Battle of Khwar Pass - Misplaced Pages

1729 battle

Battle of Khwar Pass

Persian sharpshooters

Date	October 1729
Location	Near Varamin, Persia
Result	Persian victory (Ashraf's ambush failed)

Belligerents

Safavid Loyalists

Hotaki dynasty

Commanders and leaders

Nader Shah

Ashraf Hotak

Casualties and losses

Minimal

Heavy

all guns & baggage

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v t e Naderian Wars
Fall of the Safavids [fa] Battle of Gulnabad Siege of Isfahan Khorasan Campaign Sangan Sabzevar Afghan Campaigns 1st Afghan Campaign Kafer Qal'eh Herat 1729 2nd Afghan Campaign Qandahar Safavid restoration Damghan Khwar pass Murche-Khort Isfahan Zarghan First Ottoman War West Persian Campaign Nahavand Malayer Tahmasp's Campaign Yerevan Mesopotamian Campaign Siege of Baghdad Samarra Kirkuk Caucasus Campaign Ganja Siege of Iravan Yeghevārd Indian Campaign Khyber Pass Battle of Karnal Sack of Delhi Sindh Expedition Battle of Chenab (1739) Central Asian Campaign Dagestan Campaign Battle of Andalal Persian Gulf Campaign Second Ottoman War Siege of Mosul Siege of Kars Battle of Kars Rebellions & Civil War Rebellion of Sheikh Ahmad Madani Bakhtiyari Rebellions Rebellion of 1733 Kartli Revolt of 1736 Derajat Rebellion Balkh Revolt of 1741 Kish mutiny Revolt of Sam Mirza Khoy Revolt of 1743-46 Kartli Revolt Fars Rebellion of 1744 Qajar revolt of 1744 Kerman Revolt of 1746 Sistan Uprising of 1746 Muscat Uprising of 1746-47 Garmsirat Revolts of 1746-47 Zafaranlu Uprising of 1747

Naderian Wars

Fall of the Safavids [fa]

Khorasan Campaign

Afghan Campaigns

Safavid restoration

First Ottoman War

Indian Campaign

Central Asian Campaign

Dagestan Campaign

Battle of Andalal

Persian Gulf Campaign

Second Ottoman War

Rebellions & Civil War

The Battle of Khwar Pass was a failed ambush set up by Ashraf Hotaki during his retreat in the aftermath of his defeat at the Battle of Damghan (1729). Gathering what forces lay on his route, Ashraf pulled together another formidable fighting force around the remains of his badly bloodied force, even having enough men to spare for an ambush set up at a narrow pass east of Varamin.

Battle

Placing hidden guns and sharpshooters on the high ground overlooking the pass and fortifying the narrow pathway Ashraf even left a significant body of cavalry behind in order to hunt down the survivors of the ambush. Nader's spies however reported on Ashraf's designs at Khwar. Skirting around the ambush Nader, personally taking command, launched a two-pronged assault utilizing musketeers with artillery support, catching the Afghans in an ambush of his own, forcing the Pashtuns to flee leaving their guns and baggage behind.

Consequences

As a result of the battle, Nader's advance into the heart of Iran and onto the capital Isfahan lay open. Nader however chose to take a longer route further to the west for reasons of superior logistical support. This also had the benefit of surprise with the defeated Afghans unable to mount a serious obstacle to Nader's advance on Isfahan until he had already reached Murcheh-Khort, a town just a mere few kilometres north of Isfahan itself.

Sources

Michael Axworthy, The Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant Hardcover 348 pages (26 July 2006) Publisher: I.B. Tauris Language: English ISBN 1-85043-706-8

Categories:

Battle

Consequences

See also

Sources