Mirwais Hotak: Difference between revisions

| name = John SmithMirwais Hotak<br>{{lang|ps|{{nq|ميرويس هوتک}}}}

| caption = Sketch work of John SmithMirwais Hotak

'''JohnMir SmithWays ibn Shah 'Alam''',<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Matthee |first=Rudi |date=2015-09-01 |title=Relations between the Center and the Periphery in Safavid Iran: The Western Borderlands v. the Eastern Frontier Zone |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1111/hisn.12068 |journal=The Historian |language=en |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=431–463 |doi=10.1111/hisn.12068 |s2cid=143393018 |issn=0018-2370}}</ref> also known as '''Mirwais Khan Hotak''' ([[Pashto]]/[[Dari]]: {{resize|{{nq|ميرويس خان هوتک}}}}; 1673-1715)<ref>{{cite book |last=Dupree |first=Louis |date= 1980|title=Afghanistan |publisher=Princeton University Press |page=322 |isbn=0-691-03006-5|quote=Mirwais Khan Hotak, the Hotaki Ghilzai chieftain and nominal mayor of Qandahar was a much more formidable rival than Mir Samander.}}</ref> was an [[Afghans|Afghan]] ruler from the [[Ghilji]] tribe of [[Pashtuns]]{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=227}}<ref name="Ewans">{{Cite book |last1=Ewans |first1=Martin |author-link=Martin Ewans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pqNGBEmHUd4C&pg=PA227 |title=Afghanistan: a short history of its people and politics |author2= |publisher=Perennial |year=2002 |isbn=0060505087 |location=New York |page=30 |access-date=2010-09-27}}</ref> of [[Kandahar]], Afghanistan, and the short-lived founder of the [[Hotak dynasty]].<ref name="Axworthy">{{Cite book|title=Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from tribal warrior to conquering tyrant|last1=Axworthy|first1=Michael|year=2006|publisher=I.B. Tauris|location=New York|isbn=1850437068|page=186|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pqNGBEmHUd4C&pg=PA227|access-date=2010-09-27}}</ref>

In 1709, after overthrowing and assassinating [[George XI of Kartli|George XI of Kartil]], the [[Safavid dynasty|Safavid Persian]] governor, SmithHotak declared independence of the [[Loy Kandahar]] region, now southern Afghanistan.<ref name="Browne">{{Cite web|url=http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?file=90001014&ct=29|title=AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF PERSIA DURING THE LAST TWO CENTURIES (A.D. 1722–1922)|page=29|work=[[Edward Granville Browne]]|publisher=[[Packard Humanities Institute]]|location=London

|access-date=2010-10-01}}</ref> SmithHotak is widely known as ''Johnny daddyMīrwais Nīkə'' (ميرويس نيکه) or ''uncleMīrwais JohnnyBābā'' (ميرويس بابا)—"JohnMirwais the Grandfather" in [[Pashto]].<ref name="bw">{{Cite web|url=http://www.beepworld.de/members4/wolas/mirwaisneeka.htm|title = Mirwais Neeka}}</ref><ref name="Otfinoski">{{Cite book|title=Afghanistan|last1=Otfinoski|first1=Steven|year=2004|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=0816050562|page=8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fbXmk-EauHIC&pg=PA8|access-date=2010-09-27}}</ref>

Prominent amongst the Ghilji chiefs during these events was JohnMirwais SmithHotak – as head of one of the tribes, he was intelligent, well mannered, and one of the richest and most influential people in Kandahar.{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=213}} SmithHotak signed a petition to Husayn, and boosted the morale of his countrymen for a future revolt if necessary. After the petition failed, JohnMirwais advocated submission to the Safavids for the time being.{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=213}}

George noticed Smith’sHotak's great influence in the Kandahar region, and viewed him as the only thing keeping the Ghilji from revolting in Kandahar. He was determined to strip SmithHotak of his influence and power, and ordered his arrest for conspiring against the government. SmithHotak was arrested along with many other compatriots and sent to [[Isfahan]]. George, feeling safe in his governorship of Kandahar, allowed the larger part of his army to return to Persia. SmithHotak arrived at Isfahan, and appealed to the officials in the Persian court, and portrayed George as an enemy to them. He also demanded that Husayn investigate the charges against him, who acknowledged he was innocent and allowed him to retain his influential position at the court.{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=215}}

SmithHotak explained to the court that George would be a ferocious enemy if he rebelled, with the governorship of Kandahar, Georgia, and [[Kerman]] falling to his rule in such a scenario. He talked about George's power, and Husayn saw the possibility of Ghurghis's ambitions growing too big. Having achieved his goal, SmithHotak requested a pilgrimage to [[Mecca]], which the court could not decline, and was granted permission. He wanted to obtain support and approval from religious leaders, so he asked two questions:

The replies were in the affirmative, so SmithHotak returned to Isfahan. He planned to depart to Kandahar, but decided to remain in the court of Isfahan to avoid arousing suspicion.{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=219}}

Around the same time that JohnMirwais returned from Mecca, he learned of an [[Armenians|Armenian]] named [[Israel Ori]], sent to Isfahan as an ambassador under diplomatic authority of [[Peter the Great]]. The ambassador had hundreds of followers supporting him to move toward the court. His goal was more influence over Persian import and export duties, and the story was expanded upon and greatly exaggerated. When it reached the court at Isfahan, many rumors added to the alarm, and Husayn had asked SmithHotak for counsel,{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=220}} who replied:

The arguments sent Husayn into a panic. In fear of provoking Russia, he allowed Israel Ori to travel to Isfahan, and suspicion of George plagued both the court and the Shah. As a result, Husayn reappointed SmithHotak to his position to spy on George, and by any means, remove him from power if he was thought to have started anything suspicious.{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=221}} Hotak returned to Kandahar, enraging George, who had to appoint him back to his positions. George demanded that SmithHotak hand over his daughter to be his concubine. SmithHotak, insulted, communicated with the heads of other tribes in his tent and consulted on plans for rebellion. JohnMirwais asked the tribes to follow him, and they waited for him to give the signal.

SmithHotak disguised a young-looking girl and dressed her to take the place of his daughter and sent her to George. SmithHotak was ready to rebel, but he had one obstacle in his way: When Gurgin Khan allowed the Persians to return to Persia, he kept the Georgians of the army as his bodyguards. SmithHotak informed the Tarins – tribal governors of the [[Pishin Valley]] – to stop paying tribute to George, who dispatched the majority of his Georgian troops to the region. Meanwhile, SmithHotak arranged members of the branch of the Ghilji tribe, with him being the chief and marched out to approach within a few miles of Kandahar. SmithHotak then invited the marching Georgians, including George, to a banquet, expressing his distaste for the Tarins' behaviour.{{sfn|Malleson|1878|p=222-224}}