Battle of Kirkuk (1733)

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Battle of Kirkuk
Part of the Ottoman–Persian War (1730–35) and Nader's Campaigns
Illustration showing the final phases and near end of the battle, where Nader stares despondently at the corpse of Topal Pasha, the only man who had ever defeated him in battle.
Date October 24–26, 1733 Location Kirkuk, Shahrizor Eyalet, Baban, Ottoman Empire Result Persian victory[1][2] Territorial changes Persian army poised to take Ottoman Iraq after victory, but is obliged to turn back due to a rebellion in Persia
Belligerents
Persian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Nader Haji Beg Khan	Topal Osman Pasha † Memish Pasha †
Strength
Slightly less than the Ottomans[3]	~100,000[4]
Casualties and losses
Minimal[5]	20,000 killed[6] all the artillery[7]

The Battle of Kirkuk (Persian: نبرد کرکوک), also known as the Battle of Agh-Darband (Persian: نبرد آق‌دربند), was the last battle in Nader Shah's Mesopotamian campaign where he avenged his earlier defeat at the hands of the Ottoman general Topal Osman Pasha, in which Nader achieved suitable revenge after defeating and killing him at the battle of Kirkuk. The battle was another in the chain of seemingly unpredictable triumphs and tragedies for both sides as the war swung wildly from the favour of one side to the other. Although the battle ended in a crushing victory for the Persians, they had to be withdrawn from the area due to a growing rebellion in the south of Persia led by Mohammad Khan Baluch. This rebellion in effect robbed Nader of the strategic benefits of his great victory which would have included the capture of Baghdad, if he had the chance to resume his campaign.