I found this Qajar’s official Court letter written to my Grand father’s brother , Khalil Mirza… (my father now is 93 years old!) and decided to take a photo of this letter and submit it in this blog along with some non-biased historical facts!
For many years, as a direct descendant of Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar (Fathalishah, Fathali Shah, Fath Ali Shah) (Persian: فتح على شاه قاجار) (5 September 1772 – 23 October 1834) was the second Qajar king of Iran. He ruled from 17 June 1797 to 23 October 1834), I have been subjected/forced to feel ashamed of my dynasty and family history in the eyes of most Iranians… Of course, I personally do not claim that my dynasty (Qajar) was the best Persia ever had to offer and as an Iranian (first) ,greatly sympathize and share with all Iranians their disenchanted feelings , disappointments and even anger about Qajar’s imperfections while they ruled Persia/Iran…
However, I just wanted to share few historical facts with all of you as my fellow Ham-Meehans in hopes of understanding this dynasty a little better and more fairly …To also recognize them for some of their very GOOD DEEDS for Persia/Iran! Hoping that Iranians will find it in their hearts to at least recognize Qajar’s great contributions and legacies (amongst them to UNIFY PERSIA/IRAN for the first time after a long long time…) and hopefully forgive their negative legacy that has been exposed and repeated over and over in Iran’s recent history by those who simply hated them regardless…
Awareness, Consciousness, Love and Peace.
May God Bless Iran and all True Iranians.
*****
Wikipedia: The Qajar dynasty (also known as Ghajar or Kadjar) is a common term to describe Iran (then known as Persia) under the ruling Qajar royal family[1] that ruled Iran from 1794 to 1925. In 1794, the Qajar family took full control of Iran as they had eliminated all their rivals, including Lotf ‘Ali Khan, the last of the Zand dynasty, and had reasserted Persian sovereignty over the former Iranian territories in Georgia and the Caucasus. In 1796 Āghā Moḥammad Khān was formally crowned as shah (emperor or king). European powers began to see Iran as a strategic ally in the region, one with whom they could work to undermine Ottoman power. Russia and Great Britain were especially interested in establishing themselves in Iran, which consequently became a venue for their so-called “great game” of imperial rivalry. (This term is attributed to Arthur Conolly, who was an intelligence officer with the British East India Company‘s Sixth Bengal Light Cavalry.)[2] Britain and Iran fought a war in 1856 over territory between Iran and their Indian empire. Britain also established control of the Trucial States. In the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907, Britain and Russia (with imperial hubris) divided their playground into spheres of influence. The Qazars became economically indebted to Russia. In 1901, short of money caused by their own extravagance, they sold a concession to prospect for oil cheaply to a British engineer. During the Qajar period, Western science, technology, and educational methods were introduced into Iran. Contact with Europe also encouraged a movement in Iran for the development of democratic institutions and a constitutional monarchy, which resulted in mass demonstrations and civil unrest in 1906, followed reluctantly by the granting of a constitution.
This went too far for some. In 1921, Reza Shah Pahlavi overthrew the Qajars, establishing the authoritarian Pahlavi dynasty. He could not abolish the Majlis (consultative assembly) but found ways to manipulate or discredit its leaders. The Pahlavis fell to the Islamic Revolution in 1979, when a groundswell of anti-Western sentiment and the desire to establish an Islamic system of governance toppled the dynasty. Iran under the Qajars found itself at a crossroads. Outside influence was too strong to resist. The perception that Iran, with a proud historical heritage, was actually ruled by foreigners, hurt national pride. Foreign involvement in Iran, given its strategic location, was inevitable. Iran’s subsequent alienation from the West, which stems from this period, can be attributed to the irresponsible way in which a “game” was played in other people’s territory, with little thought to what the consequences might be. Intervention in the internal affairs of other nations may sometimes be necessary. However, in a world in which some speak of the possibility of a civilizational clash—as people fear the subversion of their traditions and values—ill advised intervention can be disastrous.
Russo-Persian War (1804–1813)
Main article: Russo-Persian War (1804–1813)
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.
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.
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 innumerable pearls and gems. His Crown Jewels were valued at the time at a minimum of fifteen million pounds.
The list of positive deeds by Qajar Dynasty in Persia/Iran goes on … Forgivness, Peace and Love.
