Sattar Khan

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A picture of Sattar Khan.

Sattar Khan (Persian: ستارخان‎ , IPA:[sætːɒːɾ xɒn]) (1868—November 9, 1914, Persian: ستار خان), honorarily titled Sardār-e Melli (Persian: سردار ملی meaning National Commander), born in Tabriz (Janali village), located in Iranian Azerbaijan, was a key figure in the Persian Constitutional Revolution. He was a main figure of the revolution, leading the popular resistance against Qajar forces sent by Mohammad Ali Shah to occupy Tabriz with great foresight and bravery. He later led the Azerbaijani contingent of constitutionalist forces (along with contingents from Gilan, Isfahan and Bakhtiari tribal forces) sent to Tehran in order to protest the abolishment of the constitution by the king, Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar. As a result of these efforts, the constitution was restored, and Mohammad Ali deposed. Upon his return to Tabriz, he was treated as a national hero.

Satter Khan had a major fall out with the interim constitutionalist government over disarming and disbanding of his forces. He was asked to go to Tehran. He refused to disarm and disband his troops and took position in the villa of Atabak (Park-e Arabak). Sattar Khan was fatally wounded by the forces of commander of Tehran's police force, Yeprem Khan, who was also active in the constitutional movement, but sided with the interim government in disarming the revolutionaries in Tehran.