Glitters of empire

Celebrating the Royal Coronation in Tehran


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Glitters of empire
by Darius Kadivar
29-Oct-2007
 

"My Only Goal in Life is to honor the glory of my people and my land. I only have one wish and that is to preserve the independence and territorial integrity of my country and lead my people towards progress"

-- Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlavi taking Oath as King of Iran,
October 26th, 1967

Forty Years ago this month Iran was the
focus of world medias, not as a hostile nation, seeking to wipe out a
neighboring country from the surface of the planet, nor was it
suspected of being a nest for international terrorism, but as the
setting for a glittering event that would mark the destiny of a nation
and make televised history.

If Stanley Kubrick’s chilling comedy Dr. Strangelove had already warned the world on the dangers of Nuclear Proliferation, the term Axis of Evil was yet to be invented by a clumsy war mongering US President and no one questioned the reality of the Holocaust
as is the case by an equally foolish Iranian dictator. Man was to walk
on the Moon in hardly two years time, but world news was mostly
dominated by the atrocities of the Vietnam War and the Arab-Israeli
conflict.

In contrast, nothing seemed more refreshing as seeing an entire nation
about to celebrate the Coronation of its King and Queen in one of the
most glittering events of the 20th century. Truly, an Island of Stability, at the time in one of the most troubled regions of the planet, Iran, once known as Persia, A Land of a Thousand and One Nights, was coming to life and mesmerizing world viewers in front of their black & white TV screens.

On October 26th, 1967 Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlavi was to Crown himself and his wife Empress Farah (Diba) as respectively the Shah and Shahbanou
of Iran. It was also the very first time in 2500 years that a Persian
Queen was to be crowned and certainly a unique event to this day in any
Muslim country. And for that purpose, it was necessary to order a new
crown. The honor fell on the famous Parisian jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels, who created the most awesome crown, along with new parures to be worn by the sisters of the Shah at the Coronation.

Also specially ordered for the event was the Coronation Coach, made in
Vienna by Josef Klicmann. The carriage was sent by plane to Tehran in
pieces and was built there. In blue and gold, it was a replica of the
Austrian Imperial Carriage used by the Habsburgs.
This was one of the only harshly criticized expenses of the Coronation,
since the Imperial Couple already had a carriage, which had been used
by the Shah’s father in 1926, however it would be used again by the
Crown Prince during the procession.

The result was, nevertheless, marvelous and popular. A gilded crown, a
replica of the Pahlavi Crown, topped the carriage and in the door the
coat of arms of the Imperial Family was also in gold. It was decided
that the Coronation ceremony would be held in the magnificent Grand
Hall of the Golestan Palace, the dramatically stunning former home of
the Qajar Dynasty. This magnificent hall was dominated by the Sun
Throne, also known as the Peacock Throne, but before it was intended,
ever since being built, as a museum room. This remarkably long hall,
150 meters long, was one of those specially refurbished for the
occasion.

The fact that the Grand Hall could only take around 500 guests, made
that in the gardens of the Golestan special tribunes were built to
accommodate around 5000 other guests. The actual coronation ceremony
began as the corteges entered the stunning Grand Hall of the Golestan
Palace. All the eyes were fixed on the entrance of the room. The first
cortege brought smiles to all the faces and tears to many eyes.
Surrounded by four saluting officer with their swords unshielded, HIH
The Crown Prince Cyrus-Reza of Iran entered the Grand Hall with a
dignity many adults could not aspire to.

Three minutes later, the Shahbanou, followed by 6 maids of honor who
took care of the fantastic train of her impressive dress, had entered
the Grand Hall of the Golestan Palace. Like her son had done, the
Empress went to her chair, on what would be the right of her husband
and remained standing, waiting for her husband’s entrance. Her maids of
honor placed her dress’ train and took their places behind the throne,
standing.

Finally the Shah also entered the Grand Hall, preceded by three
generals, senior military officers of each of the three branches of the
Armed Forces: the Imperial Navy, the Air Force and the Ground Forces.
He was walking towards a ceremony that he had delayed for over a
quarter of a century and as he walked towards the Naderi Throne he
surely did so confident that his work would make Iran a modern country.
He reached the bejeweled throne and turned back to the entrance of the
room, standing.

