During the first years of the struggle, he employed him self in establishing his authority in his native province. But upon receiving intelligence of the death of ly Nloorad Khan, he led his followers into Irak : and before the close of Jaaffer Khan's reign, he had reduced almost the whole of that province. On the accession of Looft Aly Khan, he advanced into Fars, and having defeated that prince, laid siege to the city of Shiraz ; but after a vain attempt to make any impression upon its defences, he returned to Teheran, which he had made the capital of his kingdom. But the overbearing and suspicious temper of his rival, did more to promote his cause than his own valour, or the number of his followers.
Hajee Ibrahim, the prime minister, and governor of Shiraz, a nobleman of the highest talents and acquirements, and who had been the means of placing Looft Aly Khan upon the throne, had become alarmed for his own safety from the irascible disposition of his master ; and, as a measure of self-preservation, seized upon Shiraz, and in vited Aga Mahomed to take possession of it. A strong detachment was immediately dispatched to the support of Hajee Ibrahim, but it was attacked and defeated by the Persian prince. Another army, of superior force, and out numbet lug the troops of Looft Aly more than ten to one, met with the same fate ; when Aga Mahomed was under the necessity of advancing in person with an overwhelming force, w Melt he conceived would at once terminate the war. But the brave Looft Aly was still undismayed, and, animated by the most heroic courage, he determined upon one great effort for his crown. He surprised the advanced guard of tile enemy, which he defeated, and pursuing the fugiti% es to their camp, attacked with a band of a few hun dred alien an army of more than thirty thousand. Favoured by the darkness of the night, and the terror which his Mine inspired, he had dispersed almost the whole of the enemy, and was about to enter the tent of the Kuju• chief, when he was stopped by the assurance of one of his fol lowers that Aga Alahomed was among the fugitives. De ceived by this report, he dispersed his troops to plunder in other directions, reserving for himself the jewels and treasures of the royal pavilion. But when the morning dawned, he was astonished to hear the public crier calling to prayers, which announced to all that Aga Mahomed Khan was still at his post. Looft Aly, awakened from his dream of victory, found himself in the midst of his enemies, and fled with precipitation, to avoid being made prisoner. Aga Mahomed marched his army to Shiraz; and from this time he may be considered the actual sovereign of Persia.
The mind of Looft Aly Khan was still unsubdued. Though struggling against the most adverse circum stances, he still cherished the hope of better fortunes. He had still a few faithful followers, who had never for saken him ; and with these this most undaunted of war riors determined again to take the field. After a variety of fortune, he took the city of Kerman by assault, and once more assumed the style of a sovereign ; but this was the last of his glorious achievements. Aga Ma homed hastened with all the forces he could collect to crush a foe who seemed to rise with renewed energy from eve, y fall He invested the city with au immense army ; and posted a strong body of men opposite every gateway, to prevent the escape of his rival. The defence was maintained with the most heroic ardour for four months ; but treachery effected what superiority of numbers could not accomplish. The citadel was given up to the Persian troops; and Looft Aly and his brave followers, after a se vere contest of three hours, were overpowered by num bers, and obliged to retire. At night the young prince crossed the ditch by a bridge of planks, and. accompanied by three attendants, threw himself upon the enemy's lines with a courage strengthened by despair, and effected his escape. When Aga Mahomed found in the morning that Looft Aly was beyond his reach, he gave vent to the cruel passions of his nature, and wreaked his vengeance upon the innocent inhabitants of Kerman. All the males of mature age were commanded to be put to death, or deprived of sight ; and twenty thousand women and chil dren were granted as slaves to his soldiers.
Looft Aly Khan was soon afterwards betrayed into the hands of his merciless enemy, who, after treating him with the most brutal indignity, tore out his eyes, and sent him prisoner to Teheran. But this gallant prince, even in the wretched state to which he was reduced, was still an object of dread ; and the fears of the tyrant could only be allayed by his death. Such was the fate of the last prince of the Zund dynasty, which had held the govern ment of Persia for nearly half a century. But their im placable enemy was determined upon their extirpation ; and every one, who, from his birth, could have formed the most remote pretensions to the throne, was either put to death or deprived of sight ; and not only the members of this tribe, but all who had been the active supporters of the family of Kurreem Khan, Were removed to the most dis tant quarters of the kingdom.