198 ENGLAND AND RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA.
course of Persian history might have been very different had this very capable ruler achieved a striking success over the Russian army. As it was, he slowly followed up the retreating Russians, and had the satisfaction of obtaining possession of the strong Georgian fortress of Sheshah, which had for long resisted his greatest efforts. But his triumph was brief, for a few days afterwards he was murdered by some servants whom he had condemned to death. With the death of Aga Mahomed Khan the vigorous period of Persia's rule came to a close. Since then there has been a steady and never varying decadence, and Persia owes much that she still retains to the active interference of England. With the death of Aga Mahomed Russian encroachments recommenced more actively than ever before, and before the Treaty of Guhstan in 1813 (see Appendix) Persia had lost all the provinces north of the Kur. His successor, Futteh Ali, was unable to stem the tide of invasion, although at peace within his State, and he owed the preservation of some of his more immediate provinces exclusively to the intervention of the British Government. But the Treaty of Gulistan left many points unsettled and vague ; and neither the Russian nor the Persian Government seemed disposed to acquiesce in the various suggestions that were made by friendly advisers. In 1826 the question was again referred for settlement to the sword, in consequence of Russia having forcibly occupied the district of Gokcha, which she refused to surrender. Thereupon Abbas Mirza, the prince royal
