was dead: indeed, his only object in sparing Shahrukh's life was that he might make him a nominal king, in the event of the people demanding a ruler sprung from their former sovereigns. Adel Shah was dethroned by his brother Ibraheem, who was, in turn, defeated by the adherents of Shahrukh. This youth then mounted the throne, and put to death the destroyer of his father and of all his house, save himself.
It might have been predicted that Persia would now, under an amiable king, enjoy a reign of peace; but there was to be no peace as yet for the unhappy land. Besides the youthful Shah, there remained another descendant of the Sefaveean kings, and one who had in his veins none of the Suni blood of Nadir. A sister of Shah Hussein had been married to the custodian of the shrine of Imam Reza at Meshed, and her son conceived that he had a better claim to the throne of Persia than had the descendant of Shah Hussein's daughter. His creatures raised the cry that Nadir's grandson intended to renew the efforts made by that conqueror for substituting in Persia the faith of the Sunis for the Sheeah doctrines which are so dear to the nation. By these means he collected a party with which he was able to defeat the army which the king led in person against him. Shahrukh was taken prisoner and at once rendered incapable, as was supposed, of remounting the throne, by being deprived of his sight. His successor was very soon afterwards in turn defeated by Shahrukh's general, Yoosuf Ali, who first deprived the rebel of eyesight, and then put him and his two sons to death.
Yoosuf replaced the blind king on the throne, and proposed to act as regent, but he soon found himself
