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Abstract

Nadir Shah Afshar (1688–1747), the founder of the Afsharid state, was one of the most influential political and military figures of the eighteenth century. His rapid rise to power, large-scale military campaigns, and attempts to reorganize the political structure of the former Safavid–Qizilbash state and its neighboring regions attracted the attention not only of local chroniclers but also of numerous European and Russian observers. As a result, a substantial body of sources produced outside the region emerged during his lifetime and shortly after his death. These materials played an important role in shaping the early historiographical discourse on Nadir Shah in Europe and Russia.

This paper examines how historical events related to Nadir Shah were interpreted and represented in European and Russian sources of the eighteenth century. These sources include diplomatic correspondence, embassy reports, travel accounts, early biographies, and journalistic publications. The study focuses not only on the factual information contained in these texts but also on the discursive frameworks through which authors interpreted political developments in the Afsharid state.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the European discourse on Nadir Shah is the fact that extensive historical works and the first attempts to write his biography appeared while he was still alive. Beginning in the late 1730s, European publications started describing his rise to power, his military successes, and his campaigns in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and India. Throughout the eighteenth century, numerous works devoted to Nadir Shah were published in France, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Russia. Within the intellectual context of the Enlightenment, European authors often interpreted Nadir Shah through the conceptual framework of “Oriental despotism.” At the same time, many texts compared Nadir Shah to classical conquerors such as Alexander the Great, emphasizing his military genius and extraordinary political career.

Russian sources provide a particularly valuable perspective on the political processes taking place within the Afsharid state. Diplomatic reports and intelligence materials produced by Russian officials contain detailed descriptions of internal political dynamics, court intrigues, and struggles for power within the ruling elite. These sources also reflect the geopolitical interests of the Russian Empire in the Caspian region and the South Caucasus.

By analyzing these sources comparatively, the paper explores how European and Russian observers constructed narratives about political authority, imperial expansion, and internal crisis in the Afsharid state.