Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar
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Fat′ḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār (Persian: فتح على شاه قاجار ) (1771 - 1834) was the second Qajar King of Persia. He ruled from 1797 to 1834.
Fat′h Ali was a son of Hossein Qoli Khan and nephew of Agha Mohammad Khan He ascended to the throne of Persia after his uncle was assassinated.
Fat′h Ali's real name was Baba Khan but he was crowned as Fat′h Ali Shah. He became suspicious of his chancellor Hajji Ebrahim Khan Kalantar and ordered his execution. Kalantar had been chancellor to Zand and Qajar rulers for some fifteen years.
Much of his reign was marked by the resurgence — 'Bazgasht' — of Persian arts and painting, as well as a deeply elaborate court culture with extremely rigid etiquette. In particular during his reign, portraiture and large-scale oil painting reached a height previously unknown under any other Islamic dynasty, largely due to his personal patronage.
Fat′h Ali also ordered the creation of much royal regalia, including a coronation chair which was also used by later kings, and the "Tāj-i-Kīyānī" (Persian: تاج كيانى ), or Kayanid Crown, a modification of the crown of the same name created by his uncle. This, like most of his regalia, was studded with innumerable pearls and gems. His Crown Jewels were valued at the time at a minimum of fifteen million pounds.[citation needed]
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[edit] Russo-Iranian Wars
During the early reign of Fat′h Ali, Imperial Russia took control of Georgia claimed by the Persians. The war broke between Iran and Russia when Fat′h Ali Shah ordered the invasion of Georgia in 1804, under pressure from the Shia clergy, who were urging a jihad against Russia. The war began with notable victories for the Iranians, but Russia shipped in advanced weaponry and cannons that disadvantaged the brave yet technologically inferior Qajar forces, who did not have artillery to match. Russia continued with a major campaign against Iran; Iran asked for help from Britain on the grounds of a military agreement with that country (the military agreement was signed after the rise of Napoleon in France). However, Britain refused to help Persia claiming that the military agreement concerned a French attack not Russian. Iran had to ask for help from France, sending an ambassador to Napoleon and signing the Treaty of Finkenstein. However, just when the French were ready to help Iran, Napoleon made peace with Russia. At this time, John Malcolm arrived in Persia and promised support but Britain later changed its mind and asked Iran to retreat. Russian troops invaded Tabriz in 1813 and Iran was forced to sign the Golestan with Russia. Another war was waged in 1826 and ended in 1828 which ended in the Turkmanchai Treaty, which conceded many advantages to Russia.
[edit] Later life
Fat′h Ali later employed writers and painters to make a book about his wars with Russia, inspired by the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. This book, considered by many to be the most important Persian book written in the Qajar period, is called the Shahanshahnama.
When his beloved son and crown prince Abbas Mirza died, Fat′h Ali named his grandson Mohammed Mirza as his crown prince. Fat′h Ali died a year later.
Fat′h Ali Shah had 158 wives, and 260 children. He is instantly recognizable in all 25 known portraits - mainly due to his immense, deeply black beard, which reached well beneath his narrow waist.
Besides eulogistic chronicles, the only real sources that allow us to judge his personality are those of British, French and Russian diplomats. These vary greatly: earlier in his reign they tend to portray him as vigorous, manly and highly intelligent. Later they begin to point out his extreme indolence, avarice and possible lack of intelligence.
| Qajar Dynasty Born: 1771 Died: 1834 |
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|---|---|---|
| Regnal Titles | ||
| Preceded by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar |
Shah of Persia 1797-1834 |
Succeeded by Mohammad Shah Qajar |
[edit] See also
- Tangeh Savashi near Tehran, where Fat′h Ali Shah had a relief carved into the side of a mountain pass.
- Sarah Shahi, an Iranian-American actor, is the great-great-granddaughter of Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar of the Iranian Qajar dynasty from her father's side.
