Jonah Patel
The Pahlavi dynasty was the last Iranian royal dynasty, ruling from 1925 until 1979. It was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a former Brigadier-General of the Persian Cossack Brigade, and replaced the Qajar dynasty after a coup d'état. The Pahlavi dynasty is considered to have been a constitutional monarchy, albeit a short-lived one, and was ended by the Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy and established an Islamic Republic in Iran.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Duration of rule | 1925 to 1979 |
| Type of rule | Constitutional monarchy from 1925 to 1953; more autocratic monarchy from 1953 to 1979 |
| Rulers | Reza Shah Pahlavi (1925-1941); Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979) |
| Founding | Established after a coup d'état against the Qajar dynasty in 1921 |
| Overthrow | Ousted as part of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 |
| Legacy | Ended the ancient tradition of Iranian monarchy; transformed Iran into a regional economic and military power |
| Policies | Secular rule; educational and judicial reforms; reduced influence of religious classes; socio-economic transformation |
| Allies | United States |
| Opponents | National Front, a coalition of nationalists, clerics, and non-communist left-wing parties |
| Public perception | Growing public discontent and rebellion in 1978; accused of betraying Islamic ideals |
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What You'll Learn
The Pahlavi dynasty was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1925
In 1925, the Majlis deposed the absentee Qajar monarch, Ahmad Shah Qajar, and a constituent assembly elected Reza Khan as the new shah, marking the beginning of the Pahlavi dynasty. Initially, Reza Shah Pahlavi had planned to declare the country a republic, but he abandoned the idea due to British and clerical opposition. Instead, the Pahlavi dynasty ruled Iran as a constitutional monarchy from 1925 until 1953, and as a more autocratic monarchy from 1953 until it was overthrown in 1979.
During the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, significant educational and judicial reforms were implemented, laying the foundation for a modern state and reducing the influence of the religious classes. These reforms included transferring various legal matters from Shi'i religious courts to secular courts or state bureaucracies, improving women's status, banning the custom of women wearing veils, raising the minimum age for marriage, and making divorce laws more equitable.
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two rulers: Reza Shah Pahlavi (1925-1941) and his son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1941-1979). Mohammad Reza Shah's rule ended with the Islamic Revolution of 1979, marking the collapse of the ancient tradition of Iranian monarchy. During the Pahlavi dynasty, Iran transformed from one of the world's poorest countries to a regional economic and military power.
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The dynasty replaced the Qajar dynasty after the 1921 coup d'état
The Pahlavi dynasty was the last Iranian royal dynasty, ruling from 1925 until 1979. It was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a non-aristocratic Mazanderani soldier who took on the name of the Pahlavi language spoken in the pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire. The dynasty replaced the Qajar dynasty, which had ruled Persia (modern-day Iran) since 1794 or 1789.
The Qajar dynasty had become corrupt and inefficient by the early 20th century, and the Persian Soviet Socialist Republic in Rasht was preparing to march on Tehran in late 1920. Civil wars and various disorders had threatened the Qajar government, and the country was reliant on Britain and Russia for military and economic support. In this context, the 1921 coup d'état took place, beginning on January 14, 1921, when 42-year-old soldier Reza Khan was promoted by British General Edmund Ironside to lead the British-run Persian Cossack Brigade.
About a month later, under British direction, Reza Khan's detachment of 3,000-4,000 troops from the Cossack Brigade reached Tehran in what became known as the 1921 Persian coup d'état. The coup was largely bloodless and faced little resistance. With his expanded forces, Reza Khan launched successful military campaigns to eliminate separatist and dissident movements in Tabriz, Mashhad, and the Jangalis in Gilan. The rest of the country was taken by 1923, and by October 1925, the Majlis agreed to depose and formally exile Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Qajar ruler.
In December 1925, the Majlis declared Reza Khan as the new Shah of Iran, marking the beginning of the Pahlavi dynasty. Initially, Reza Khan had considered establishing a republic, but he abandoned the idea due to opposition from clerics and the British. The Pahlavi dynasty ruled Iran for 28 years as a constitutional monarchy from 1925 until 1953, and then for another 26 years as a more autocratic monarchy until it was overthrown in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution.
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The Pahlavi dynasty ruled Iran for 53 years
The Pahlavi dynasty was the last Iranian royal dynasty, ruling from 1925 until 1979—a period of approximately 53 years. The Pahlavi dynasty was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a non-aristocratic Mazanderani soldier who took on the name of the Pahlavi language spoken in the pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire.
