Anglo-Persian War

Anglo-Persian War
Part of the Great Game

Battle of Khushab (1857) by Illustrated London News
Date1 November 1856 – 4 April 1857
(5 months and 3 days)
Location
Southern Persia and Herat
Result

British and allies victory[1][2]

Belligerents
Afghanistan Afghanistan State of Persia
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Gen. James Outram
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland M.G. Foster Stalker
Afghanistan Dost Mohammad
Nasser al-Din Shah
Khanlar Mirza
Mehr Ali Khan Nuri
Mirza Mohammad
Gov. Tahmasp Mirza
Strength

British Expeditionary Force:

  • 1st Div. - 5,700 troops
  • 2nd Div. - 4,400 troops

Fars Division:

  • 6,000 Nezam and Irregular Infantry
  • 2,000 Regular Cavalry

Khanlar Mirza's Army:

  • 10,000-13,000 troops
Casualties and losses
250+ 700+

The Anglo-Persian War, also known as the Anglo-Iranian War (Persian: جنگ ایران و انگلستان, romanizedJange Irân o Engelestan), was a war fought between the United Kingdom and Iran, which was ruled by the Qajar dynasty. The war had the British oppose an attempt by Iran to press its claim on the city of Herat. Though Herat had been part of Iran under the Qajar dynasty when the war broke out, it had declared itself independent under its own rebellious emir and placed itself under the protection of the British in India and in alliance with the Emirate of Kabul, the predecessor of the modern state of Afghanistan. The British campaign was successfully conducted under the leadership of Major General Sir James Outram in two theatres: on the southern coast of Persia near Bushehr and in southern Mesopotamia.

The war resulted in the Persians withdrawing from Herat and signing a new treaty to surrender its claims on the city and the British withdrawing from southern Iran.

  1. ^ Denemark & Robert p. 148
  2. ^ "ANGLO-IRANIAN RELATIONS ii. Qajar period – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2019-08-01. Relations between Britain and Iran were further exacerbated by an imbroglio with the British Minister to Iran, Mr. Murray, who left Tehran in high dudgeon. Mīrzā Āqā Khan turned his attention to Herat where (1855) a new opportunity to reestablish Iranian control presented itself. Grasping the opportunity, the Shah sent an army do Afghanistan. In October, 1856, Herat fell to the Iranians. In response Britain began the Anglo-Persian war (q.v.) which resulted in Iran's quick defeat and the conclusion of the peace treaty of Paris in 1857, by which Iran finally gave up its claim to Afghanistan.