Karim Khan

Karim Khan Zand, on Persian: کریم خان زند, (c. 1705- 1779), was a Shah of Persia who reigned from 1760 until 1779. He founded the Zand dynasty.

Related Topics:
Persian - 1705 - 1779 - Shah - Persia - 1760 - Zand dynasty

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Karim Khan was one of the generals of Nadir Shah. After Nadir Shah's death in 1747, Persia was entered into a civil war. At that time Karim Khan, Abdolfath Khan and Ali Mardan Khan reached an agreement to divide the country between themselves and giving throne to Ismail III. However the cooperation ended after Ali Mardan Khan invaded Isfahan and killed Abdolfath Khan. Then Karim Khan killed Ali Mardan Khan and invaded all Iran except Khorasan, respecting Shah Rukh, grandson of Nadir Shah. Nevertheless he did not adopt the title of Shah for himself and called himself Vakil ar-Ra'aayaa (The Peasants' Regent).

Related Topics:
Nadir Shah - 1747 - Abdolfath Khan - Ali Mardan Khan - Ismail III - Isfahan - Khorasan - Shah Rukh

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During his reign, relations with Britain were restored and he allowed the East India Company to have a trading post in southern Iran. He made Shiraz his capital and ordered the building of several architectural sites there. After Karim Khan's death, civil war broke out and none of his descendants were able to rule the country as effectively as he had, until Agha Mohammad Khan and the Qajar dynasty came to power.

Related Topics:
Britain - East India Company - Shiraz - Agha Mohammad Khan - Qajar dynasty

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