Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
🎥 Watch 250+ exclusive videos on ► Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCMmaBzfCCwZ2KqaBJjkj0fw/join or Patreon ► patreon.com/kingsandgenerals
Kings and Generals animated historical series on the history of early modern period, Iranian and Muslim empires continues with a video on the rise of Nader Shah during the late stages of the Safavid empire. Nader Shah’s climb isn’t just a story of battlefield brilliance—it’s a masterclass in turning chaos into power. In 1729, with Iran shattered by famine, disease, and Afghan occupation, Nader pivots from securing the east to ripping the invaders out of the Safavid heartland. You’ll follow the campaign toward Isfahan, beginning with Ashraf Hotaki’s push into Khorasan and the decisive Battle of Mehmandost, where Nader’s disciplined musketeers, artillery, and a calculated “retreat” shatter a larger cavalry-heavy army. After outmaneuvering an ambush near Varamin, Nader meets Ashraf again at Murche-Khort—then marches into Isfahan as the capital rejoices at the return of Safavid rule. But victory creates new problems: Nader leverages fatigue and politics to extract provinces, taxes, and royal marriages, transforming himself from commander into powerbroker. The war then shifts west against the Ottomans, culminating in Malayer Valley and the recapture of key cities. Finally, rebellion in the east sparks another Herat campaign—setting the stage for Nader’s decisive move: removing Tahmasp and ruling as regent over the infant Abbas III.
More videos on the history of Iran and the Middle East:
Nader Shah #1 - Battle of Herat: youtu.be/8NgE0Ec9KB0
Were the Eastern Romans and Arabs Always at War?: youtu.be/nBMP6yRAOZg
Great Schism Between Greek and Latin Christianity: youtu.be/a6rWf0k8d78
How Islam Split into the Sunni and Shia Branches: youtu.be/-85dXjgMiSU
Rise of the Cossacks: youtu.be/UQ_ocyTRRIE
Crusades From the Muslim Perspective: youtu.be/t8RZtYvW02g
Early Muslim Expansion - Yarmouk, Al-Qadisiyyah: youtu.be/r2cEIDZwG5M
Early Muslim Expansion - Egypt and Iran: youtu.be/baHT2nR5Wr4
Muslim Schism: youtu.be/-85dXjgMiSU
Third Crusade: youtu.be/jCyCSgsFXKQ
Fourth Crusade: youtube.com/watch?v=3Vp_IENiSnA&list=PLaBYW76inbX4ZjR4rodOOSc-zL1orP4hW
First Crusade: youtube.com/watch?v=JkyYjpYLORI&list=PLaBYW76inbX6RqjG027zLO_svn3Fdv7Qa
Sultanate of Women in the Ottoman Empire: youtu.be/OEzS8D4IidA
How the German Empire Provoked Ottoman Jihad in WWI: youtu.be/8LCpbgVx9kY
Ottoman Battles: youtube.com/watch?v=txyqS5yuw30&list=PLaBYW76inbX5BKGRPzlqdztQySZmJLjJt
Why the Ottomans Never Colonized America: youtu.be/lM_Wzt_Z228
Why the Ottoman Sultans Killed their Brothers: youtu.be/vN7LgUIOAVw
Cem Sultan: Ottoman Prince in the Heart of Europe: youtu.be/3w9POQMt5jk
Ottoman Pirates: youtu.be/5jguevSDIuY
Turkification of Anatolia: youtu.be/JBgq1taoUsY
Hashashins: youtu.be/vG8qmlKdRjs
The video was made by Talha Sial, while the script was researched and written by Turgut Gambar. This video was narrated by Officially Devin (youtube.com/channel/UCU0-VII-V376zFxiRGMeZGg & youtube.com/channel/UC79s7EdN9uXX77-Ly2HmEjQ). The art was created by Nargiz Isaeva. Machinimas made using Total War: Empire engine.
