This was brought about by the lack of interest in ruling by many of the Shahs of that period, royal intrigues, civil unrest, especially among many of its subjects, and recurrent wars with their Ottoman arch rivals.

Some subjects such as Mir Wais Hotak, a well-respected tribe leader, attempted to inform Shah Sultan Hussayn of the risks that a lack of strong leadership could cause for the empire.

Hotak was sent to be imprisoned in Isfahan by Gurgin Khan[3] the governor of Georgia, but used this opportunity to get closer to the Shah and convince him to send him back to Kandahar.

Making use of the opportunity provided by the Safavid decline, the Pashtuns led by Mir Wais Hotak had rebelled against the Persian overlordship.

He eventually died in 1715, and soon after his death, his son Mahmud Hotak took over his battle and led the Pashtun army to the capital of the empire Isfahan in 1722.

While the exact number of soldiers who fought in this battle is unclear, Mahmud Hotak was estimated to have about 18,000 troops, while the Persian army counted around 40,000.

[8] After the battle of Gulnabad in 1722 and until 1729, political control shifted from the Safavid dynasty to the succession of rule by the Ghilza'i Afghan Mahmud, followed by his cousin Ashraf.

During that time, this political crisis motivated the Russian and Ottoman empire to declare war and conquer important Persian territories.