Ottoman–Hotaki War (1726–1727)

The Ottoman–Hotaki War of 1726–1727 was a conflict fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Hotak dynasty, over control of all western and northwestern parts of Iran.

The Afghan Hotaks had overthrown the Safavid dynasty from power in Persia, and began centralizing rule in Iran after the battle of Gulnabad and siege of Isfahan. The Ottomans capitalized off the Hotak expansion to invade the waning Safavids, which brought conflict with the Hotaks, who saw themselves as the legitimate rulers of all Persia, and demanded the Ottomans withdraw. The Hotaks further made demands that the Ottomans rejected, who declared war in response.

A numerically superior Ottoman force was assembled under Ahmad Pasha, and began their invasion of Persia. The Afghans assembled their own force under Ashraf Hotak, albeit numerically inferior, and met for battle at Khorramabad. Defections and low morale plagued the Ottoman ranks, and much of their army refused to obey commands, with Ottoman assaults being repelled by the Afghans, eventually forcing Ahmad Pasha to withdraw back to Baghdad with heavy casualties.

A peace treaty was made, with the Afghans being recognized as rulers of all Persia by the Ottomans, as well as ceding lands gained back to the Ottomans after the Hotak military victories.