Iranian Constitutional Revolution

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The Iranian Constitutional Revolution (also Persian Constitutional Revolution and Constitutional Revolution of Iran) took place between 1905 and 1911. The revolution marked the beginning of the end of Iran's feudalistic society and led to the establishment of a parliament in Persia.

Persian Constitutional Revolution was the first event of its kind in the Middle East. The Revolution opened the way for cataclysmic change in Persia, heralding the modern era. It saw a period of unprecedented debate in a burgeoning press. The revolution created new opportunities and opened up seemingly boundless possibilities for Persia’s future. Many different groups fought to shape the course of the Revolution, and all sections of society were ultimately to be in some way changed by it. The old order, which Nasser-al-Din Shah Qajar had struggled for so long to sustain, finally passed away, to be replaced by new institutions, new forms of expression, and a new social and political order.

The system of constitutional monarchy created by the decree of Mozzafar-al-Din Shah that was established in Persia as a result of the Revolution ultimately came to an end in 1925 with the dissolution of the Qajar dynasty and the ascension of Reza Shah Pahlavi to the throne.

It should be noted that the movement, however, did not end with the Revolution and was followed by the Constitutionalist movement of Gilan.

Image:100th aniversary constitutional revolution.jpg

1 Context
2 History
3 Aftermath
4 Notable Individuals
5 Further reading
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Context

In 1905 Persia (Iran) was still under the rule of the Qajar Dynasty who had ruled Persia since 1781. Over the duration of Qajar rule, Persia had gradually become a victim of Russian and British imperial policies in The Great Game. This international rivalry had caused successive central governments to become increasingly weak and corrupt. The country's management was often handled by powerful regional nobles who paid their token respects to the monarchy. In effect, this resulted in the central government relying on these nobles for both income, justice, and security.

This was particularly true of the brief reign of Mozzafar-al-Din Shah (1896-1907), during whose rule the Constitutional Revolution began. Mozzafar-al-Din Shah often relied on his chancellor to manage his decentralised state, he had also taken out several major loans from Russia and Britain to pay for his extravagant lifestyle and the costs of the central government. Despite some attempts to reform the central treasury during his reign he was continually undermined by both Russia and Britain. His dire financial situation caused him to sign many concessions to foreign powers, an example being the D'arcy oil concession which provided oil to Britain for 60 years at an extremely low price.

As concessions were granted with increasing frequency on an expanding list of trade items ranging from weapons to tobacco, the established noble classes, religious authorities, and educated elite began to demand a curb on royal authority and the establishment of the rule of law as their concern over foreign, and especially Russian, influence grew [1].

[edit] History

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[edit] Aftermath

Within the decade following the establishment of the new majles a number of critical events took place. Many of these events can be viewed as a continuation of the struggle between the constitutionalists and the Shahs of Persia, many of whom were backed by foreign powers against the majles.

In summary (to be expanded):

Persia tries to keep free from Russian influence through resistance via the majles to the Shah's policies.
Majles bringing in Morgan Shuster to reform treasury against initial desires of Russia+Shah. Russia kicks him out.
Russian & Bakhtiari troops landing and forcing majles to temporarily cease when their plans don't quite work out.
Reza shah seizes power and curtails the power of the majles. He effectively turns it into a rubber stamp organisation.

[edit] Notable Individuals

[edit] Constitutionalists

Sattar Khan - One of the main leaders of the revolutionary movement.
Bagher Khan
Mirza Kuchak Khan - He was the founder of a revolutionary movement based in the forests of Gilan.
Mirza Malkom Khan
Yeprem Khan - Armenian Iranian revolutionary leader. Killed Sattar Khan.
Sardar Assad - Bakhtiari tribal leader whose forces captured Tehran in 1909 for the constitutional movement.
Bibi Khatoon Astarabadi, satirist, writer and one of the pioneers in Iranian women's movement.
Ahmad Kasravi
Mohammad Taghi Bahar
Hassan Taghizadeh

[edit] Monarchists

Mozzafar-al-Din Shah - Shah of Persia who signed the constitution, thereby creating a constitutional monarchy.
Mohammad Ali Shah - Son of Mozzafar-al-Din Shah. Attempted to crush the constitution.

[edit] Religious figures

Mohammad Kazem Khorasani, pro-constitutionalism.
Seyyed Kazem Yazdi, against constitutionalism.
Sheikh Fazlollah Noori, against constitutionalism.
Mirza Hossein Na'eeni, pro-constitutionalism.

[edit] Further reading

Browne, Edward G. The Persian Revolution of 1905-1909. Mage Publishers (July 1995). ISBN 0-934211-45-0
Afary, Janet. The Iranian Constitutional Revolution, 1906-1911. Columbia University Press. 1996. ISBN 0-231-10351-4