‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎119r] (242/722)

became bis prisoner. Husain Khan Kajar and AK Mardan Bakhtian fell
in battle. The more insignificant pretenders to sovereignty were all either
taken or fled, and peace was restored to Persia.
“ Agha Muhammad Kajar, who had escaped from his confinement and
joined his father, was, on the latter's death, made prisoner and brought, with
his brothers, to Shiraz, where they were retained as hostages for the good
behaviour of their tribe by Karim Khan—who, the better to secure the
family in his interests, married one of their sisters.
“ Husain Kuli Khan, another son of Muhammad Husain Khan, and the
only one that was full brother to Agha Muhammad (the others being of differ
ent mothers), fled into the mountains of Mazandaran,and raised serious com
motions in that quarter. These were however soon quelled ; and Husain Kuli
was taken and put to death. He left two sons—the eldest, .Fateh Ali Khan
(afterwards Fateh Ali Shah), and the second, Husain Kuli Khan. During
the life of Karim Khan, Agha Muhammad remained at Shiraz, and was
treated with respect and confidence. Karim Khan entertained the highest
opinion of his abilities, and took no measure of consequence without con
sulting him. When that prince expired, on the Idth of the month of Safar,
1193 Hijra, 1779 A.D., the sister of Agha Muhammad immediately sent
him intelligence of the important event, and he lost not a moment at so
critical a juncture. Attended by his brothers, he left Shiraz under the pretext
of hunting, and fled for Mazandaran, where, favoured by the contentions that
ensued on Karim Khan's death, he arrived in safety, and was welcomed
with joy by his tribe, who collected from all quarters round his standard.
“ The troubles and revolutions in the provinces of Pars and Irak left him
undisturbed; in Mazandaran, and he made such excellent use of his time,
that in two years the whole province of Mazandaran and several neigh
bouring districts were settled under his authority.
“In the third year, 1783 A.D., of his power, he advanced with all his
forces against Tihran—which, under its gallant governor, Ismail Khan,
who held it for All Murad Khan, king of Pars, resisted his attacks for
ten months. After that period Agha Muhammad succeeded in bribing some
of the principal officers, who assassinated their governor and admitted
him at night into the town. He only enjoyed till the morning the fruits of
his treachery. When day appeared, the brother of Ismail Khan, fired with
a grievous despair, collected a few adherents and made a violent attack on
Agha Muhammad, whom he repulsed with great loss from the city. On the
same day that this misfortune occurred, news arrived of Ah Murad Khan
having marched from Isfahan with a large army to the relief of Tihran.
Agha Muhammad instantly retired to Mazandaran, where he was pursued by
Shaikh Waiz Khan, the son of Ah Murad; and unable to resist such an
enemy, Agha Muhammad retreated as he advanced, and at last fled to the fort
of Astarabad on the shores of the Caspian, while the whole province of
Mazandaran submitted to the conqueror—who, supported by his father
Ah Murad at Tihran, remained at the town of Sari, and detached a strong
force under Muhammad Tahir to besiege Astarabad. r l he success of these
operations seemed certain, and Agha Muhammad's ruin inevitable r he was
saved by means as unexpected as extraordinary. Hamza, a native of
Mazandaran, who had been taken prisoner by Shaikh Waiz Khan, contrived
to make hisescape, and, flying to the mountains, assembled a party of
his countrymen, with whom he completely destroyed the grand.causeway,
by which Muhammad Tahir Khan, Zand, who was besieging Astarabad,
received his supplies. The consequence of this action was immediate distress