Sattar Khan
Encyclopedia
Sattar KhanSattar Khan (Persian
/Azeri
: ستارخان, sætːɒːɾ xɒn; (October 20, 1866—November 17, 1914), honorarily titled Sardār-e Melli ( meaning National Commander) was a pivotal figure in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and is one of the greatest heroes of Iran
.
Sattar Khan,
Freedom Fighter & National Hero
Sattar Khan was born in October 20, 1866 in Bishak(now: Sardarkandi) village of Azarbaijan province of Iran to a merchant family. Later Sattar Khan became a great general of the Constitutional Revolution, which took place in 1906 - 1911.
Sattar Khan, who was heading the rebels from Amirkhiz district of Tabriz, capital of East Azarbaijan province, in 1907, had become favorite general of all his fighters because of his heroism and courage. After shelling Majles (National Assembly), 40 thousand armed forces of Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar attacked Tabriz, the cradle of Constitutional Revolution. In June 1908 under the leadership of Sattar khan High Military Council was established.
Sattar Khan was appointed the Commander in chief of High Council, Bagher Khan as his deputy, Ali Musyo, Haji Ali and Seyed Hashem Khan as members.
By April 1909, Tabriz rebels lost huge number of their fighters in driving out the loyalist armed forces of Tabriz. Taking into account Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan's heroism during the battle, Sattar Khan was honored by the title of "Sardar-e Melli" (National General) and Bagir khan "Salar-e Melli" (National Leader) by the order of the Assembly.
Military council was assigned the task of defending Tabriz. This victory of rebels in Tabriz had greatly influenced other provinces of Iran. Special committees with the name of "Sattar Khan" were established in Tehran, Rasht, Qazvin, Esfahan and other cities.
Most cities of Azarbaijan were cleared from forces of government by October 1908. Being afraid of the strengthening revolutionary movement in the country, Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar authorized reopening of the Majles (National Assembly) in Tehran.
Second Majles held in December 1908. It ordered a plaque of honor with images of Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan carved on it in gold as a token of appreciation for their services and the plaque was hung on the tribune in the next session of the Assembly.
The strengthening of revolutionary power in the wake of Tabriz victory did frighten the loyal forces of Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar and their allies, especially Russia and Great Britain. To discredit Sattar Khan and his supporters, they tried to separate Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan from their followers and supporters and to take them out of Tabriz. A telegram (dated 16.3.1910) sent by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain to its Ambassador in Iran, Mr. George Birly, reads that Sattar Khan and Bagher khan had to be sent away from Tabriz immediately. Majles did ask Sattar khan and Bagher khan to leave for Tehran. In March 1910 the two leaders with 300 of their followers and fighters headed for Tehran. Sattar khan and Bagher khan reached Tehran on 3 April 1910. Sattar Khan was received by Tehran citizens as a savoir.
Sattar Khan, together with his followers was accommodated in Atabey Park. In August 1910 Sattar Khan refused to obey the government order to disarm. Shah's troops and police forces led by Yeprem Khan (Davidyans), head of Tehran police with a brief but violent confrontation at night, on 7 August 1910, surrounded and disarmed the Sattar Khan's forces. At that night, Sattar Khan was injured in his leg. Sattar Khan stayed in Tehran until his death at the age 48, on November 9, 1914. He was buried in Shah Abdul Azim cemetery in Shahr-e Ray near Tehran. Many poems and verses have been written about Sattar Khan's heroism, and his devotion to the Constitutional Revolution and his Iranian people.
to endure two sieges in defense of the Iranian Constitution of 1906, resisting against the royalist forces sent by Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar
. He later led the Azerbaijani contingent of Iran
ian constitutionalist forces (along with contingents from Gilan, Isfahan and Bakhtiari tribal forces) to Tehran
in order to protest the abolishment of the constitution by the Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar. As a result of these efforts, the constitution was restored, and Mohammad Ali deposed. Upon his return to Tabriz, Sattar Khan was treated as a national hero.
Sattar Khan had a major fall out with the interim constitutionalist government over disarming and disbanding of his forces. In 1910, Sattar Khan & Haj Baba Khan-e- Ardabili refused to obey the government order to disarm, believing that their volunteer militias were Iran's best defense against any future attempts by the British and Russians to saddle Iran with another tyrant puppet like Mohammad Ali Qajar. After a brief but violent confrontation at Atabek Park in Tehran
, Yeprem Khan
, Sattar Khan's former comrade and now the police chief of Tehran
, disarmed his forces using Bakhtiari tribesmen and Armenian veterans. Sattar Khan was wounded during the confrontation. He was later pensioned off and his followers were disbanded. There are some claims that Sattar Khan died in 1914 from the wounds he sustained at Atabek Park.
of Iran (Sardār-e Melli that means "National General"). A street in west Tehran
has been named after him.
