Heads of Persia

Qajar Emperors

1797-1834: Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
1834-1845: Mohammad Shah Qajar

-convinced to ally against Russia in Russia's Wars > Turkish War of Succession (1841-4)

-sees gains on Turkey side, as well as gains in control over Shirvan

-successfully takes Herat

-dies of gout in 1845

1845-1851: Bahman Shah Qajar

-installed on throne by uncle Hasan Khan Salar

-in state of virtual house arrest

-era sees heady rebellion because his authority is not well established

-culminates in rise of the Bab in 1848 who successfully assembles a huge army

-declares himself the Mahdi and rebellion successfully accumulates unprecedented amount of support in hundreds of thousands

-with country already badly divided he's also able to cut out a realm for himself

-sees him and his supporters assassinate Bahman

Mahdi (claimant)

1851-1856: The Bab

-war against the Bab takes years but in the end is able to kill him in battle

-Battle of Varamin is huge thing and ends with the Bab dying bravely in battle

-The Bab's followers dispersed to Iraq and India

Qajar Emperors (restored)

1856-1859: Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

-rallies clergy on his side

-successfully overthrows the Bab

-however, after some time, assassinated by Babi people

Bakhtiari Emperors

1859-1899: Hossein Gholi Shah Bakhtiari

-this guy

-accepts Russian control as far as Tabriz

-served as one of Naser's closest aides in suppressing the Bab

-but with assassination makes himself emperor

-brutally suppresses Babi people

-with this engages in period of modernization now that Persian state's weakness revealed in a big way

-assembles army to take control of nation with anarchy after rebellion

-huge standing army established

-France and, increasingly, Italy become influential in this to own British, Russians, and one another

-unwilling to give too many concessions but does give some, due to legacy of Bab revolt

-modernization is a general success

-introduces a great many new crops after this civil war to replenish population

-with Russia's Wars > Second Circassian War (1872-5) decides to intervene to reclaim lost Tabriz and Shirvani territories

-succeeds

-in the wake of Russo-Chinese War (1893-9) breaking out and China doing well sees rise "Chinese faction" of government for constitutionalism

-preparation for constitutionalism emerges but unwilling to go all the way before his death

1899-1909: Amir Gholi Shah Bakhtiari [abdicated]

-enacts formation of a parliament

-but with China's Wars > Xinchou Revolution (1901) decides to roll back reform

-results in increasing popular discontent due to people bringing in French- and Punjabi-inspired ideas

-then comes Young Russian Revolution (1902-8) and movement for constitutionalism further empowered

-finally Kamran folds and authorizes assembling of a parliament with various restrictions

-his candidates win

-with electoral system well in his pocket this results in new surge of revolutionist activity

-Kamran suppresses it brutally

-however, in 1909 rebel troops march to Tehran and force him to abdicate

1909-1910: Esfandiar Gholi Shah Bakhtiari

-coronated upon overthrow of father

-however, soon launches autocoup which ends with him overthrown

Presidents of the Council of State of Persia

1909-1923: Shayan Khan

1911 def.

1915 def.

1919 def.


-governs over a very impressive population boom

Chief Magistrates of Persia

1910-1924: Ahmad Khan

1910: Ran unopposed