Attempts to Establish Kingship
Following the Afghan rebellion and the collapse of the Safavid government, the exiled Safavid king, Shah Tahmasp II, sought refuge in Mazandaran. Fath Ali Khan Qajar accepted his service and became his military commander. However, after Nader Shah joined Tahmasp II’s army, Fath Ali Khan lost his position and was eventually killed in Mashhad under Nader Shah’s orders.
Fath Ali Khan’s twelve-year-old son, Mohammad Hassan Khan Qajar, assumed leadership, but Nader Shah sought to prevent him from consolidating power. To this end, Nader appointed the Yukhari Bash (Upper Qajars) as rulers of the region, creating divisions within the Qajar clans. His strategy aimed to neutralize the Qajars’ influence and prevent internal unrest.
Following Nader Shah’s assassination in 1126 AH, the Qajar tribe of Astarabad, under Mohammad Hassan Khan’s leadership, attempted to seize power. However, they were ultimately defeated by Karim Khan Zand. Mohammad Hassan Khan was killed in a battle against Sadiq Khan Zand’s forces. His sons, including Agha Mohammad Khan and Hossein Qoli Khan Jahansuz, were taken as hostages to the Zand court. Later, Hossein Qoli Khan was sent by Karim Khan Zand to suppress the governor of Astarabad. Instead of fulfilling his orders, he rebelled in Semnan but was eventually killed by Zaki Khan Zand.