| Fat′h-Ali Shah Qajar | |
|---|---|
| Shahanshah of Persia | |
| Reign | 17 June 1797 - 23 October 1834 (37 years, 128 days) |
| Full Name | Fat'h Ali Shah |
| Born | 5 September 1772 |
| Birthplace | Damghan, Persia |
| Died | 23 October 1834 (aged 62) |
| Place of death | Isfahan, Persia |
| Buried | Qom |
| Predecessor | Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar |
| Successor | Mohammad Shah Qajar |
| Dynasty | Qajar Dynasty |
| Religious beliefs | Shia Islam |
Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar (Persian: فتح على شاه قاجار; var. Fathalishah, Fathali Shah, Fath Ali Shah; 5 September 1772 – 23 October 1834) was the second Qajar king of Iran. He reigned from 17 June 1797 until his death.
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Fat′h Ali Shah was the son of Hossein Qoli Khan Qajar, brother of Agha Mohammad Khan. He was governor of Fars when his uncle was assassinated in 1797. Fat′h Ali shah's real name was "Bābā Khān" but he was crowned as Fat′h Ali Shah. He became suspicious of his chancellor Hajji Ebrahim Khan Kalantar and ordered his execution. Hajji Ebrahim Khan had been chancellor to Zand and Qajar rulers for some fifteen years.
Much of his reign was marked by the resurgence 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 coronations chairs, "Takht-e-Tâvoos" (Persian: تخت طاووس) or Peacock throne and "Takht-e-Nāderī" (Persian: تخت نادری) or Naderi throne, which was also used by later kings, and the "Tāj-i-Kīyānī" (Persian: تاج كيانى), or Kiani Crown, a modification of the crown of the same name created by his uncle Agha Mohammad Khan. This, like most of his regalia, was studded with a large number of pearls and gems.
In 1797, he was given a complete set of the Britannica's 3rd edition, which he read completely; after this feat, he extended his royal title to include "Most Formidable Lord and Master of the Encyclopædia Britannica."[1]
During the early reign of Fat′h Ali Shah, Imperial Russia took control of Georgia claimed by the Persians. The war broke between Persia and Russia when Fat′h Ali Shah ordered the invasion of Georgia in 1804, under pressure from the Shia clergy, who were urging a war against Russia. The war began with notable victories for the Persians, but Russia shipped in advanced weaponry and cannons that disadvantaged the technologically inferior Qajar forces, who did not have artillery to match. Russia continued with a major campaign against Persia; Persia 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.
Persia had to ask for help from France, sending an ambassador to Napoleon and concluding a Franco-Persian alliance with the signature of the Treaty of Finkenstein. However, just when the French were ready to help Persia, Napoleon made peace with Russia. At this time, John Malcolm arrived in Persia and promised support but Britain later changed its mind and asked Persia to retreat. Russian troops invaded Tabriz in 1813 and Persia was forced to sign the Treaty of Gulistan with Russia.
On account of consecutive defeats of Persia and after the fall of Lankaran on 1 January 1813, Shah was forced to sign the Treaty of Gulistan. The text of treaty was prepared by a British diplomat; Sir Gore Ouseley; and was signed by Nikolai Fyodorovich Rtischev from the Russian side"[2] and Hajji Mirza Abol Hasan Khan from the Iranian side on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gulistan.[2]
By this treaty all of the cities, towns, and villages of Georgia, villages and towns on the coast of the Black Sea, all of the cities, towns and villages of the Khanates in South Caucasus and part of the Talysh Khanate, including Megrelia, Abkhazia, Imeretia, Guria, Baku khanate, Shirvan Khanate, Derbent, Karabakh khanate, Ganja khanate, Shaki Khanate and Quba Khanate became part of Russia.[3] In return Russia pledged to support Abbas Mirza as heir to the Persian throne after the death of Fat′h Ali Shah.
In 1826, 13 years after the Treaty of Gulistan Shah on the advice of British agents, decided to occupy the lost territories. Abbas Mirza invaded the Talysh Khanate and Karabakh khanate with an army of 35000 on 16 July 1828. The Khans quickly switched sides and surrendered their principal cities, Lenkoran, Quba and Baku to the Persians. In May 1827, Ivan Paskevich, Governor of Caucasus, invaded Echmiadzin, Nakhichevan, Abbasabad and on 1 October Erivan. Fourteen days later, General Eristov entered Tabriz. On January 1828 when Russians reached the shores of Lake Urmia, Abbas Mirza urgently signed the Treaty of Turkmenchay on 2 February 1828.
Turkmenchay Treaty was signed on 21 February 1828 by Hajji Mirza Abol Hasan Khan and General Ivan Paskievich . By this treaty Erivan khanate, Nakhchivan khanate, Talysh Khanate, Ordubad and Mughan became under the rule of Imperial Russia.[4] Iran pledged to pay Russia 10 Million in Gold and in return Russia pledged to support Abbas Mirza as heir to the Persian throne after the death of Fat′h Ali Shah . The treaty also stipulated the resettlement of Armenians from Persia to the Caucasus, which also included an outright liberation of Armenian captives who were brought and had lived in Iran since 1804 or as far back as 1795.
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.
In 1829, Alexandr Griboyedov, the Russian diplomat and play writer was killed in the encirclement of the Russia embassy in Tehran. To apologize, the Shah sent Tsar Nicholas I one of the biggest diamonds of his crown Jewelry, Shah Diamond.
When his beloved son and crown prince Abbas Mirza died on 25 October 1833, Fat′h Ali named his grandson Mohammed Mirza as his crown prince. Fat′h Ali died a year later, on 23 October 1834.
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 and avarice.
His first son, Mohammad Ali Mirza Dowlatsh, was seven months older than his brother Abbas Mirza (Fat'h Ali Shah's Crown Prince), but on account of his mother, Ziba Chehreh Khanoum, non-Qajar origin he was unable to claim the title "Valiahd." (Crown prince).
Sons
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Fat′h-Ali Shah Qajar
Born: 5 September 1772 Died: 23 October 1834 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar |
Shah of Persia 1797-1834 |
Succeeded by Mohammad Shah Qajar |
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