The Afshārids (r. 1149-1210/1736-96) were a Persian dynasty founded by Nādir Shāh Afshār, replacing the Ṣafavid dynasty. This dynasty drew strength from the tribal solidarity of the Afshār uymāq. This was a prototypical military tribal grouping of Turkish origin, held together by the reputation and/or proclaimed attributes of its chiefs), one of the twelve main Turkmān Qizilbāsh groups that had originally formed the basis of Ṣafavid military power. Although Nādir's goal had been to replace the Ṣafavids on the throne and extend the frontiers of