Qajar dynasty

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Parent family
Country	Iran
Current region
Earlier spellings
Etymology
Place of origin
Founded
Founder	Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar
Current head
Final ruler	Ahmad Shah Qajar

The Qajar dynasty was a Persian royal dynasty of Turkic origin, specifically from the Qajar tribe, which ruled over Iran from 1789 to 1925. The dynasty was founded by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, who established Tehran as the capital of Iran. The Qajar era was marked by significant political, social, and economic changes, as well as interactions with European powers.

History

The Qajar dynasty emerged in the late 18th century following the decline of the Zand dynasty. Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, the founder of the dynasty, was a formidable military leader who managed to reunify Iran after a period of fragmentation. He was crowned in 1796, but his reign was short-lived as he was assassinated in 1797.

Following Agha Mohammad Khan, his nephew Fath Ali Shah Qajar ascended to the throne. His reign saw the loss of significant territories in the Caucasus to the Russian Empire, following the Russo-Persian Wars. The Treaty of Gulistan (1813) and the Treaty of Turkmenchay (1828) formalized these territorial losses.

The Qajar period was characterized by attempts at modernization and reform, particularly during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, who ruled from 1848 to 1896. Naser al-Din Shah's reign saw the introduction of new technologies and ideas, but also increasing foreign influence and debt.

The later years of the Qajar dynasty were marked by internal strife and the Constitutional Revolution of 1905-1911, which led to the establishment of a parliament and a constitutional monarchy. However, the dynasty's power continued to wane, culminating in the deposition of Ahmad Shah Qajar in 1925 by Reza Shah Pahlavi, who founded the Pahlavi dynasty.

Culture and Society

The Qajar era was a time of cultural renaissance in Iran. The arts, including painting, architecture, and literature, flourished. The Qajar rulers were patrons of the arts and commissioned numerous works that blended traditional Persian styles with European influences.

The social structure of Qajar Iran was hierarchical, with the Shah at the top, followed by the nobility, clergy, merchants, and peasants. The Qajar rulers maintained a delicate balance of power with the influential Shi'a clergy, who played a significant role in the political and social life of the country.

Economy

The economy of Qajar Iran was primarily agrarian, with agriculture being the main source of income. However, the Qajar rulers faced significant financial challenges, including foreign debt and economic concessions to European powers. These concessions often led to popular discontent and were a factor in the Constitutional Revolution.

Foreign Relations

The Qajar dynasty's foreign policy was heavily influenced by the "Great Game," the strategic rivalry between the British Empire and the Russian Empire in Central Asia. Iran's strategic location made it a focal point of this rivalry, and the Qajar rulers had to navigate complex diplomatic relationships with these powers.

Decline and Fall

The decline of the Qajar dynasty was accelerated by internal corruption, economic difficulties, and the inability to effectively resist foreign influence. The Constitutional Revolution was a significant turning point, as it limited the absolute power of the Shah and introduced democratic reforms. However, the Qajar rulers struggled to implement these changes effectively.

The final blow to the Qajar dynasty came with the rise of Reza Khan, an ambitious military officer who seized power in a coup in 1921. In 1925, the Iranian parliament formally deposed Ahmad Shah Qajar, ending the Qajar dynasty and paving the way for the establishment of the Pahlavi dynasty.

Also see

• Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar
• Fath Ali Shah Qajar
• Naser al-Din Shah Qajar
• Constitutional Revolution
• Pahlavi dynasty
• Russo-Persian Wars