Omar Bennett
The Persian Constitutional Revolution, also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911 during the Qajar era. It led to the establishment of a parliament in Iran (Persia) and has been called an epoch-making episode in the modern history of Persia. Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar signed the 1906 constitution shortly before his death. He was succeeded by Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar, who abolished the constitution and bombarded the parliament in 1908 with Russian and British support. The British switched their support to the shah, abandoning the constitutionalists. This led to the rise of General Reza Khan, who seized power in a coup d'état in February 1921. He established a constitutional monarchy, deposing the last Qajar Shah, Ahmad Shah, in 1925 and being designated monarch by the National Assembly, to be known thenceforth as Reza Shah, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty.
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What You'll Learn
The 1905-1911 Persian Constitutional Revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution, also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911 during the Qajar era. The revolution led to the establishment of a parliament in Iran (Persia) and has been called an "epoch-making episode in the modern history of Persia". The revolution was the first of its kind in the Islamic world, preceding the revolution of the Young Turks in 1908. It paved the way for the modern era in Iran and sparked debates in a burgeoning press.
The revolution was sparked by a dispute over sugar prices, which led to the first public protests. In 1905, the governor of Tehran ordered that some sugar merchants be punished for refusing to lower their prices. A group of merchants, tradesmen, and mullahs took sanctuary in a Tehran mosque. Despite the Shah's assurances to their demands, which included the formation of a house of justice, he did not follow through, leading to growing discontent and unrest.
The political base of the constitutionalist movement was an alliance of the ulama, liberal and radical intellectuals, and the bazaar. The movement aimed to control the power of the Shah, who was reluctant to relinquish power to the national assembly. The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and the Russian Revolution of 1905 also gave impetus to the Iranian opposition movement, as an Asian power had defeated a European power for the first time in a century.
The revolution ended in December 1911 when the Shah's ministers oversaw the expulsion of the deputies of the Second Majlis from parliament, with the support of 12,000 Russian troops. The deputies were facing internal dissension, apathy from the masses, antagonism from the upper class, and open enmity from Britain and Russia. The revolution ultimately led to the establishment of a constitution and parliament in Iran, though the spirit of constitutionalism was dealt a blow by foreign intervention.
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The 1921 coup d'état
The events of the 1921 coup began with the promotion of Reza Khan by British General Edmund Ironside, who placed him in charge of the Tabriz battalion. On 18 February 1921, the Cossack Brigade, led by Reza Khan, reached Tehran, and on 21 February, they entered the city with little resistance. Backed by his troops, Reza Khan forced the Cabinet to dissolve and appointed himself as minister of war. He also ensured that Ziaoddin Tabatabaee was appointed as prime minister. The coup was largely bloodless, but several policemen were killed or wounded in the centre of Tehran.
Following the coup, many political activists and members of the oligarchy were arrested to prevent organised opposition and to extract money. The new government, led by Ziaoddin Tabatabaee, adopted policies that shifted Persian foreign policy away from Britain, instead signing the Russo-Persian Treaty just days after the coup. This treaty represented a serious shift, as the Bolsheviks and Persians promised not to intervene in each other's affairs or allow others to do so through their territory.
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The Pahlavi dynasty
Reza Shah Pahlavi, the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty, ruled Iran from 1925 until 1941. He was an army officer and politician, serving as minister of war and prime minister of Iran before becoming Shah. Reza Shah is regarded by many as the founder of modern Iran, introducing social, economic, and political reforms during his reign. He reduced foreign influence in Iran by partnering with Germany and using German expertise to modernise the country's infrastructure. He also implemented educational and judicial reforms, laying the basis for a modern state and reducing the influence of the religious classes. Reza Shah attempted to forge a regional alliance with Iran's Middle Eastern neighbours. However, his critics accused him of being a despot who strengthened the landed upper class and suppressed several ethnic and social groups through his insistence on ethnic nationalism and cultural unitarism.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the second and last Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty, ruled Iran from 1941 until 1979. He succeeded his father, Reza Shah, after the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran during World War II forced the latter to abdicate. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi continued the process of industrial and military modernisation initiated by his father, while also implementing economic and social reforms. In 1963, he launched the White Revolution, a series of far-reaching reforms that caused much opposition from religious scholars, particularly due to the inclusion of women in the referendum. During the last years of his reign, his government became more autocratic, with the Shah actively involving himself and his family in all phases of social affairs.
