KIZZILBASH, a term applied in Kabul and Herat to a Turk race, principally of the tribe of Jawanshir, who were placed in the country by Nadir Shah. Under the rulers of Kabul, they have served as bodyguards, cavalry, and artillery, and still retain their own language. Their history has been often written. In the beginning of the 18th century, the feebleness of the Persian monarchy excited the cupidity of the Afghan race, who overran the fairer portion of that kingdom, and possessed themselves of Isfahan. Their successes called forth the energies of Nadir, who not only drove the Afghans from Persia, but annexed the whole of their own territories to his empire, and, turning their 'swords against India, with a mixed army of Persian and Afghan,. sacked several of its cities.
When Nadir Shah marched towards Dehli, he had 12,000 fighting Kizzilbash with him. When he quitted that city, on his return, he left behind him 300 of these, who, with other troops, were directed to bring away his treasure, and follow him. They passed through Kabul, but when
within two days' march of Kandahar they heard of his death ; and a few days afterwards, Ahmad Shah, Nadir's lieutenant, came up with them, attended by 500 or 600 Daurani. He seized the treasure, and took the Kizzilbash into his service; and his kind treatment of them induced others to come from the neighbourhood of Tabreez, Mashed, Kirman, and Shiraz in Persia, where the true Kizzilbash exercise the profession of horse breeders, shepherds, and cultivators. There are now perhaps about 10,000 Kizzilbash in the city of Kabul, who are ever ready to draw their swords as mercenaries. Their leaders are by far the most wealthy, the most intelligent, and the most influential men at Kabul. See Kazzilbash.