Question

In which year Nadir Shah invaded and sacked Delhi?
A) 1645
B) 1695
C) 1739
D) 1752

Answer 1

Hint: Nadir Shah born as Nader Afshar Shah was one in all the foremost powerful Iranian Rulers. Nader rose to governance during a period of mayhem in Iran after a mutiny by the Hotaki Pashtuns had toppled the weak Shah Sultan Hosayn over , while the arch-enemy of the Safavids, the Ottomans , likewise because the Russians had grabbed Iranian territory for themselves.

Complete answer:
In 1738, Nader Shah captured Kandahar, the AK of the Hotaki Dynasty. His thoughts now turned to theMughal Empire of India. The Muslim state to the east which was once powerful was falling apart because the nobles became increasingly disobedient.

Its ruler, Muhammad Shah was inadequate to reverse this fall. Nader asked for the Afghan rebels to be handed over, but the Mughal emperor denied. Nader used the ploy of his Afghan enemies taking refuge in India to cross the border and invade the military.

This led to the capture of Ghazni, Kabul , Peshawar , Sindh and Lahore. As he moved into the Mughal territories, he was loyally followed by his Georgian subject Erekle II, who led a Georgian delegation as a military commander as a part of Nader's force.

Following the previous vanquish of Mughal forces, he then advanced deeper into India, crossing the river Indus before the tip of the year.

Despite being outnumbered by six to 1, Nader Shah crushed the Mughal army in but three hours at the massive Battle of Karnal on 13 February 1739. After this spectacular victory, Nader captured Mohammad Shah and entered Delhi.

When a rumour displayed that Nader had been assassinated, a number of the Indians attacked and killed Iranian troops; by midday 900 Iranian soldiers had been killed.

In response, Nader Shah agreed to withdraw, but Mohammad Shah paid the consequence in turning in the keys of his royal treasury, and losing even the fabled Peacock Throne to the Iranian emperor.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘C’.


Note: Nadir Shah’s successful campaign and refill of funds proved that he could still wage wars against Iran's archrival and neighbour, the Ottoman Empire still because of the campaigns within the North Caucasus. Nadir Shah also acquired one among the Mughal emperor's daughters, Jahan Afruz Banu Begum, as a bride for his youngest son.