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The Iranian monarchy
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi came to power in 1941 following the forced abdication of his father, Reza Shah, during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in World War II. Reza Shah, an army officer, politician, and moderniser, had founded the Pahlavi dynasty in 1925, becoming the first shah of Iran. He established a constitutional monarchy and introduced social, economic, and political reforms, laying the foundations of the modern Iranian state.
During his reign, Reza Shah attempted to forge a regional alliance with Iran's Middle Eastern neighbours and reduce foreign influence, particularly that of Britain and Russia, by partnering with Germany. He also implemented a series of modernisation projects, including the construction of a national railway, the Trans-Iranian Railroad, and the establishment of a national bank and compulsory education for all Iranians.
However, Reza Shah's reign was controversial. Critics accused him of being a despot and a plutocrat who strengthened the landed upper class. His insistence on ethnic nationalism and cultural unitarism resulted in the suppression of several ethnic and social groups. Additionally, his replacement of Islamic laws with secular Western ones, including the forbidding of traditional Islamic clothing and veiling of women's faces, caused widespread discontent.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's reign, from 1941 to 1979, was marked by rapid industrial and military modernisation, as well as economic and social reforms. He became a close ally of the United States and was known for his dependence on the country, which provided a guarantee to protect his regime. He launched the White Revolution in 1963, a series of far-reaching reforms that caused opposition from religious scholars and prompted concerns over democracy and human rights. The program disrupted rural economies, led to rapid urbanisation and Westernisation, and contributed to economic instability.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Shah's regime grew increasingly authoritarian, with those who spoke out often being arrested or tortured by the SAVAK secret police. Popular resistance to his rule reached a breaking point in the late 1970s, with widespread demonstrations and protests across Iran, ultimately leading to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the end of the Iranian monarchy.
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Reza Shah's reforms
Reza Shah Pahlavi, born Reza Khan, was an Iranian military officer and monarch who founded the Pahlavi dynasty and served as Shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941. He was an army officer who rose through the ranks to become a politician, serving as minister of war and prime minister of Iran.
Reza Shah's reign was marked by efforts to strengthen and reconstitute Iran under a strong central government, bolstered by a disciplined military. He sought to reduce foreign influence, particularly that of Britain and Russia, and partnered with Germany to modernise Iran's infrastructure during the 1920s and 1930s. He introduced social, economic, and political reforms, laying the foundations of the modern Iranian state.
Reza Shah's critics, particularly the \"new intelligentsia\", often educated in Europe, accused him of being an "oriental despot" and a plutocrat who strengthened the landed upper class. They argued that he was not a true reformer or nationalist but rather a power-hungry leader brought to power by British imperialists.
However, Reza Shah's defenders, including contemporary intellectuals and historians, recognised the significance of his efforts to reunify and modernise Iran. They acknowledged the challenging context of centuries of misrule, war, and foreign domination that had left the country on the verge of disintegration. In 1950, Iran's National Consultative Assembly posthumously honoured him with the title "Reza Shah the Great", reflecting his impact on the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, attempted to abolish constitutional reforms.
No, his father, Reza Shah, was the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty.
Reza Shah came into power in 1925 after deposing the last Qajar Shah, Ahmad Shah.
Reza Shah introduced social, economic, and political reforms during his reign. He established a national bank, a national railway, and a public education system.
Reza Shah's reign ended when he was forced to abdicate after the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941. His attempts to reduce foreign influence by Britain and Russia led him to partner with Germany, which was viewed as an ally of Nazi Germany.
