Abol Fath Khan

Abol Fath Khan Zand (c. 1755 - 1787), was the third "Shah" of Zand dynasty, who ruled the Persian Empire from March 6, 1779 until August 22, 1779.

After the death of Karim Khan in 1779, Zaki Khan, his half brother declared Muhammad Ali Khan, the second son of Karim Khan and his son-in-law as the second ruler of the Zand dynasty, but soon after, he made Abol Fath, the elder son of Karim Khan the joint ruler to the throne of Persia. Unlike his father Abol Fath was lazy and weak, and did not share the sharpness and courage of his father instead he relied on his powerful uncle, Zaki Khan, whose corruption and political mischief was known to all. However, Zaki Khan's advice and counsel to him led to anarchy in the territories for more than twenty years after him.

After the death of Karim Khan Zand Agha Muhammad Khan who was a hostage—in light of preventing an outbreak of war between the Qajar tribes in the northern Persia and the Zands—escaped promptly and reached Mazandaran. Subsequently he took command of his tribe in Astrabad, and declared independence from the Zand Shah. Therefore, Zaki Khan dispatched the Persian army under the command of his nephew, Ali Murad Khan against the tyrant Qajar lord.

Meanwhile On June 19, 1779 Abol Fath became the sole ruler of Persia following Mohammad Ali Khan's sudden death. He was then notified that the commander of his army, Ali Murad Khan had rebelled against him and captured Isfahan. On the other hand, Zaki Khan had levied high taxes on the landlords and put to death and tortured anyone who had refused. Subsequently the people of Isfahan rebelled, and killed Zaki Khan. On August 22, 1779, Sadiq Khan, a brother to Karim Khan raided in Shiraz and slew Abol Fath Khan after tearing his eyes from their sockets. Subsequently he declared himself king of Persia.

External links

* [http://rulers.org/ruli.html Rulers of Iran]
* Iranology - History of Iran, Part XIII: Afshar and Zand Dynasties [http://www.iranologie.com/history/history13.html]