On the plains of Chowal Mogan, and at the great festi val of the Nouroze, Nadir had assembled the nobles and chiefs of the empire ; and from them, after much affected humility, he condescended to accept the crown, upon the condition that the nation should abandon the doctrines of the Sheahs, and embrace the Sonnee faith. This desire of Nadir to change the religion of his country was evi dently prompted by the hope that it would destroy that veneration and attachment which the Persians cherished for the Suffavean dynasty, by whose founder the Sheah faith was first established. The nation at large, however, continued attached to their favourite tenets, which they openly embraced at the death of Nadir Shah.
The accession of Nadir Shah was immediately followed by the reduction of the province of Candahar, which was possessed by the Affghans ; and the rapid conquest of Hindostan, from whence he returned laden with the richest treasure, calculated to amount to nearly seventy millions sterling. His subjects began now to feel the benefit of their sovereign's triumphs. Taxes were remitted for three years ; and Nadir was regarded as the destined re storer of Persia to its former glory. Within five years, this indefatigable conqueror had not only expelled the Affghans, but had also subdued the monarchs of Candahar, India, Bokharah, and Khaurizm, and had extended the limits of the empire to the Oxus on the north, and the Indus on the east.
Hitherto Nadir had exercised his power with compara tive moderation ; but a circumstance occurred at this time, which seemed to produce a dreadful change in his dispo sition and character. While marching through one of the forests of Daghestan, in an expedition against the Lcsghees, a ball from a concealed assassin wounded him in the hand and killed his horse. His suspicions fell upon his oldest son Reza Kooli, a prince of great valour and acquirements, and who was much beloved by his countrymen ; and his suspicions were so heightened by the gross misrepresen tations of infamous courtiers, that in a moment of rage, he ordered the prince to be deprived of sight. "Your crimes," said Nadir, "have forced me to this dreadful measure." " It is not my eyes you have put out," replied Reza Kooli, " but those of Persia." No sooner was the punishment inflicted than the tyrant was penetrated with remorse, and vented his fury upon all around him. Fifty noblemen, who were present, were put to death, on the pretext that they should have offered their lives to save the eyes of a prince who was the glory of their country. From this time Nadir became gloomy and irritable ; and his conduct during the last five years of his life, exceeded in cruelty the deeds of the most bloody tyrants. His murders were
not confined to individuals; the inhabitants of whole cities were massacred ; and, according to his partial historian, " men left their abodes, and took up their habitations in caverns and deserts, in the hope of escaping his savage ferocity." The only troops that enjoyed his favour, and upon whom he placed any reliance, were the Affghans and Tartars, who were of the Sonnee persuasion ; and so suspicious was he of the fidelity of his countrymen, who, in general, adhered to the Sheah tenets, that in a state of frenzy he proposed to put to death every Persian in his army ; but the bloody purpose was prevented by his death ; and he was assassinated by some of his chief officers, who had been marked as his next victims.
The character of Nadir Shah may be given in few words. He worshipped at no shrine but that of ambition ; and every action of his life was intended to promote or to secure his own interests. His example of usurpation had inspired every petty chief with the desire of rule ; so that, at his death, Persia abounded with pretenders to regal power, and during ten years, as many sovereigns rose and fell in succession, till Kurreem Khan Zund was left with out a competitor. This excellent prince was born in a low rank ; but he may be numbered among the few Monarchs who have risen to power without crime, and exercised it with justice and moderation. His most formidable rival was Mahomed Hussein Khan, the head of the Kujurs, and grandfather of the pi-esent ruler of Persia. This chief, upon the murder of his father by Nadir Shah, had been compelled to take refuge among the Turkomans ; but no sooner was he informed of the death of that monarch, than, having collected an army. he hastened to become a com petitor for the empire. Kurreem Khan evacuated Ispahan on his approach, and shut himself up in Shiraz. But the troops of the Kujur chief were unprepared for the delayed hardships of a protracted siege ; and daily desertions of numerous bodies of his army warned their commander of the necessity of an early retreat. Kurreem, on his return to Ispahan, was receded with the most lively joy. He was the favourite competitor with the people, and pos . sessed their sincere attachment more than any ruler that ever held the government of Persia. Hussein was soon after defeated and slain. His family fled to the country of the Turkomans, where they remained about four years, and then gave themselves up to Kurreem Khan, who treat ed them with great attention and kindness.