"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [ظ‎‎١‎٩‎٠] (٧٢٢/٣٨٥)

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Nishapdr also suffered greatly from the invasion of the Arabs, and
it would have utterly perished, had it not been subsequently rebuilt and
re-peopled—first by the Taherides, and afterwards by the Saffavides. Mah
mud, Ghaznavide, who later still, and in the reign of Sabaktagin, his
father, was governor of Khurasan, fixed his residence at Nishapur, which
contributed much to its prosperity.
Toghrul Beg, the first Sultan of the dynasty of the Seljukides, also
resided here; and his princely liberality restored it to its former splendour.
But in the year 1153 (Hijra 518), and in the reign of the. Sultan Sanjar,
one of the same dynasty, the Turkumans took and ravaged it so completely,
that, in the words of the Persian historian Khakani, when the inhabitants,
who had fled at the approach of these hordes, returned after their departure,
it was impossible to recognise, amidst the mass of ruins, the position in
which their houses once stood. Nevertheless, such was the fertility of the
country, that, with the assistance of the princes of Khwarizm, into whose
hands it fell after the Seljukides, Nishapur rose once more, like a phoenix,
from its ashes.
But the disasters, which attended the fate of this unfortunate city, were
not yet over; for in 1220 (Hijra 617) Kuli Khan, son of Ghengis Khan,
besieged and took it. This monster was even more savage than the
Turkumans; for he not only made it a heap of ruins, but massacred the
inhabitants and the people of the adjoining territory to the number of
two millions. Prom this period Nishapur became the sport of fortune
in every possible way, reviving and perishing in turn, and has never regained
its ancient position and prosperity. Placed on the extreme frontier of
Persia, on the side of Tartary, the Mongols, the Turkumans, and Uzbaks
sacked and plundered it almost from year to year. Towards the commence
ment of the eighteenth century it was little more than one vast ruin; and
remained in this deplorable state until after the death of Nadir Shah.
On the death of Nadir Shah it was seized by Abbas Kuli Khan, a
chief of the Turkish tribe of Biat. His usurpation was supported by ten
thousand families of his tribe, who were settled near that city; and he
remained in undisturbed possession until attacked by Ahmad Shah Abdali,
who took Nishapdr and carried its lord a prisoner to Kabul. But the good
qualities and good fortune of Abbas Kuli combined to render this mis
fortune the means of his advancement. He became a favourite of his con
queror, who married his sister; and the daughter of the Afghan monarch
was bestowed upon the eldest son of his captive.
The chief of the Biats, strong in the friendship and alliance of the
royal house of Abdali, returned to Nishapur; and the remainder of his
life was devoted to the improvement of that town and the districts dependent
upon it.
After the death of Abbas Kali he was eventually succeeded by Jafar Khan,
who submitted to Agha Muhammad Khan on his invasion of Khurasan, about
1796 ; since wPen the district and town has been under the rule of a governor
deputed by the Kajar viceroy of Khurasan.— (Kinneir, Fraser, Conolly,
Clerk, Felly, Malcolm, Ferrier.)
NfSHAPTJR— Lxt. , Long. ; Elev.
A district of Khurasan to the west of Mashhad. It extends in a direct line
from the town of Nishapur due north for about 40 miles, east about 20
miles, west to the borders of Sabzawar about 20 miles. The northern bound
ary line runs up into an acute angle into the mountain forming a triangle,