Hotak Empire

Hotak Empire
1709–1738
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Hotak Empire at its peak (1722–1729)
Capital		Kandahar Isfahan
Languages		Pashto Persian
Religion		Sunni Islam
Government		Absolute monarchy
Emir
•	1709–1715	Mirwais Hotak
•	1715–1717	Abdul Aziz Hotak
•	1717–1725	Mahmud Hotak
•	1725–1730	Ashraf Hotak
•	1725–1738	Hussain Hotak
Historical era		Early modern period
•	Revolt by Mirwais Hotak	April 1709
•	Siege of Kandahar	24 March 1738
Preceded by Succeeded by Safavid dynasty Mughal Empire Afsharid dynasty
Today part of		Afghanistan  Iran  Pakistan  Tajikistan  Turkmenistan

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The Hotak dynasty or the Hotaki dynasty was an Afghan monarchy of the Ghilji Pashtuns, established in April 1709 by Mirwais Hotak after leading a successful revolution against their declining Persian Safavid overlords in Kandahar. It lasted until 1738 when the founder of the Afsharid dynasty, Nader Shah Afshar, defeated Hussain Hotak during the long siege of Kandahar, and started the reestablishment of Iranian suzerainty over all regions lost decades before against the Iranian archrival, the Ottomans, and the Russians. At its peak, the Hotak dynasty ruled very briefly over an area which is now Afghanistan, western Pakistan, and large parts of Iran.

In 1715, Mirwais died of a natural cause and his brother Abdul Aziz succeeded the monarchy. He was quickly followed by Mahmud who ruled the empire at its largest extent for a mere three years. Following the 1729 Battle of Damghan, where Ashraf Hotak was roundly defeated by Nader Shah, Ashraf was banished to what is now southern Afghanistan with Hotak rule being confined to it. Hussain Hotak became the last ruler until he was also defeated in 1738.

Kandahar province was ruled by the Shi'a Safavids as their far eastern most territory from the 16th century until the early 18th century, while the native Afghan tribes living in the area were Sunni Muslims. Immediately to the east began the Sunni Mughul Empire, who occasionally fought wars with the powerful Safavids over the territory of southern Afghanistan. The area to the north, was controlled by the Khanate of Bukhara at the same time.