Geo-strategic position of Kermanshahan in the dispute between the claimants of power in Iran after Nader Shah's death (From 1160 AH to 1176 AH)

Kermanshahan province was one of the most important political and military bases of Shah Afshar to attack the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Nader Shah.Nader Shah strengthened this base even more by building a strong fortress in Kermanshah. Also, the geographical location of this state, which was located on the highway connecting Khorasan to Baghdad and Khuzestan to Azerbaijan, provided excellent conditions for it.With Nader's death and the beginning of chaos and unrest in Iran, Kermanshahan became the focus of those claiming to rule Iran; The claimants of the monarchy over Iran considered the achievement of Kermanshahan necessary to advance their political-military goals, and during their numerous skirmishes, they always fought to seize it.The main question of the present study is that what was the importance of the geostrategic location of Kermanshah for the claimants of the monarchy in Iran? It seems that the province of Kermanshah, due to its strong and well-equipped military fort, border with the Ottoman lands, being in important communication routes and having the militias of the tribes and nomads, is of great importance for the claimants to the monarchy Iran had. This research has been compiled with a descriptive-analytical approach and with the aim of investigating the causes of various conflicts between the claimants of the monarchy over Iran over the occupation of Kermanshah. Findings indicate that Karim Khan Zand, due to ethnic and tribal solidarity with the people of Kermanshah, familiarity with the geography of the region and intelligent measures in using the geostrategic location of Kermanshah, benefited the most from the natural and human resources of this province. He was able to defeat the other claimants to the monarchy.