Arg of Tabriz
Coordinates: 38°04′20.63″N 46°17′18.05″E / 38.0723972°N 46.2883472°E
Arg-e Ali-Shāh (Persian: ارگ علیشاه, also known as Arg-e Tabriz, Arch of Alishah, Arg Citadel, and Masjid Ali-Shāh), is remnants of a big unfinished 14th century mausoleum and a 19th century military compound in city center of Tabriz, Iran.
History
The original construction was made between 1318-1339, during the Ilkhanate. Within the construction, the roof of the mausoleum collapsed and the construction was stopped afterwards. Centuries later, by the eruption of the Russo-Persian War, 1804-1813, and the Russo-Persian War (1826-1828), the compound was quickly reconstructed as a military compound. During the reconstruction of the Arg compound, a foundry factory for the manufacturing of cannons for the Iranian Army was built, as well as a military headquarter, a barrack for the troops, and a small palace was added as well to the original plan of the Arg.[1] Samson Makintsev, better known as Samson Khan, a Qajar Iranian general of Russian origin, lived inside the citadel for years together with his wife, the daughter of Prince Aleksandre of Georgia.[2]
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Remnants of the Arg of Tabriz, in Jean Chardin's drawing of Tabriz, 1673.
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Ruins of Arg, Eugène Flandin 1840.
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A US flag flies over the US Consulate near Arg of Tabriz during Iran's Constitutional Revolution.
Shelling of Arg by Russian troops, 1911
During the Russian invasion of Tabriz in 1911 they shelled the Arg in initial attacks. Once they captured the city ,they used the Arg as a central command center. During their occupation, because of careless handling, the artillery pieces they used set fire on parts of Arg.
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Russian flag over Arg, during Russian invasion.
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Spread of fire in Arg because of carelessness handling of artillery pieces by Russian troops.
Destruction During Pahlavi era
During the Pahlavi era, parts of the Ark which had been constructed in the 19th century by the Qajar dynasty, were destroyed. This destruction was with the aim of purifying the original Arg construction from later developments. The southern part of the Ark is turned to a park, the "Mellat Garden" (lit. park of the people), before the Iranian revolution in 1979.[1]
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Plan for reconstruction of Arg's surrounding before Iranian revolution in 1979.
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Mellat Garden in South of Ark after initial constructions before revolution in 1979.
Destruction by revolutionaries, early 1980s
In early 1980s after suppression of uprising of supporters of Muslim People's Republic Party against the new establishment of mixing religion and state and neglecting of Azerbaijani minorities, Moslem Malakuti selected as new Imam Juma of Tabriz by revolutionary government. During his tenure in Tabriz the destruction of Ark's Qajar era addendum wall and cultural institutes surrounding it accomplished and a new mosque for Friday prayers. Some people believe this destruction of local heritage was a systematic destruction of local Azerbaijani identity.[3]
Renovation in recent years, 1990s till present days
In 1990s and 2000s a rehabilitation and renovation project was executed by the Iranian Organization for Cultural Heritages. During this rehabilitation however all of the remaining Qajar era development from Arg castle were removed. At the same period a new big mosque was built next to the Arg castle. The superstructure of the new mosque undermine the architecture of Arg castle.[1] Despite the regulations of the Iranian Organization for Cultural Heritages and several court hearing the construction of the new structure continued and accomplished.
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Arg South wall's ruins view from south, 2007.
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Arg South view at night from south, 2007.
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Arg reconstruction view from north, 2007.
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Arg reconstruction view from north, 2009.
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Arg reconstruction view from north, 2013.
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Arg reconstruction view from north, 2013.
See also
- List of Iranian castles
- Iranian architecture
References
Sources
- Cronin, Stephanie, ed. (2013). Iranian-Russian Encounters: Empires and Revolutions Since 1800. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415624336.
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