From Military Conquest to Political Rule: The Hotakids in Isfahan and the Challenges of Legitimacy and Governance (1722–1729)

Abstract

The Hotakid rule in Isfahan (1722–1729) is conventionally portrayed in traditional historiography as a brief and purely military interlude following the collapse of the Safavids. Adopting an analytical approach and drawing on credible historical sources, this article offers a re-reading of the period and argues that the Hotakids—particularly under Shah Ashraf—sought to transform themselves from a merely military power into a stable political government equipped with an administrative structure and domestic and foreign legitimacy. The central question is what challenges this newly established government faced in terms of legitimization and governance, and what factors prevented its consolidation. The findings suggest that although Shah Mahmud initially took steps toward governance by retaining Iranian officials and restoring order, his violent policies and psychological instability undermined these efforts. Shah Ashraf, by contrast, pursued more cautious policies: intermarriage with the Safavid house, attempts to gain legitimacy through negotiations with the Ottomans and Russians, and the creation of administrative structures through which he sought to consolidate his rule. These efforts, however, failed to bear fruit owing to weak internal cohesion, public discontent, external pressures, and the rise of Nader Afshar. The article concludes that Hotakid rule represents an instance of the transition from military power to political government—one in which legitimization and the establishment of a durable administrative structure proved unavailing in the absence of internal cohesion and popular support.