✔ Podcast ► kingsandgenerals.net/podcast
✔ Twitter ► twitter.com/KingsGenerals
✔ Facebook ► facebook.com/KingsGenerals
✔ Instagram ►instagram.com/Kings_Generals
Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/11IfP-yNaTgEdZmpF9Th_DmsRTMSNQvZ-18pU7TtWvQY/edit?usp=sharing
00:00:00 - Iran in Crisis & Nader’s Next War
00:01:14 - 1729: March on Isfahan and the Afghan Problem
00:03:18 - Battle of Mehmandost: Feigned Withdrawal, Guns, and Discipline
00:06:14 - Road to Isfahan: Ambush at Varamin and the Trap Reversed
00:07:06 - Battle of Murche-Khort: Breaking the Afghan Line
00:08:34 - Finishing Ashraf: Politics, Hostages, and Power Bargains
00:11:20 - Ottoman Campaign: Malayer Valley to Tabriz
00:14:06 - Herat Again & Rise to Regency: Tahmasp Falls, Nader Rises
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com
#Documentary #NaderShah #Safavid
🎥 Watch 250+ exclusive videos on ► Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCMmaBzfCCwZ2KqaBJjkj0fw/join or Patreon ► patreon.com/kingsandgenerals
Kings and Generals animated historical series on the history of early modern period, Iranian and Muslim empires continues with a video on the rise of Nader Shah during the late stages of the Safavid empire. Nader Shah’s climb isn’t just a story of battlefield brilliance—it’s a masterclass in turning chaos into power. In 1729, with Iran shattered by famine, disease, and Afghan occupation, Nader pivots from securing the east to ripping the invaders out of the Safavid heartland. You’ll follow the campaign toward Isfahan, beginning with Ashraf Hotaki’s push into Khorasan and the decisive Battle of Mehmandost, where Nader’s disciplined musketeers, artillery, and a calculated “retreat” shatter a larger cavalry-heavy army. After outmaneuvering an ambush near Varamin, Nader meets Ashraf again at Murche-Khort—then marches into Isfahan as the capital rejoices at the return of Safavid rule. But victory creates new problems: Nader leverages fatigue and politics to extract provinces, taxes, and royal marriages, transforming himself from commander into powerbroker. The war then shifts west against the Ottomans, culminating in Malayer Valley and the recapture of key cities. Finally, rebellion in the east sparks another Herat campaign—setting the stage for Nader’s decisive move: removing Tahmasp and ruling as regent over the infant Abbas III.
More videos on the history of Iran and the Middle East:
Nader Shah #1 - Battle of Herat: youtu.be/8NgE0Ec9KB0
Were the Eastern Romans and Arabs Always at War?: youtu.be/nBMP6yRAOZg
Great Schism Between Greek and Latin Christianity: youtu.be/a6rWf0k8d78
How Islam Split into the Sunni and Shia Branches: youtu.be/-85dXjgMiSU
Rise of the Cossacks: youtu.be/UQ_ocyTRRIE
Crusades From the Muslim Perspective: youtu.be/t8RZtYvW02g
Early Muslim Expansion - Yarmouk, Al-Qadisiyyah: youtu.be/r2cEIDZwG5M
Early Muslim Expansion - Egypt and Iran: youtu.be/baHT2nR5Wr4
Muslim Schism: youtu.be/-85dXjgMiSU
Third Crusade: youtu.be/jCyCSgsFXKQ
Fourth Crusade: youtube.com/watch?v=3Vp_IENiSnA&list=PLaBYW76inbX4ZjR4rodOOSc-zL1orP4hW
First Crusade: youtube.com/watch?v=JkyYjpYLORI&list=PLaBYW76inbX6RqjG027zLO_svn3Fdv7Qa
Sultanate of Women in the Ottoman Empire: youtu.be/OEzS8D4IidA
How the German Empire Provoked Ottoman Jihad in WWI: youtu.be/8LCpbgVx9kY
Ottoman Battles: youtube.com/watch?v=txyqS5yuw30&list=PLaBYW76inbX5BKGRPzlqdztQySZmJLjJt
Why the Ottomans Never Colonized America: youtu.be/lM_Wzt_Z228
Why the Ottoman Sultans Killed their Brothers: youtu.be/vN7LgUIOAVw
Cem Sultan: Ottoman Prince in the Heart of Europe: youtu.be/3w9POQMt5jk
Ottoman Pirates: youtu.be/5jguevSDIuY
Turkification of Anatolia: youtu.be/JBgq1taoUsY
Hashashins: youtu.be/vG8qmlKdRjs
The video was made by Talha Sial, while the script was researched and written by Turgut Gambar. This video was narrated by Officially Devin (youtube.com/channel/UCU0-VII-V376zFxiRGMeZGg & youtube.com/channel/UC79s7EdN9uXX77-Ly2HmEjQ). The art was created by Nargiz Isaeva. Machinimas made using Total War: Empire engine.
✔ Podcast ► kingsandgenerals.net/podcast
✔ Twitter ► twitter.com/KingsGenerals
✔ Facebook ► facebook.com/KingsGenerals
✔ Instagram ►instagram.com/Kings_Generals
Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/11IfP-yNaTgEdZmpF9Th_DmsRTMSNQvZ-18pU7TtWvQY/edit?usp=sharing
00:00:00 - Iran in Crisis & Nader’s Next War
00:01:14 - 1729: March on Isfahan and the Afghan Problem
00:03:18 - Battle of Mehmandost: Feigned Withdrawal, Guns, and Discipline
00:06:14 - Road to Isfahan: Ambush at Varamin and the Trap Reversed
00:07:06 - Battle of Murche-Khort: Breaking the Afghan Line
00:08:34 - Finishing Ashraf: Politics, Hostages, and Power Bargains
00:11:20 - Ottoman Campaign: Malayer Valley to Tabriz
00:14:06 - Herat Again & Rise to Regency: Tahmasp Falls, Nader Rises
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com
#Documentary #NaderShah #Safavid
