‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎294r] (594/722)

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internal struggles that were being carried on between the sons of Taimur
bhah at Kabul and Kandahar prevented any attempt being made to reduce
Herat to the subjection of the reigning Amir of Afghanistan. On the
other hand, the pressure of Russia on the north-west provinces of Persia,
ami the frequent rebellions in Khurasan, prevented the government of
the Shah from asserting any suzerainty over Herat territory. Unfortunately
huuz-ud-dm wa;? induced to interfere in the affairs of Kabul and Kandahar
The ruler of Herat was full brother of Mahmud Shah; and about this
period Mahmud Shah was compelled to yield the throne of Kabul to his
half-biother Shah Shuja. At the same time Kamran, the son of Mahmud,
was driven out of Kandahar by a nephew of Shah Shuja, and fled to his
uncle, the ruler of Xleiat, for protection, hiruz-ud-din sent an army under
his nephew Kamran to liberate his brother Mahmud, who had been shut up
in the Bala Hisar at Kabul by Shah Shuja. Kamran advanced to Kandahar,
and was in the full tide of success, when he was suddenly recalled to Herat.
Muhammad Vail Mirza had sent a Persian army against Herat, as already
stated; and prince Firuz-ud-din was comparatively powerless in conse
quence of the absence of his army under Kamran. However, he assembled
a few thousand horse of the Aimak tribes, and moved out of Herat to meet
the Persians; but be sustained a severe defeat, a,nd was compelled to return
to the city. The Persians then commenced the siege of Herat, and in all
probability would have captured the place, as they have good artillery and
had been recently drilled by European officers; but their rear was suddenly
attacked by the Herati army, which had returned under Kamran, whilst
their front was assailed by Eiruz-ud-dm, who seized the opportunity
to make a sally from the city. The result was that the Persians found
themselves between two fires, and were compelled to return to Mashhad.
This attempt on Herat is said to have been undertaken to counterbalance
the influence which the British government might have been expected at
this time to exercise in Afghanistan, in consequence of the mission of Mr.
Elphinstone to the court of Shah Shuja.
The rebellions which broke out in Khurasan after the defeat of the Per
sian army by the Russians on the river Araxes in 1812, and the recall of
Muhammad Vali Mirza from Khurasan, probably prevented any serious
renewal on the part of Persia of her pretensions on Herat. According to
General Ferrier, the Persians made occasional expeditions to Herat, and
were either compelled or bribed to retire ; for although the men of Herat
protested against any interference on the part of Persia, and asserted that
Herat belonged to Afghanistan, the ruler of Herat could expect no support
from Shah Shuja, the reigning Amir of Kabul, with whom he was at feud.
At length Firuz-ud-din went a little too far; for he furnished assistance to
the rebellions chiefs of Khurasan. Accordingly, about 1816, Hasan All
Mirza, the new prince-governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Khurasan, having reduced the refractory
chiefs of his province to submission, marched an army against Herat to
inflict condign punishment on its ruler. The accounts which have been
preserved of this expedition are somewhat contradictory. According to
Captain Watson, whose statements are based upon Persian authorities,
Fmiz-ud-dm invaded the district of Ghurian, and captured the fortress; hut
after the capture of the stronghold of the Hazara chief at Mahmudahad
by Hasan AK Mirza, Firuz-ud-din was so alarmed, that he sent an envoy
offering to surrender Ghurian, but entreating the prince to spare Plerat.
Hasan AH Mirza accepted the fortress of Ghurian, but advanced on Herat