In the next year, however, Nader Shah repeated his invasion. Topal Osman's army at Kirkuk had been weakened by the Ottoman government, with experienced men transferred west and replaced by low-quality levies, although he retained a numerical superiority over the Persians. In the ensuing battle near Kirkuk, Topal Osman was killed and his army routed. A Persian soldier cut off Topal Osman's head and brought it to Nader Shah, who, after ordering his opponent's corpse found, returned his remains to the Ottomans, out of deep respect for an adversary he considered to be worthy. They were buried with full honours in the Imam Qasim mosque in Kirkuk.