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
/Azeri
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
: ستارخان, sætːɒːɾ xɒn; (October 20, 1866—November 17, 1914), honorarily titled Sardār-e Melli ( meaning National Commander) was a pivotal figure in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and is one of the greatest heroes of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Sattar Khan,
Freedom Fighter & National Hero
Sattar Khan was born in October 20, 1866 in Bishak(now: Sardarkandi) village of Azarbaijan province of Iran to a merchant family. Later Sattar Khan became a great general of the Constitutional Revolution, which took place in 1906 - 1911.
Sattar Khan, who was heading the rebels from Amirkhiz district of Tabriz, capital of East Azarbaijan province, in 1907, had become favorite general of all his fighters because of his heroism and courage. After shelling Majles (National Assembly), 40 thousand armed forces of Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar attacked Tabriz, the cradle of Constitutional Revolution. In June 1908 under the leadership of Sattar khan High Military Council was established.
Sattar Khan was appointed the Commander in chief of High Council, Bagher Khan as his deputy, Ali Musyo, Haji Ali and Seyed Hashem Khan as members.
By April 1909, Tabriz rebels lost huge number of their fighters in driving out the loyalist armed forces of Tabriz. Taking into account Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan's heroism during the battle, Sattar Khan was honored by the title of "Sardar-e Melli" (National General) and Bagir khan "Salar-e Melli" (National Leader) by the order of the Assembly.
Military council was assigned the task of defending Tabriz. This victory of rebels in Tabriz had greatly influenced other provinces of Iran. Special committees with the name of "Sattar Khan" were established in Tehran, Rasht, Qazvin, Esfahan and other cities.
Most cities of Azarbaijan were cleared from forces of government by October 1908. Being afraid of the strengthening revolutionary movement in the country, Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar authorized reopening of the Majles (National Assembly) in Tehran.
Second Majles held in December 1908. It ordered a plaque of honor with images of Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan carved on it in gold as a token of appreciation for their services and the plaque was hung on the tribune in the next session of the Assembly.
The strengthening of revolutionary power in the wake of Tabriz victory did frighten the loyal forces of Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar and their allies, especially Russia and Great Britain. To discredit Sattar Khan and his supporters, they tried to separate Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan from their followers and supporters and to take them out of Tabriz. A telegram (dated 16.3.1910) sent by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain to its Ambassador in Iran, Mr. George Birly, reads that Sattar Khan and Bagher khan had to be sent away from Tabriz immediately. Majles did ask Sattar khan and Bagher khan to leave for Tehran. In March 1910 the two leaders with 300 of their followers and fighters headed for Tehran. Sattar khan and Bagher khan reached Tehran on 3 April 1910. Sattar Khan was received by Tehran citizens as a savoir.
Sattar Khan, together with his followers was accommodated in Atabey Park. In August 1910 Sattar Khan refused to obey the government order to disarm. Shah's troops and police forces led by Yeprem Khan (Davidyans), head of Tehran police with a brief but violent confrontation at night, on 7 August 1910, surrounded and disarmed the Sattar Khan's forces. At that night, Sattar Khan was injured in his leg. Sattar Khan stayed in Tehran until his death at the age 48, on November 9, 1914. He was buried in Shah Abdul Azim cemetery in Shahr-e Ray near Tehran. Many poems and verses have been written about Sattar Khan's heroism, and his devotion to the Constitutional Revolution and his Iranian people.
Biography
Initially an unknown man, he became a main figure of the revolution by galvanizing the people of TabrizTabriz
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 endure two sieges in defense of the Iranian Constitution of 1906, resisting against the royalist forces sent by Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar
Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar
Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar was the Shah of Persia from 8 January 1907 to 16 July 1909.-Biography:He was against the constitution that was ratified during the reign of his father, Mozzafar-al-Din Shah...
. He later led the Azerbaijani contingent of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian constitutionalist forces (along with contingents from Gilan, Isfahan and Bakhtiari tribal forces) to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in order to protest the abolishment of the constitution by the Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar. As a result of these efforts, the constitution was restored, and Mohammad Ali deposed. Upon his return to Tabriz, Sattar Khan was treated as a national hero.
Sattar Khan had a major fall out with the interim constitutionalist government over disarming and disbanding of his forces. In 1910, Sattar Khan & Haj Baba Khan-e- Ardabili refused to obey the government order to disarm, believing that their volunteer militias were Iran's best defense against any future attempts by the British and Russians to saddle Iran with another tyrant puppet like Mohammad Ali Qajar. After a brief but violent confrontation at Atabek Park in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Yeprem Khan
Yeprem Khan
Yeprem Khan Davidian , also Yefrem Khan, was an Armenian revolutionary leader and national hero of Persia...
, Sattar Khan's former comrade and now the police chief of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, disarmed his forces using Bakhtiari tribesmen and Armenian veterans. Sattar Khan was wounded during the confrontation. He was later pensioned off and his followers were disbanded. There are some claims that Sattar Khan died in 1914 from the wounds he sustained at Atabek Park.
Legacy
Sattar Khan is remembered in his country for his heroic actions in defense of the freedom of the Iranian people, and today is often referred to as the ZapataEmiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
of Iran (Sardār-e Melli that means "National General"). A street in west Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
has been named after him.
External links
- Sattar Khan, Encyclopædia Iranica