharid refers to the Afsharid Dynasty, a Persian imperial dynasty that ruled large parts of Iran and surrounding regions from 1736 to the late 18th century. The name derives from the Afshar, a Turkic-speaking tribal group from which the ruling house originated.

Origins and rise: The dynasty was founded by Nader Shah Afshar, a capable military commander who reestablished central authority after the decline of the Safavid state. Through successful campaigns against the Ottomans, Uzbeks, and Afghans, he united Iran and, in 1736, proclaimed himself Shah, establishing a new imperial regime. His 1739 campaign against the Mughal Empire culminated in the sack of Delhi, and the empire at its height encompassed much of present-day Iran, the Caucasus, and parts of Central Asia.

Administration and culture: The Afsharids pursued centralized rule, reorganizing the military and revenue administration, and minting their own coinage. They promoted Persian culture and architecture and sought to project imperial authority across a wide territory. The capital and administrative centers shifted with military campaigns, but the state maintained ambitions of a unified Iranian empire.

Decline and fall: Nader Shah was assassinated in 1747, and the empire quickly fragmented as rival governors and generals vied for power. A succession of short-lived Afsharid rulers failed to restore cohesion, and by the late 18th century, the Qajar dynasty had supplanted Afsharid authority.

Legacy: The Afsharid period is remembered for restoring Iranian sovereignty after prolonged upheaval and for its extensive military campaigns. The dynasty’s name remains linked to the Afshar tribe and to Nader Shah’s ambitious project of reconstituting a centralized Iranian empire.