The Empress curtsied when the Shah arrived at the throne. Three
Officers were to carry the Koran, the Imperial Crown’s of the Shah and
Shahbanou. The sight of those magnificent jewels, which would take an
essential part in the ceremonial, sparkled the amazement among the
large hundreds of guests. The Shah climbed on to the Naderi Throne and
remained motionless for about ten seconds, looking straight down the
room. Everyone remained standing. His Imperial Majesty then bowed at
right and at left, acknowledging the homage of the guests and inviting
everyone to seat.

Religion Oblige, spiritual leader of the country, known as the
Imam Jomeh, read some verses of the Koran, then the Coronation ritual
immediately began as the Shah, dressed himself in full regalia, of
Cloak and Sword one at each time.

Like Napoleon, the Shah would crown himself. The Shah, with swift
movements, took the crown and placed it on his head. Moments later he
Crown’s the Empress, presents his son as heir and takes Oath to Respect
the Constitution. Immediately, one hundred and one canon blasts sounded
through Tehran, marking the coronation of the sovereign, cheers were
heard throughout the country and as the people took to the streets
streets of the capital and prayers were said in the Mosques, a squadron
of the Imperial Iranian Airforce was to release 17705 bouquets of
narcissi flowers, the exact number of which corresponded to the days in
the life of the 48 year old new King.

If retrospectively History has not failed to note the Shah’s controversial reign, October 26th,
1967 was nevertheless to be remembered by most Iranians as a glittering
testimony that Iran had entered a new Era. Little could anyone suspect,
at the time, that hardly a decade later, the downfall of the 50 year
Old Pahlavi Dynasty would also mark the end of a 25 century Old
Institution that undeniably shaped the Persian Civilization and greatly
helped define our national identity.


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more from Darius Kadivar
 
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Very Good News Indeed

by Good News (not verified) on

I just heard on radio esraeel that Alahazrat Homayoon Shahanshah Arayamehr is alive and well and will soon take the peacock throne. Akhounds are on the run, Horayyyyy. All of those who are insulting his majesty will be in deep trouble. Horayyyyy. Start packing your bags to return to the homeland. Horayyyyy.


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It was typical

by Alborzi (not verified) on

He used the money of the nation (which was precious for Iran) to create an event that was meaningless. I was watching it in a club (I think Shahanshahi club or Sepah) and all the foreigners Americans/British/French were laughing at the spectacle. He believed his own shit and that was the problem, he believed the stupid speech he gave at Cyrus grave. To the end he never understood that he was a coward (for leaving some of his most loyal workers like hoveyda in jail). And all the stupid pageants were just for show, he never got it and those who think there is any of that shit left are the ones who think Tsar is going to come back to Russia.


Jahanshah Rashidian

Stupid piece

by Jahanshah Rashidian on

The stupid piece is a typical kitschy opinion-maker of  Roozi-nameh under the Shah in Iran or a bunch of tabloid in the West—Soraya- Zeitschrift in Germany, Figaro- magazine in France…which try to relieve people’s pain by parading the glory of corrupt kings, princes, sheiks, mafia bosses…

 

Such a propaganda-tabloid  is today even dangerous because it serves to split our nation to confront  the plague of the IRI as a  dictatorship. The stupid message is to confuse people between Shah's dictatorship and his heritage and  “ IRI's dictatorship and its Mullahs. 


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to Reza chee and all the anti-Shah dudes

by changiz khan (not verified) on

Visit this site:

//www.sexology.org/

and before you say it: have your mothers and sisters ready for practice.


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Hey eye-rainian

by Anonymous666 (not verified) on

Do not wory so much if the above picture is doctored
The important thing is that we all can smell the bull shitt in your words and can see the shit on your lips for leeking arabs ass

Ha Ha Ha


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Dear Professor Mohammad Apologist Ala

by ex-Pasdar (not verified) on

It is good to have you in this forum as for a balanced debate we need to have a regime apologist in our midst. I can see that you insist on being known by your academic (?) title to make sure that we do not forget who you are: a retired professor of business who now spends his time between LA, Tehran and Bejing. Didn't you know that "Atr anast keh khod bebooyad." I am sure having been positively vetted by the regime's security and so having the right to teach in Iran, you should have a number of contacts in the ministry of Information and in the IRGC, where I used to work many years ago. Clearly, as a regime apologist you need to defend your paymasters as much as you can but please do not go too far as this ex-Pasdar knows more about the IRGC and thier activities than a regime lobbyist who finds no problem to cooperate with the regime. I have paid a heavy price for my past activities as when I decided to leave Iran, I had nothing in my possession apart from a few hundred dollars that I used to pay my way out of that hell to which you frequently go back.
I only need to remind you that while your views are interesting to hear, they have no value as facts for they are the same type of stuff the we in the IRGC used to give to our agents to distribute among the Iranians abroad. So please don't stop writing on this site as whenever I read your pieaces, it is as if I have given you such instructions to publish under your name. Thank you for reminding me of some of my mixed memories of the past. Obviouly, the fabrication factory of the regime is not out of steam yet.

Please give my regards to my former bosses and co workers in the disinformation unit of the Pasdaran Corp. They know who I am as my style speaks for my identity the same way that yours does it for you.


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Javid Shah.

by Anonymous user (not verified) on

Javid Shah.


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SHAH and THE US, and Nasser

by Colonel Hemayat (not verified) on

Declassified documents in Alam’s memoir clearly show that Shah was independent of the US, on many occasions   he simply told them to fuck off, and at the same time was wise enough to make Iran a very close ally of the most powerful economic and military  superpower in the world WITHOUT ticking off the Reds. If that is not good statesmanship  and a mastery of foreign affairs I don’t know what it is.

   

The truth is that SHAH had the power of the oil in his hands and at the same time he was even getting close to the east block, and that worried the west. Read the book “The crash of 1979” and you will know. The process of destabilizing of Iran began in the early 70’s,  along with Shah’s ailment ,  his mild and humanitarian temperament and foreign influence , the events of 1979 had that disastrous result. It would have been so easy to crush that blind and treacherous  movement against the Shah in 1979.

  

Some mentioned Jamal Abdul Nasser , he once said we could  Arabcize  the Middle East so fast we would have Breakfast in Telaviv and lunch in Ahwaz , after getting his ass kicked by the Israelis , Shah sent Nasser a telegraph “ YOU HAD YOUR BREAK FAST COME OVER FOR LUNCH”

   

You know what is so pathetic about the Arabs? 700 million people and all that oil, and they still can’t handle the tiny Israel!!!  I Laugh at Arabs!!!

 


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IRANIANS DESERVE TO BE STEPPED ON

by IRaNiansmUstStayhunGARY (not verified) on

Well - Iranians - need to be screwed well and they will obey like the Olaghs they are - They had a King, Queen, Dignity and they said "Margh Bar Shah" - Then comes the Akhunds - screwing them left right and center - and they are silent taking it well UP THEIR ASS - That is what Iranians deserve and that is what they will get - The most pathetic nation on Earth - GET SCREWED - OIL AT 90 BUCKS AND YOU WILL GOT NONE OF IT - Work three jobs - have your girls become whores in Dubai or acts like whores in the States and Europe and stay happy like PIMPS THAT YOU ARE - Enjoy the screw - The Shah left - and his leaving to such a namak nashnas nation was his answer - so there - No more Shah - No more Pahlavi - No more "SAVAK" . . . Get screwed by the Mullahs, work three jobs and take it up the ass -


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To all monarchists!

by Reza_chee (not verified) on

Check this website for mental help:

//www.getmentalhelp.com/


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professor mohamahd

by ali (not verified) on

you are so right professor we did not dare to speak up when he was in power, because he would have killed us or tortured us now is something called freedom of speech that we can freely speak up our mind without being fearful of SAVAK coming and get us. God bless Iran and hopefully she will never ever see another dictator like him and that is once we get rid of akhonds.


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toop

by jello (not verified) on

Man you have me all confused now. I used to think I had a toop that was ghelgheli. Now I am not sure. I think it was hendooneh.


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House Dr.

by YO (not verified) on

To ham Dast Baste migooziya
hala doctor e chi hasti, man bavasiram dard mikone
alaji dari ya na.


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Fiddler on the Roof

by Rosie T.. (not verified) on

From where this pirzan-e-khareji-ye-yahoodi sits if anyone cares to listen, to erase the historical meaning of 2500 years of kingship and to to erase the historical meaning of 1400 years of Islam are equally patently absurd. You're really like funhouse mirrors of each other, and Nero fiddled while Rome was burning...and Rome is burning and you're all fiddling...fiddling in your funhouse and having your fun, with the same old tired words.
Stop...
Rosie


Mohammad Ala

I remember the event . . .

by Mohammad Ala on

I remember the event.  I had no problem with it. 

 

It is easy to judge people who have no power.  It is kind of funny, during his time no one dared to say one negative thing against him or his family.  Suddenly we have so many brave Iranians who are hiding in different countries, using pseudo names, and using their views.

 

You are judged by what you write.   

 

 

Dr. Mohammad Ala is Professor of Business and a Board member of www.iran-heritage.org, www.iranalliance.org, and www.persiangulfonline.org


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shah didn't care about hoveyda

by ? (not verified) on

poor hoveyda. shah left him like many many many others for death. so sad and cowardly, but pretty consistent to his past behaviors as "king" of "kings". poor hoveyda. the french screwed him so badly..... and meanwhile iranians are in love with french this and that. farrah loves to speak french and writes in french, went to french school. then french screwed her in the butt by brining khomeini. there's your french for you folks.


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Ajab Ashi shod

by YO (not verified) on

BABA in bahs Ajab Ashe shole ghalam kari shode. eyvas. Jaye khoda biamorz Hoveyda khalie.


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Ey kamangir bi kaman....ey

by Sattirist (not verified) on

Ey kamangir bi kaman....ey tirandaz...toro che be tirandazi....tirato dota dota bendaz :)

PS;
Har aftabe bedast ke biad az esme ghahreman melli soo-estefade bokone, akharesh be hamin rooz miofte!
Dorood bar Arash Kamangir;


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to kamangir

by eye-rainian (not verified) on

The asshole conspired against his own people and took the side of Ajnabi. People got pissed and tossed him out and you are blaming the people? some fucking twisted logic you have. I hate to break it to you but he was not GOD. He made a lot of mistakes worst of which was when given the choice between his country and his people vs America's interest, he chose the latter.
.
You fucking monarchist should be pissed at him for eliminating a 2500 year tradition of monarchy in Iran. It was all his fault. Not Khomeini, not the people, not Carter. No one. Him and him alone. You have no one to blame but him for letting the americans rob the country blind and then easily hand the country over to akhund.


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Ey khashmgin.... ey

by sattirist (not verified) on

Ey khashmgin.... ey albalooye torsh;
I suddenly loughed so hard when I looked at shah's picture with the horn on his head :)


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kamangir - u got it!

by verified (not verified) on

that's it! shah was TOO GOOD for Iranians. Like Jesus, he will resurrect from Egypt (pesky arabs) and rule a nice, clearn unIslamic European country. Tadaaaaaaa. And he'll impose sanctions on Iran.

Good thing he's dead.


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Be toop nagid hendoone

by Kamangir on

If it wasn't for the Pahlevi's you Iranians hanooz be toop migoftind hendoone.

You arabo-muslims in Iran deserve, booye pa (ahmadinejad style) you deserve aftabeh, kerme askariss va tasbih va abele.

Our beloved king, did not deserve such a mediocre and close-minded people. He thought he would be capable of making you normal human beings, he was mistaken, tokhme arab, hussain va hassan adam besho nist.  Gohe ahmadinejad va molaha ro bekhorid, ke az shomast ke bar shomast!

 


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To A.G

by CEO (not verified) on

Hey A G

Get your facts straight , they spent around 20 million not 2 Billion, so what, have you asked yourself what about the 200 million they gave Hezbollah last year, or one Billion to our fucking Arab Iraqi brothers, 500 million to the big Commi Cuba, It is hard to believe you that after all these year we still talk about the cost of Tajgozaree.


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to KN

by eye-rainian (not verified) on

Our resident Arab hater, Mr. Kaveh is here. I suggest you school this British journalist who thinks that IR is "persian supremacist" and "anti-arab racist".
.
//commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_tatchell...
.
Maybe he had you in mind when he wrote this piece and not IR.


Kaveh Nouraee

HAHA....moron

by Kaveh Nouraee on

By the time Nasser came along Egypt really had no other choice but to formally Arabicize. It was an economical and political decision. A homeless person on Skid Row makes more money per year than the average Egyptian, so don't even try to go there with me.

 

 

As far as Arabs in Khuzestan, you lose again. Iran is not an Arab country you brain-damaged idiot. Iran could be overrun by 50 million Chinese. That doesn't make it a Chinese country. Do you get it now or do you need to have pictures drawn for you?


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To Khashmgin

by Rosie T. (not verified) on

No, they do deserve better. There is much wisdom in what you say. I wish you would find a way to say it so that others could listen.
A couple of years ago I was carrying around a book called Modern Iran Since 1921--The Pahlavis and After. On the cover are a photo of Mohammad Reza in luminous royal attire and one of Khomeini draped in black praying. An American friend of mine surprised me with his knowledge by pointing out that they look like the two gods of Zoroastrianism, Ohrmazd and Ahriman, Light and Darkness. I do not say this to suggest that Shah is good and Khomeini evil. I simply wish to remind you all that Iran historically is the home of the concept that the world is a battle where Good will triumph over Evil. This great belief in the triumph of the Light formed the foundation not only of Christianity but also of ethical Judaism, and was a great step forward for humanity at the time. But dualism is a heavy burden for a people to bear, because life is a spectrum of many shades. Please don't be so khashmgin, Khashmgin. They have more than enough anger of their own. Help them find a way to accept the many shades of truth, in which resides the hope of humanity. It is the only way. Please don't give up on them. They do deserve better, and so do you.
Rosie


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reply to Kaveh Noraeee

by Anonymous-haha (not verified) on

"Call an Egyptian an Arab, and see if you can chew your lunch later on. There was the time that we would do the same thing. Call an Iranian "Arab" and they'd get a lesson in manners. Now you just roll over like a stray dog looking for scraps."

so the Arabs in Khuzestan are not Iranians you dumbfuck?

and secondly, student of history? wuhahaha.it shows,how much you love your history books. whenever you see the pictures of your beloved shah,you have a boink and therefore fall in "love" with history.

who the fuck did provoke the arab nationalism and formally arabicize egypt? let me give you a hint - he was a secular fascist with the name Gamel Abdul Nasser.Not the " Mollah" in Al-azhar.


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To all Pahlavi haters...

by Khashmgin (not verified) on

I love it that the Shah, almost 30 years after his death, is still such a thorn in your eyes... Or should I say such a cylindrical you know what up your a-holes? Doesn't matter...
...
The fact of the matter is that the Pahlavis "fucked" you leftists and bacheh akhoonds for 50 years, and then that pedophile Khomeini, your "savior", took over the fucking and started doing you even harder. Only this time you started moaning in "approval"!!!
...
LOL! The shah and khomeini are both gone now, but Shah left a thorn in your eyes and khomeini left his you-know-what in your a-holes.
...
It's funny as hell! It's like there are two people, one of them is raping you up your ass and all you do is complain at the other guy who just showed you the finger. I mean how stupid could you be. Khomeini "FUCKED" you up your assholes for crying outloud and His dick is still residing in your a-holes long after his death!
...
Well, soon this regime will fall and someone else will take over "fucking" you bunch. You don't deserve better, it is just too bad that "taro khoshk ba ham misoozan."


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Thank you DK

by MRX (not verified) on

Thanks Darius,
certainly brings back a lot of good memories. As usuall Isalmo facissts and commi's are whining again. simply ignore them. history judges everything.


Kaveh Nouraee

Haha.....

by Kaveh Nouraee on

You want to spell like an Arab, go ahead. It only shows who you are.

 

 

I'm under no delusions that the monarchy will return. I, unlike you, simply recognize the deeper significance of that time. A significance that you could not ever possibly understand. I am a student of history, while you clearly are not.

 

 

Yes, the Shah's remains are interred in Egypt. A country that is Arab by force, the same way these mollahs (oh. i'm sorry, mullahs) are doing it to Iran now. Call an Egyptian an Arab, and see if you can chew your lunch later on. There was the time that we would do the same thing. Call an Iranian "Arab" and they'd get a lesson in manners. Now you just roll over like a stray dog looking for scraps.


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