Shahrukh Afshar
Shahrukh Shah Afshar, also spelled Shah Rokh (Persian: شاهرخ) (c. 1730–1796), was a king of the Afsharid dynasty and a contemporary of the Zand kings.[1][2]
As the teenage son of Reza Gholi Mirza and Nader Shah's grandson, he was elected by the nobles following the assassination of Ebrahim Afshar. His fourth son, Nadir Mirza of Khorasan, became the prince of Khorasan. He made Mashhad the capital of his kingdom. Shahrukh was a contemporary of Mirza Mohammad, who was the son of shah Suleiman I Safavi's daughter and a clergyman.[3] Encouraged by the nobles, he came to believe he was the true heir to the throne. Thus he captured and blinded Shahrukh capitalizing on the popular dissatisfaction with Shahrukh's rule, partly owing to the conduct of his Georgian favorite Rasul Beg, who scandalized Mashad by making free with the harem of his master.[4] In 1749, during a struggle for power, the son of the Khan of Tabriz, Azad Khan Afghan, began a campaign for independence which removed the province of Atropatene from the Persian empire, while in the west the Qajar tribe led by Mohammad Hassan Khan took over the region of Mazandaran.
In 1750, Soleyman II was captured and blinded by the followers of Shahrukh, subsequent to which Shahrukh was reinstated as Shah.
In 1760, when Karim Khan took control of Persia, he did not try to depose Shahrukh out of respect for Nader; however, the realm of Shahrukh was reduced to the province of Khorasan.
In 1796, Agha Muhammad Khan conquered Khorasan and had Shahrukh tortured to death because he thought that he knew of Nader's treasures. Shahrukh's descendants in the male line continue today under the Afshar Naderi surname.
References
- ↑ Shiri Ram Bakshi (1995). Advanced History of Medieval India. ISBN 81-7488-028-3.
- ↑ D. L. Bradley Dictionary of Iran: A Shorter Encyclopedia 2015 1312825081- Page 20 "Shah Rokh, a son of the unfortunate Reza Quli Mirza, was then elevated to the throne (A.H. 1161/C.E. 1748). He was fifteen years of age, a youth of decent qualities and showing great promise. But it was all to no avail."
- ↑ http://irane-man.tripod.com/NaderShah.html
- ↑ Lang, David Marshall (1957), The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy, 1658-1832, p. 148. Columbia University Press
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ebrahim Shah Afshar |
Shah of Persia (1st time) 1748–1749 |
Succeeded by Suleiman II of Persia |
| Preceded by Suleiman II of Persia |
Shah of Persia (2nd time) 1750–1760 |
Succeeded by Karim Khan Zand |
| Preceded by Ebrahim Shah Afshar |
Azerbaijan (as part of Persia) 1748–1749 |
Succeeded by Azad Khan Afghan |
| Preceded by Ebrahim Shah Afshar |
Ruler of Mazandaran (as part of Persia) 1748–1749 |
Succeeded by Mohammad Hasan Khan Qajar |
| Preceded by Soleyman II Safavi |
Ruler of Khorasan 1750–1796 |
Succeeded by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar |