Siege of Shiraz
| Siege of Shiraz | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Afghan Rebellions of 1709–1726 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Hotaki Empire | Safavid Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Mahmud Hotak Nasrullah Khan † Zabardast Khan | Safavid Governor of Shiraz | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 100,000 killed | ||||||
The Siege of Shiraz was a major engagement during the Hotak invasion of Persia, in which forces loyal to Mahmud Hotak besieged the Safavid stronghold of Shiraz in Fars Province. Beginning with the death in battle of the Afghan commander Nasrullah, the siege dragged on for nine months before famine compelled the city to surrender. Although exaggerated figures claim that over 100,000 people perished, the siege remains one of the bloodiest episodes of the Afghan occupation of Iran.