Allavee Khan, when he was at the court of Persia, availing himself of Nadir Shah’s favour and kindness, employed the opportunities, whilst he was prescribing medicine, to administer also wholesome advice, and which the Shah took in very good part. The Hakeem Bashy was also continually exerting his skill to correct the impetuosity of his temper, for the benefit of mankind: and by a proper medical treatment, his disposition was so much improved, that for a fortnight together he would not order the descipline of the stick, much less command any one to be deprived of his eyes or life. And especially when the attempt was made to assassinate him on the borders of Mazenderan, in the manner already described, he did not punish any one, until he had coolly and deliberately investigated the matter. But after the departure of Allavee Khan, his own physicians, from the dread of offending him, suffered the peccant humours again to predominate, when he returned to his old courses; every day, for the most trifling offences, he would order some to be deprived of their eyes, and others of their life. At last his cruelty had risen to such a pitch, that he had resolved to have a general massacre of his Persian troops, by the hands of the Afghans and Uzbecks, in whom alone he now placed confidence. But he was himself murdered the very night preceding the morning in which he had determined to put his bloody purpose into execution. The following are the particulars of this event. On the night of the 11th of Jemady ul Sany, A. H. 1160, (or June 8th 1747), near the city of Khojoon, three days journey from Meshed, Mohammed Kuly Khan Ardemee, who was of the same tribe with Nadir Shah, his relation, and Kushukee Bashee*, with seventy of the Kukshek or guard, as well from a view to self-preservation, as at the instigation of their commander, bound themselves by an oath to assassinate Nadir Shah; but when the appointed hour arrived, fifty-seven of them being seized with a panic, refused to join in the execution of the plot. The other thirteen, however, at night tore down the Seraperdah*, and entering the Haram, killed the eunuch upon guard, who refused them admittance: they then proceeded to the Shah. The substance of the various accounts is, that they dispatched him with a matchlock ball, with blows, and wounds with swords and knives. It is said, that at first he raged and abused; and then humbly supplicated for mercy; but neither prevailing, he was obliged to submit to his fate.
The women, with the jewel office and other valuable effects, having been sent on before to Kelat, under the charge of Nassirullah Mirza, escaped the fury and rapine of the assassins. At day-break when the principal Omrahs assembled together to investigate this astonishing event, they found the trunk of Nadir Shah lying headless on the ground, and an old woman lamenting over the head. The troops and the country people, now plundered the Shah’s camp with that fury, of which he had set them the example in Hindostan, Turan, Turkey, and other places. His head was sent to Aly Kuly Khan, his brother’s son, who had occasioned the conspiracy, in order to raise himself to the throne. From hence is to be learnt, that it is better for kings to repose confidence in their servants, than in their nearest relations. Nine days after the assassination, Aly Kuly Khan ordered the body to be removed to Meshed, where it was buried on the fifteenth day, in the mausoleum which Nadir Shah had prepared for himself.
A variety of contemptible anagrams were made of the letters which form the date of his death*, and amongst the rest the following: “In fire, in hell, with his grandfather, and father.”
The date of his accession to the throne may be this expressed. “It is good, in what has happened.”
To speak the truth, Nadir Shah was a brave and experienced soldier, possessed of an acute, discriminating understanding, with activity, resolution, and foresight; he knew very well how to conquer, and to make himself obeyed, but he was totally ignorant of the true principles of government, for the prosperity of a kingdom; and the impetuosity of his temper, his cruelty and hardness of heart, made his name universally abhorred and detested. From a verse of Sheikh Mohammed Aly Hazeem*, it should seem that Nadir Shah’s grandfather, Imam Kuly Beg, was a skinner: however, as it has been observed by a respectable personage, we ought not, on this occasion, to give entire credit to the poet’s assertion, since he was an enemy to the Shah, and fled into Hindostan from the dread of him. His age has not been exactly ascertained, for want of his horoscope. From the appearance of his countenance, the strength of his limbs, and the vigour of his faculties, he did not seem to be above fifty years of age. Some fix his birth in A. H. 1099, (or A. D. 1687); and I have somewhere seen it written, that he was born on the 27th of Ramzan 1102, or 13th June 1691. His beard was quite white, and he used to have it dyed black regularly twice a week. Having lost all his double teeth, he seldom eat food that required much mastication, and when he did, swallowed it without chewing. His front teeth were all sound and firm in his head.
After the death of Nadir Shah, his nephew Aly Kuly Khan, with the assistance of Thamas Khan, Jelayer, and others of the nobility, mounted the throne, and assumed the title of Aly Shah. He got possession of ten crores* of rupees in money, with gold and silver bullion, and jewels to an incredible amount, with the peacock throne, and other riches, which Nadir Shah had deposited in Kelat. He put to death all the sons and grandsons of Nadir Shah, excepting Sharokh Mirza, the son of Reza Kuly Mirza, by a daughter of Sultan Hussein. He appointed his own younger brother Ibrahim Khan, his viceroy.