Nader Shah's Religious Policy in the Caucasus

There are different opinions about Nader’s approach to religion and his religious policy. Some characterized him as a Sunni, others as a believer Shiite. He was also regarded to try to found a new global religion. He was named infidel, self-conceit who used religion only as a political instrument, but at any rate accepted the Deity. The Caucasus was then inhabited by various national and religious groups: Christians, Sunnis, Shiites and Jews. On this brindled religious and national mosaic the Russians and the Ottomans aimed to take control of the region on the excuse of protecting their coreligionists. Nader’s new proposal on co-existence of religions aimed to remove the dividing lines between the Sunnis and the Shiites. Nader had realistic attitude towards Caucasian Christians, especially Armenian Meliks and archbishops. He appreciated their help against the Ottomans by restoring the rights and giving more privileges to Ejmiatsin church and Armenian Meliks. Nader correctly realized the important role of religion in the late medieval Oriental environment. He was inclined to get acquainted with all religions of the people under his reign which was signed with the order to translate the sacred books, the Torah and the Quran, in Farsi. The analysis of Nader’s religious policy in the Caucasus proves his relative success in the control of the region.