Battle of Sangan

Safavid Abdali war
Part of Naderian Wars
Date 1727 Location Eastern Khorasan, Western Afghanistan Result Tactical Safavid-Naderian Victory
Belligerents
Safavid Loyalists	Abdali Afghans Sangani Rebels
Commanders and leaders
Nader	Hussein Sultan of Sistan
Strength
8,000	7-8,000
Casualties and losses
negligible	500 killed

The Battle of Sangan was an engagement involving the Loyalist forces of Tahmasp II of the Safavid dynasty led by Nader and the Abdali Afghan Tribesdisambiguation needed in and further beyond southern Khorasan in 1727. This armed struggle was one of the initial battles between the resurgent Safavid cause and that of the Afghans. Although the engagement technically ended in a Safavid victory it brought very little in terms of strategic gain.

Background

Having subdued much of Khorasan, Nader intended to push further south and secure Sangan Khaf as well as Behdadin. These two cities were easily subdued, however their appeal of help reached the south with an Abdali force of 20,000 marching up to answer the call to arms. The Abdalis in Sangan Khaf revolted against the Persians and awaited the relief force but were overcome rapidly when Nader reacted swiftly sending a body of cavalry to seize one of the entrances to the City after which the city was ransacked.

The Battle

The arrival of the Abdali relief force had come too late but they were determined to give battle drawing up their men for the charge. The bulk of Nader's forces were under his own command with his person in the centre of the formation as well as a separate contingent which included 2,000 musketeers under Tahmasp's command. the ensuing battle was fiercely contested and at one point a flank of Nader's army began to give way when it was rescued by the addition of a 1,000 men from the reserve. Even though the Afghans were beaten they still offered resistance in repeated clashes in the following days as they withdrew.

Aftermath

The expedition did not in itself provide any strategic gains as such and Nader withdrew into upper Khorasan to re-consolidate and plan an offensive against Herat. The battle did however provide some tactical lessons concerning how disciplined musket-armed infantry could withstand and repel the crushing charge of oriental cavalry (which the Abdali Afghans were a prime example of) and may have helped Nader to refine his unique tactical system further.

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