Nader Shah's invasion of India
| Afsharid invasion of India | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Naderian Wars and decline of the Mughal Empire | |||||||||
Equestrian portrait of Nader Shah during the sack of Delhi. Created in Isfahan, dated c. 1740–1745 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Afsharid Iran | Mughal Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Nader Shah Morteza Mirza Afshar Ahmad Shah Abdali Heraclius II of Georgia |
Muhammad Shah Zakariya Khan Bahadur Asaf Jah I Saadat Ali Khan I | ||||||||
In May 1738, Nader Shah, the ruler of Iran (1736–1747) and the founder of the Afsharid dynasty, invaded Northern India, eventually sacking Delhi in March 1739. His army easily defeated the Mughals at the Battle of Karnal and then occupied the Mughal capital.
Nader Shah's victory against the weak and crumbling Mughal Empire in the far east meant that he could afford to turn back and resume war against Persia's archrival, the neighbouring Ottoman Empire, as well as launch further campaigns in the North Caucasus and Central Asia.
The loss of the Mughal treasury, which was carried back to Persia, dealt the final blow to the effective power of the Mughal Empire in India.