Nader Shah converts to Catholicism

Nader Shah a great Persian ruler of the 18th century was said to be a personally irreligious man. What if he and his family were converted to Catholicism by a French Jesuit?

What would the consequences be of a major Muslim head of state becoming Christian?

Thoughts?
 

B-29_Bomber

Banned
Nader Shah a great Persian ruler of the 18th century was said to be a personally irreligious man. What if he and his family were converted to Catholicism by a French Jesuit?

What would the consequences be of a major Muslim head of state becoming Christian?

Thoughts?

Things get stabby-stabby in his backy-backy.
 
Why would he, a man who remained a Sunni Muslim despite ruling a country made up of Shias, convert to Catholicism?
 
He would survive and there would be some more Catholics than today's Iran. However, it would return to Muslim hands very shortly after his death.

Do remember, Shah Is'mail called himself Allah or the manifestation of Allah or Ruah (spirit) of Allah. Yet he remained in power simply due to his enigma and power.
 
Last edited:
He wound survive and there would be some more Catholics than today's Iran. However, it would return to Muslim hands very shortly after his death.

Do remember, Shah Is'mail called himself Allah or the manifestation of Allah or Ruah (spirit) of Allah. Yet he remained in power simply due to his enigma and power.
Isn't that outright blasphemy?
 
Only someone with a death wish, or backed by really powerful factions would commit apostasy anywhere in the Muslim world, much less force on the people a religion infamous for trying to wrest the third holiest city of Islam by brute force. Nader Shah is going to need ample help from Europeans to suppress any revolts if he hopes to become a Catholic ruler, and I suspect it would never be enough, plausibly.
 
Best case scenario is that Nader Shah gets a few days to weeks before his court catches wind and he ends up dead or living in the rest of his days as a political exile and exotic curiosity of the Pope. Tries very hard to use the Pope's influence to curry favor and take back his throne but never does. Probably marries off some minor European noblewoman and some kids and several centuries later, some European family can claim descent from the Persian Shah. That's it.
 
With the Catholic Church at the height of it's power and influence, it would have taken a miracle to keep a Muslim ruler who converted to Catholicism alive. Possible, but extremely unlikely. But in the 18th century, with Protestantism playing out in full, and the Pope rapidly losing power, tough chance a Muslim ruler even listens to a Papal missionary, much less converts. Plus, in the 18th century, most Catholic rulers would rather just conquer Persia, or at least Raj it in a way, than spend time and resources to convert it to Christianity for no real gain to themselves.
 
Top