Mohammad Shah Qajar
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Shah Qajar (January 5, 1808 - September 5, 1848) was king of Persia from the Qajar dynasty
(23 October 1834 - 5 September 1848).
, the crown prince and governor of Azerbaijan
, who in turn was the son of Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar, the second Shah of the dynasty. At first, Abbas Mirza was the chosen heir to the Shah. However, after he died, the Shah chose Mohammad to be his heir. After the Shah's death, Ali Mirza, one of his many sons, tried to take the throne in opposition to Mohammad. His rule lasted for about 40 days. Nonetheless, he was quickly deposed at the hands of Mirza Abolghasem Ghaem Magham Farahani
, a politician, scientist, and poet.
, who would become the Ghaem Magham's successor and who greatly influenced Shah's policies. One of his wives, Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia
, later became a large influence on his successor, who was their son.
He also tried to capture Herat
, which was then owned by the British, twice. To try to defeat the British, he sent an officer to the court of Louis-Philippe of France
. In 1839, two French military instructors arrived at Tabriz
to aid him. However, both attempts to capture the city were unsuccessful.
Shah was known to be somewhat sickly throughout his life, and he finally died at the age of 40 of gout
.
and attempted to make reforms to modernize and increase contact with the West. This work was continued by his successor, Nasser-al-Din Shah Qajar, who became known as a very capable leader. These efforts to modernize the country brought about a great interest in photography
. Other artwork during this time includes a number of small-scale paintings on lacquer
.
During Shah's reign, the religious movement of Bábism
began to flourish for the first time. The Persian symbol of The Lion and Sun
and a red, white, and green background became the flag at this time.
, but among the more notable of the children were:
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
(23 October 1834 - 5 September 1848).
Rise to power
Mohammad Shah was son of Abbas MirzaAbbas Mirza
Prince, Field-Marshal Abbas Mirza born Amol city , was a Qajar crown prince of Persia. He developed a reputation as a military commander during wars with Russia and the Ottoman Empire, as an early modernizer of Persia's armed forces and institutions, and for his death before his father, Fath Ali...
, the crown prince and governor of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, who in turn was the son of Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar, the second Shah of the dynasty. At first, Abbas Mirza was the chosen heir to the Shah. However, after he died, the Shah chose Mohammad to be his heir. After the Shah's death, Ali Mirza, one of his many sons, tried to take the throne in opposition to Mohammad. His rule lasted for about 40 days. Nonetheless, he was quickly deposed at the hands of Mirza Abolghasem Ghaem Magham Farahani
Ghaem Magham Farahani
Mirza Abolghasem Ghaem Magham Farahani or Mirza Abu'l-Qasim Farahani Qá'im Maqam was an Iranian Prime Minister in the early 19th century....
, a politician, scientist, and poet.
Politics and the military
Ali was forgiven by Mohammad, who had then become Shah. Farahani was awarded the position of chancellorship of Persia by Shah at the time of his inauguration. He was later betrayed and executed by the order of Shah in 1835, at the instigation of Hajj Mirza AghasiHajj Mirza Aghasi
Hajj Mirza Aghasi or Aqasi , sometimes known as Haji-Mollah Abbas Iravani, was Sadr-e Aazam of Mohammad Shah Qajarof Iran during 1835-1848....
, who would become the Ghaem Magham's successor and who greatly influenced Shah's policies. One of his wives, Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia
Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia
Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia, or Mahd-i-'Aliua , was a Persian princess of the Qajar dynasty, consort of Sultan Mohammad Shah Qajar of Persia and the mother of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. She was the granddaughter of Fat′h-Ali Shah Qajar of Persia and the cousin of her spouse, Mohammad Shah...
, later became a large influence on his successor, who was their son.
He also tried to capture Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, which was then owned by the British, twice. To try to defeat the British, he sent an officer to the court of Louis-Philippe of France
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
. In 1839, two French military instructors arrived at Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
to aid him. However, both attempts to capture the city were unsuccessful.
Shah was known to be somewhat sickly throughout his life, and he finally died at the age of 40 of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
.
Cultural trends
Shah fell into the influence of RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and attempted to make reforms to modernize and increase contact with the West. This work was continued by his successor, Nasser-al-Din Shah Qajar, who became known as a very capable leader. These efforts to modernize the country brought about a great interest in photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
. Other artwork during this time includes a number of small-scale paintings on lacquer
Lacquer
In a general sense, lacquer is a somewhat imprecise term for a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required...
.
During Shah's reign, the religious movement of Bábism
Bábism
The Babi Faith is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852, then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire as well as underground. Its founder was Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, who took the title Báb—meaning "Gate"—from a Shi'a theological term...
began to flourish for the first time. The Persian symbol of The Lion and Sun
The Lion and Sun
The Lion and Sun is one of the emblems of Iran, and between 1846 and 1979 was an element in Iran's national flag. The motif, which illustrates ancient and modern Iranian traditions, became a popular symbol in Iran in the 12th century The lion and sun symbol is based largely on astronomical and...
and a red, white, and green background became the flag at this time.
Children
During his reign, Shah had 11 children to eight wives, and four more wives with whom he had no children. Seven of his children died in infancyInfant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
, but among the more notable of the children were:
- Prince Nasser al-Din Mirza, later Nasser-al-Din Shah Qajar (July 16, 1831 - May 1, 1896)
- Prince Abbas Mirza Molk Ara (November 27, 1839 - April 14, 1897) ancestor of Shams Molk Ara family
- Prince Mohammad Taqi Mirza Rokn ed-Dowleh (1840–1901)
- Prince Abdol-samad Mirza Ezz ed-Dowleh Saloor Abdol-samad Mirza Ezz ed-Dowleh SaloorAbdol-samad Mirza Ezz ed-Dowleh Saloor Persian prince of Qajar Dynasty and fifth son of Mohammad Shah Qajar by his wife, a lady of Turkmen origin. He is the ancestor of Saloor family....
(May 1843–1929) ancestor of the Salour family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdol-samad_Mirza_Ezz_ed-Dowleh_Saloor)
Honours
(all received in 1834)- Knight of the Order of St. AndrewOrder of St. AndrewThe Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is the first and the highest order of chivalry of the Russian Empire.- Russian Empire :The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia...
of RussiaRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union... - Knight of the Order of St. Alexander NevskyOrder of St. Alexander NevskyThe Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire.-History:The introduction of the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was planned by Emperor Peter I of Russia...
of RussiaRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union... - Knight of the Order of Saint StanislausOrder of Saint StanislausThe Order of Saint Stanislaus , also spelled Stanislas, was an Order in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and The Kingdom of Poland between 1765 and 1831 and of Russian Empire from 1831 to 1917.-History of the Order of Saint Stanislaus:Stanisław August Poniatowski, King of Poland, established the...
of RussiaRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union... - Knight of the Order of the White Eagle of RussiaRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- Knight of the Order of St AnneOrder of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
, 1st Class of RussiaRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
External links
- The Qajar Dynasty (Rokni, Shams-ol-Molk Arai) Genealogy, http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Persia/qajar21.htm
- Photos of qajar kings