WI: Continuing Zand dynasty in Persia

The Zand dynasty was a short-lived persian dynasty estabilished during the succession struggle after Nader Shah's death. Its first (and only considerable) shah was Karim Khan Zand, notable for having stabilized Persia after years of war and being a compassionate ruler face his subjects (he is still remembered today as a national hero in Iran).
However, Karim was already old, and few of his sons showed much promise. There was also the issue of Persia being divided between the Zands in the south and west and the Qajars in Khorasan. After he died, the country devolved into another succession struggle between two of his favorite sons, and the Qajars took advantage of this to reunify the country.
So, say, what if Karim Khan's sons had been more competent or pragmatic towards each other, or what if he had only one son that was ambitious enough as to desire the throne, and competent enough to hold it?
How differently could post-Afsharid Persia develop if it was ruled by a dynasty other than the Qajars? I hear that Karim Khan had a smaller bureaucracy as he handled most state affairs by himself, and also that he "consulted" the imams less than they would like.
Could this iteration of Persia keep more territory than OTL's Qajars? Agha Mohammad Qajar pissed off the georgians and armenians, it seems to me.
 
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Its shahs had the official title of “Advocate of the People”, a remarkably enlightened title for a leader to have, especially in the nineteenth century. What this would mean for subsequent reform efforts is intriguing, to say the least.
 
I'm bumping this for interest. Could the Zands stave off Russian encroachment into Persia's Caucasian territories?
Can they hold on to Basra?
 
I'm bumping this for interest. Could the Zands stave off Russian encroachment into Persia's Caucasian territories?
Can they hold on to Basra?
It really depends how much more competent the sons are than OTL.

Its shahs had the official title of “Advocate of the People”, a remarkably enlightened title for a leader to have, especially in the nineteenth century. What this would mean for subsequent reform efforts is intriguing, to say the least.
*eighteenth century
 
It's a pity for the Zands to rule for 43 years. They have a lot of potential for Iran if it wasn't for the Qajars takeover. This dynasty has been overlooked. The Zand wouldn't have collapsed if one of Karim Khan's sons is designated successor.

Perhaps a decisive victory over the Qajars should do the trick.
 
The Zand dynasty was a short-lived persian dynasty estabilished during the succession struggle after Nader Shah's death. Its first (and only considerable) shah was Karim Khan Zand, notable for having stabilized Persia after years of war and being a compassionate ruler face his subjects (he is still remembered today as a national hero in Iran).
However, Karim was already old, and few of his sons showed much promise. There was also the issue of Persia being divided between the Zands in the south and west and the Qajars in Khorasan. After he died, the country devolved into another succession struggle between two of his favorite sons, and the Qajars took advantage of this to reunify the country.
So, say, what if Karim Khan's sons had been more competent or pragmatic towards each other, or what if he had only one son that was ambitious enough as to desire the throne, and competent enough to hold it?
How differently could post-Afsharid Persia develop if it was ruled by a dynasty other than the Qajars? I hear that Karim Khan had a smaller bureaucracy as he handled most state affairs by himself, and also that he "consulted" the imams less than they would like.
Could this iteration of Persia keep more territory than OTL's Qajars? Agha Mohammad Qajar pissed off the georgians and armenians, it seems to me.

Do what others didn't. Consolidate power within Persia. Don't attack Basra if you haven't got rid of your rivals (Qajars, Afshars, Ismail Safavi). Secure the Caucasus while Russia fights the Ottomans.

In OTL the Qajar attack on Georgia attracted the Russians with Georgia looking for protection. The Zand won't change that except for when they attack the Caucasus. If it is in the middle of Russian wars in Europe you got your best bet.
 
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