Reza Pahlavi

Reza Khan Mir Panj (Alasht, March 16th 1878 - Johannesburg, July 26th 1944) is known under its name of reign Reza Shah Pahlavi . Officer cossack resulting from a line of military chiefs ( Khan ), he becomes successively supreme commander of the bodies armed and chief with the government of the Persian empire under the reign of Ahmad Shah, last sovereign Qadjar. The Constituent one having voted the forfeiture of the young monarch the December 12th 1925, Reza Khan is at once elected and established by the Parliament ( Majles ). Proclaimed Shahanshah (" King of Rois"), it is crowned the April 25th 1926. Of ascent mazandarani and géorgienne, it founds the first nontribal dynasty: Pahlavi. Contrary to the Qadjar, the new dynasty is not Turkish-speaking but persophone.

Biography

Youth

Reza Shah is born with Alasht, a small village of the surroundings of Savad Kouh, in the tops of the Mazandaran, mountainous province of the north of the Iran. He is the son of Abbas Ali-Khan (1818-1878), commander who fights with Herat (today in Afghanistan) in 1857 (with the rank of captain), and of Nouch Afarine, Géorgienne whose family had been driven out the Caucasus in 1828, following the Guerre Russo-Iranian woman of 1826-1828. Forty days after the birth of the future Reza Shah, driven out by his in-laws which did not want the foreign one, Nouch Afarine leaves Alasht for Teheran. In company of her Hossein brother, she undertakes the crossing of the solid mass of the Elbourz, in order to join her husband Abbas Ali-Khan, seriously sick, and her older brother Hakim Ali Khan. Reza Khan has only eight month when the death of his/her father occurs. Hakim Ali Khan, his uncle, takes care at once of its education and a decent life ensures him on the material plan. Indeed, this last is then doctor at the imperial court. Hakim Ali Khan officiates particularly near prince Kamran Mirza, the son of the Chah, and in the andaroun , the harem of Nasseredin Shah.

In 1891, according to the traces of his/her father, Reza Khan launches out in the military career: it integrates the Brigade cossack Persian, only official institution considered to be effective and inspiring the respect. Contrary to Mustapha Kemal, the man who was going to become his political model and with which it was to maintain positive ratios, Reza Khan is informed relatively little. He includes/understands the instructions given by the Russian officers and can be expressed in Turkish, but does not have a command of any common language and diplomatic (Mustapha Kemal could speak French). As opposed to what British propaganda in the Twenties affirms, Reza Khan is not illiterate, even if it is true that it tardily learns how to read and write. Reza Khan was to be distinguished differently: it was especially remarkable by its military pace, its authority and its qualities which made of him an example of bravery and determination. These qualities enable him to climb the levels of the army quickly. According to the opinion of the General Ironside, British officer responsible by the government with Teheran with the reorganization with the division cossack for the army, he becomes thus the first Persan officer to order this body armed to replace the Russians.

Seizure of power

Benefitting from a confused and completely disordered situation, he undertakes a coup d'etat in the night from February 20th to 21st 1921. He enters to Teheran, extremely of approximately 2000 men and without bloodshed. He is named by Sardar Sepah (“chief of the army”) by Ahmad Shah. He very quickly becomes the strong man of the country and devotes himself to reform the army, the order and safety. He gives also a new dash to Iranian nationalism.

In October 1923, Ahmad Shah names it Prime Minister before his departure for Europe for personal care.

Reza Shah, impressed by the modernistic reforms of Atatürk in Turkey, thinks one moment to establish a presidential system, an idea badly received in the religious and traditional mediums.

It conducts several campaigns successful against the rebellious or independence chiefs of the territory and gains in authority and force.

Birth of the Pahlavi dynasty

October 31st 1925, in absence of Ahmad Shah Qajar, and whereas the country required a central order and a strong government, the majles (Iranian Parliament) approves with a great majority the dissolution of the dynasty Qajar. December 12th of the same year, the Parliament decides for the change of the dynasty. Reza Khan becomes the emperor of Iran under the name of Reza Shah Pahlavi. It is crowned on April 25th, 1926.

Under its reign, Iran accelerates its modernization: creation of universities, massive industrialization and railroads. It upsets the social order established by speeding up the reforms and while trying to make pass Iran to the 20th century. It creates the first modern university of the country, the Université of Teheran (1934), founds the use of family names and of the booklet of civil statue, modernizes justice and the army and makes an considerable effort to modernize the education system. In 1935, it prohibits the port of the veil for the women and obliges the men to wear a dress " with the occidentale".

Abdication

The bringings together of Reza Shah with the Germany which contributed much to the industry of the country (first business partner of Iran in 1939) worry the British. When the war bursts, the British ask Reza Shah to expel the German citizens of the country, which he refuses. Reza Shah, having declared the neutrality of Iran, again refuses a request of allied to make use of the country to make pass from the ammunition, which pushes Great Britain and the USSR to invade Iran the August 25th 1941. Reza Shah is forced to abdicate in favor of his/her son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and it is sent in exile by the British initially to the Mauritius then to Johannesburg where it dies in 1944.

His/her son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, succeeds to him until the Islamic revolution of 1979. It is under its reign that oil is nationalized (Iran becomes thus the first country in the world to take this measurement), following the vote of the Lower House of March 15th, 1951 and with its application the next on April 29th, in other words day of the nomination of the nationalist leader Mossadegh at the post of Prime Minister. With the dismissal of this last, in 1953, the Shah confirms the nationalization of Iranian oil and the agreements made with the Western companies (imperial Firman ratifying the law of the oil agreement, dated October 29th, 1953).

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