‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎301r] (608/722)

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a medical report that the Shah could not survive many hours reached him
and thus enabling 1 the young prince to make timely preparations for his march
on Tihran. At length, on the 20th October 1848, Nasir-ud-dm entered
Tihran, and was crowned sovereign of Persia.
The question as regards the prime minister was soon settled. Haji Mfrza
Aghasf Khan, who had been guilty of every species of corruption, nepotism,
and maladministration, was banished to the holy city of Karbala. He was
succeeded in the post by Mirza Taki Khan, a man who is described as one of
the noblest and ablest of Persian statesmen. It should, however, be remarked
that Mirza Taki Khan did not adopt the high title of ‘ sadr-i-azam/ by
which the prince minister, or chief wazir Minister. , is designated in Persia; but that
he adopted the humbler title of ‘ amir-i-nizam/ or commander-in-chief of
the Persian army.
Meantime the rebellion in Khurasan had assumed formidable dimensions.
Some of the followers of Muhammad Nasr Khan, the gallant Salar, had
taken sanctuary in the great mosque of Mashhad, and the soldiers of Hamza
Mirza, the governor of Khurasan, endeavoured to drag them from the holy
place. The priests and pilgrims at once appealed to the people to save the
shrine from insult ; and the result was that the people of Mashhad not only
drove the impious soldiers from the mosque, but devoted themselves to the
cause of the Salar, who accordingly took possession of the city of Mashhad,
and compelled Hamza Mirza to take refuge in the citadel. All the chiefs of
Khurasan, with one or two exceptions, joined the insurgents. Yar Muhammad
Khan, of Herat, however, was induced to come to the relief of Hamza Mirza
with two thousand horsemen and a large supply of provisions, by the promise
of twenty pieces of artillery and some muskets, as well as two places on the
frontier of Khurasan. But the joint forces of Persia and Herat made
but little progress, and Hamza Mirza was compelled to retire towards the
Afghan frontier. Meantime Mirza Taki Khan had sent six thousand
infantry to Khurasan under the command of Sultan Murad Mirza. The
force was delayed for a while by an attempt to capture Sabzawar, which
was defended by a youthful son of the Salar; but the place held out, and
Sultan Murad Mirza was compelled to raise the siege, and proceeded to
Kuchan. Meantime the rebellion in Khurasan suffered a severe blow from
the desertion of Jafar Kuli Khan, the chief of Bujnurd, who quarrelled
with the Salar and proceeded to Tihran and paid his submission to the Shah.
Subsequently, the fort of Sabzawar surrendered to the royal forces; but the
Persian troops committed such atrocities in the town, that the people of
Mashhad were not likely to follow its example. For eighteen months the
royal troops continued to besiege Mashhad. Meantime, the Turkumans
carried on their depredations throughout Khurasan without any check or
hindrance. Not a caravan could pass to Herat with safety, whilst the
Khurasan villages were plundered far and wide. At length the citizens of
Mashhad were induced, by their fears of a general assault, to enter into
negotiations with Sultan Murad Mirza. The result was that the city and
citadel were surrendered, whilst the inhabitants were permitted to ransom
their property from plunder by the payment of one hundred thousand
tumans. The Salar, however, was tortured for the purpose of compelling
him to give up his treasure, and was then executed with the bowstring.
Whilst Khurasan was still in revolt, the chief of Bampur in Karman
threw off his allegiance to the Shah; and after a vain attempt to settle the
difference of negotiation, a 1 ersian foice toou possession of Bampui.