The Pahlavi dynasty replaced the Qajar dynasty in 1925 after the 1921 coup d'état. In October 1925, the Majlis agreed to depose and formally exile Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Iranian ruler under the Qajar dynasty. The Pahlavi dynasty came into power at a time when Iran was in debt to European powers and was, to all intents and purposes, a British protectorate.
Under the Pahlavi dynasty, Iran experienced significant changes. The dynasty's rulers, Reza Shah Pahlavi and his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, implemented educational and judicial reforms, reduced the influence of the religious classes, and carried out development projects. By the mid-1930s, Reza Shah's secular rule caused dissatisfaction among some groups, particularly the clergy, who opposed his reforms. However, the middle and upper-middle classes of Iran supported his policies.
During the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty, Iran emerged as a major economic and military power in the region. By the time the dynasty ended in 1979, Iran had transformed from one of the world's poorest countries to a regional power. This transformation was achieved through a socio-economic program known as the White Revolution, which impacted all aspects of Iranian life.
Despite these developments, the Pahlavi dynasty faced growing public discontent in the late 1970s, culminating in a popular revolutionary movement led by the religious cleric Ruhollah Khomeini. Accusations of cultural betrayal and failure to maintain a balance between religious and temporal authority contributed to the downfall of the dynasty. In 1979, Mohammad Reza Shah went into exile, and the monarchy was officially abolished, bringing an end to the ancient tradition of Iranian monarchy.
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The dynasty ended with the Islamic Revolution in 1979
The Pahlavi dynasty was the last Iranian royal dynasty, which lasted for approximately 53 years, from 1925 until 1979. It was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a non-aristocratic Mazanderani soldier who took on the name of the Pahlavi language spoken in the pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire to strengthen his nationalist credentials.
The dynasty was a form of constitutional monarchy from 1925 until 1953. However, following the overthrow of the elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, in 1953, it continued as a more autocratic monarchy for another 26 years until 1979.
The end of the Pahlavi dynasty came about as a result of a popular, non-violent uprising that brought the Muslim leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, into power. By 1978, the Shah faced mounting public discontent, which culminated in a full-fledged revolutionary movement led by Khomeini. Mohammad Reza Shah went into exile with his family in January 1979, marking the beginning of the end of the monarchy.
The Islamic Revolution of 1979, also known as the Iranian Revolution, ended the Iranian monarchy and established the current Islamic Republic of Iran. This revolution marked a break in the ancient tradition of Iranian monarchy, which had celebrated 2,500 years in 1971. The last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had wanted to continue the reform policies of his father, but his increasing involvement in governmental affairs and his failure to maintain a balance between religious and temporal authority ultimately led to his downfall.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's sympathies lay with the West, and he established a one-party system in 1975. This, along with his efforts to reduce the influence of the religious classes, led to accusations of cultural treason and betrayal of Islamic ideals. As a result, the political sphere in Iran became subject to the authority of the religious sphere, bringing an end to the Pahlavi dynasty and replacing it with an Islamic Republic.
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The Pahlavi dynasty was the last Iranian royal dynasty
Initially, Reza Shah Pahlavi had planned to declare Iran a republic but abandoned the idea due to British and clerical opposition. Instead, the Pahlavi dynasty ruled Iran as a constitutional monarchy from 1925 until 1953. During this time, Reza Shah Pahlavi implemented educational and judicial reforms that laid the basis of a modern state and reduced the influence of the religious classes.
Reza Shah Pahlavi's reign lasted until 1941 when he was forced to abdicate by the Allies after the Anglo-Soviet invasion. He was succeeded by his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who became the last Shah of Iran. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi wanted to continue his father's reform policies but became embroiled in a power struggle with the nationalist politician Mohammad Mosaddegh. Despite pledging to act as a constitutional monarch, he increasingly involved himself in governmental affairs, particularly in the military.
In the 1970s, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi faced growing public discontent, and his pro-Western sympathies led to accusations of cultural treason. In 1979, he went into exile with his family, sparking a series of events that led to the end of the Iranian monarchy and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. The collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty marked a break in the ancient tradition of Iranian monarchy, which had lasted for 2,500 years.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes and no. The Pahlavi dynasty was a constitutional monarchy from 1925 until 1953, and an autocratic monarchy from 1953 until it was overthrown in 1979.
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two rulers: Reza Khan (ruled as Reza Shah Pahlavi; 1925–1941) and his son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1941–1979).
The Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown in 1979 as a result of the Iranian Revolution, which ended the Iranian monarchy and established the current Islamic Republic of Iran. Growing public discontent and popular rebellion throughout 1978 led Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi to go into exile with his family in January 1979.
