Ahmad Shah Qajar

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Ahmad Shah Qajar (احمد شاه قاجار in Persian) ‎(January 21, 1898 - 21 February 1930) was Shah of Persia from July 16, 1909 to October 31, 1925. He was the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty.

Ahmad acceded to the Peacock Throne on July 16, 1909 following the overthrow of his father and predecessor Mohammad Ali Shah, who had attempted to reverse earlier constitutional restrictions on royal power. He was, however, an ineffective ruler who was faced with internal unrest and foreign intrusions, particularly by the British and Russian Empires. In 1917, Britain used Iran as the springboard for an attack into Russia in an unsuccessful attempt to reverse the Russian Revolution of 1917. Ahmad was pushed aside in a military coup in 1921 by Reza Pahlavi and went into exile with his family in 1923. He was formally deposed on October 31, 1925 when Reza Pahlavi was proclaimed Shah by the Founders Assembly. He died in 1930 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, though the dynasty was continued by his brother, the former crown prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza.

Ahmad shah was arguably Persia's only democratic ruler in history. He refused to exceed his power limits as a constitutional monarch to save his dynasty from downfall. He also refused help from the Ottoman Sultan to restore him to the throne as he saw the offer as foregin interference in internal affairs of Persia.

[edit] See also

Qajar Dynasty

[edit] External links

• History of Iran: Qajar Dynasty
• A postage stamp with his image
• Listing of known Portraits and Pictures
• A sympathetic profile of him
• A genealogy and history of Qajar rulers
• List of marriages and descedants

Qajar Dynasty Born: January 21 1898; Died: 21 February 1930
Regnal Titles
Preceded by: Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar	Shah of Persia 1909-1925	Succeeded by: Reza Shah Pahlavi
Preceded by: Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar	Head of the Qajar Dynasty 1909-1930	Succeeded by: Fereydoun Mirza
New Title	Heir Presumptive Qajar dynasty 1925-1930	Succeeded by: Mohammad Hassan Mirza