‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎120v] (245/722)

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among' his mule-drivers, the greatest disgrace he could possibly inflict,
On Hajf Ibrahim he bestowed the highest honour; and a twelvemonth
afterwards, when he determined to follow Lutf Ali Khan (who, assisted
by about 200 followers, had taken Karman), he appointed him governor of
all Fars.
“ This expedition of Agha Muhammad's was attended with the most
shocking ravages; he laid waste the country and murdered the inhabitants
as he went along. He was nine months besieging the town of Karman
before he could take it; and Lutf Ali Khan having, previous to its surrender
cut his way through the strongest part of his army with only seven
attendants, he is said to have given way to the most savage fury and to
have wreaked all his vengeance on the inhabitants. The men, who were
not slain, had their eyes plucked out; and it is affirmed on undoubted
authority that seven hundred suffered this dreadful punishment in one day.
The women and children were delivered up to the lust and fury of the
savage Turkumans. Lutf Ali Khan fled to Bam, which is about two
hundred and forty miles from Karman. Its faithless inhabitants first
invited him to their fort; then seized him and sent him to Agha Moham
mad, who immediately deprived him of sight, and then sent him to Tihran
where he was put to death.
“ Thus Perished, in the 28th year of his age, a prince, who was perhaps
never exceeded in personal strength and undaunted courage. He is also
said to have been generous and charitable; but his temper was proud and
unequal, and his passions so irregular and violent, that he was no less the
terror of his enemies than of his friends.
Agha Muhammad after this success marched from Karman to Shiraz, the
fortifications of which city he razed to the ground. He appointed Haii Ibra-
urn \ azir to the empire, and after a halt of two months went to Tihran
" In the year 1794 A.D., Agha Muhammad proclaimed his nephew, Fateh
Ali Khan, commonly called Baba Khan, successor
to the throne, and appointing him to the govern-
1791 A.D.
ment of Persia proper, sent him to reside at Shiraz. He also put to death
his brother, Jafar Kuli Khan, from motives of jealousy.
In 1/95 A.D., he marched into the province of Armenia, all of which
he subdued, except the fort of Shisha—which, under
its governor, Ibrahim Kulbul (?) Khan, gallantly
1795 A.D.
resisted his attacks eight months. Despairing of success, he raised the
siege and marched into Georgia. He was encountered near Tiflis, the
* The prince Herakly or capital of the prince, by the Yali Arkuli Khan*
Heraclius, so well known in whom he defeated, and the city in consequence fell
^CAJLUU.. * jl J ! • %! O
mg the town and m acts of the most inhuman
cruelty. All of the inhabitants that were spared from the sword were
given to his army as slaves. After these excesses he returned to Tihran,
and commenced preparations for an expedition against Khurasan, which
extensive province was ruled by a number of petty princes and chiefs, who
had neither owned the authority of the prince of Kandahar nor Persia since
the death of Nadir Shah.
Ihe chief of these were Shah Rukh, grandson to Nadir, who ruled at
Mashhad; Mir Husain Khan, of Tabas; Ali Yar Khan, of Sabzawar;
Mustafa Khan, of Turshiz ; Jafar Khan, of Nishapur ; Mihr Ali Khan, of
Biriand ; and Amir Gana(?)f Khan, of Kuchan. These rulers, who had never
t Probably “ Gliaui.'