Sack of Delhi (1739)

E375040

The Sack of Delhi (1739) was a devastating invasion and plunder of the Mughal capital by Persian ruler Nader Shah, resulting in massive loss of life, immense looting, and a major blow to Mughal power in India.

All labels observed (5)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf invasion
military conflict
plunder
alsoKnownAs Nader Shah’s sack of Delhi
Persian invasion of Delhi (1739)
Sack of Delhi by Nader Shah
belligerentStrength disorganized Mughal forces
large, well-disciplined Persian army
cause Mughal weakness and internal decline
Nader Shah’s need for war booty to finance his army
Persian desire to control trade and secure tribute from Mughal territories
combatant Mughal Empire
Persian Empire
linked to: Persia
commander Nader Shah
conflict Mughal–Persian War (1738–1739)
country India
date 1739
economicImpact enormous transfer of wealth from Mughal Empire to Persia
endDate 1739-03-23
followedBy Persian withdrawal from northern India
ceding of Mughal territories west of the Indus to Persia
historicalSignificance contributed indirectly to later European expansion in India
exposed vulnerability of North India to foreign invasions
marked a turning point in the decline of the Mughal Empire
location Delhi
Mughal Empire
opposingCommander Muhammad Shah
orderedBy Nader Shah
partOf Nader Shah’s Indian campaign
plunderedItem Darya-i-Noor diamond
Koh-i-Noor diamond
Peacock Throne
linked to: peacock throne

silver and precious jewels
vast quantities of gold
politicalImpact irreversible decline of Mughal central authority
rise of regional powers in India
weakening of Mughal military prestige
precededBy Battle of Karnal
region North India
linked to: northern India
result decisive Persian victory
large-scale massacre of civilians
massive plunder of Delhi
severe weakening of Mughal Empire
temporary occupation of Delhi by Persian forces
socialImpact mass killings of Delhi’s inhabitants
widespread destruction in Delhi
startDate 1739-03-22
timePeriod 18th century
triggerEvent Persian victory at the Battle of Karnal (1739)
typeOfViolence urban sack

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Afsharid Empire majorEvent Sack of Delhi (1739)
Muhammad Shah notableEvent Sack of Delhi in 1739
subject linked to: Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah
linked to: Sack of Delhi (1739)
Battle of Karnal preludeTo sack of Delhi (1739)
linked to: Sack of Delhi (1739)
Sack of Delhi (1739) alsoKnownAs Sack of Delhi by Nader Shah
linked to: Sack of Delhi (1739)
Sack of Delhi (1739) alsoKnownAs Persian invasion of Delhi (1739)
linked to: Sack of Delhi (1739)