Pahlavi dynasty

Quick Facts: Who was Pahlavi dynasty?

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Pahlavi dynasty

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The last ruling dynasty of Iran, established in 1925 and overthrown in 1979.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Pahlavi dynasty (Persian: خاندان پهلوی, romanized: Xândân-e Pahlavi) was an Iranian royal dynasty that was the last to rule Iran before the country's monarchy was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979. It was founded in 1925 by Reza Shah Pahlavi, born Reza Khan, a non-aristocratic Iranian soldier of Mazanderani origin, who took on the name of the Pahlavi scripts of the Middle Persian language from the Sasanian Empire of pre-Islamic Iran. The dynasty largely espoused a form of Iranian nationalism rooted in the pre-Islamic era (notably based on the Achaemenid Empire) during its time in power, especially under its last Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The dynasty replaced the Qajar dynasty in 1925 following the 1921 coup d'état, which began on 14 January 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 3,000–4,000 strong detachment of the Cossack Brigade reached Tehran.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

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 Majlis declared Reza Pahlavi as the Shah of Iran on 12 December 1925, pursuant to the Persian Constitution of 1906. Initially, Pahlavi had planned to declare the country a republic, as his contemporary Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had done in Turkey, but he abandoned the idea in the face of British and clerical opposition. The dynasty ruled Iran autocratically, with a more pluralistic period beginning in 1941 and ending in 1953, when Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh was overthrown in a coup d'état instigated by the United States and the United Kingdom. The Shah then consolidated an increasingly autocratic rule, culminating in a brief one party state period which ended shortly before the dynasty was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1878, Reza Khan was born at the village of Alasht in Savadkuh County, Mazandaran Province. His parents were Abbas Ali Khan and Noushafarin Ayromlou. His mother was a Muslim immigrant from Georgia (then part of the Russian Empire) whose family had emigrated to mainland Qajar Iran after Iran was forced to cede all of its territories in the Caucasus following the Russo-Persian Wars several decades prior to Reza's birth. His father was a Mazandarani, commissioned in the 7th Savadkuh Regiment, and served in the Anglo-Persian War in 1856. Source: The 1906 constitution of Iran specifically provided that only a male who was not descended from the Qajar dynasty could become the heir apparent.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1856: 1856 Milestone — His father was a Mazandarani, commissioned in the 7th Savadkuh Regiment, and served in the Anglo-Persian War in 1856.
2. 1878: 1878 Milestone — In 1878, Reza Khan was born at the village of Alasht in Savadkuh County, Mazandaran Province.
3. 1906: 1906 Milestone — Source: The 1906 constitution of Iran specifically provided that only a male who was not descended from the Qajar dynasty could become the heir apparent.
4. 1923: 1923 Milestone — The rest of the country was taken by 1923, and by October 1925 the Majlis agreed to depose and formally exile Ahmad Shah Qajar.
5. 1925: 1925 Milestone — It was founded in 1925 by Reza Shah Pahlavi, born Reza Khan, a non-aristocratic Iranian soldier of Mazanderani origin, who took on the name of the Pahlavi scripts of the Middle Persian language from the Sasanian Empire of pre-Islamic Iran.
6. 1941: 1941 Milestone — The dynasty ruled Iran autocratically, with a more pluralistic period beginning in 1941 and ending in 1953, when Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh was overthrown in a coup d'état instigated by the United States and the United Kingdom.
7. 1979: 1979 Milestone — The Pahlavi dynasty (Persian: خاندان پهلوی, romanized: Xândân-e Pahlavi) was an Iranian royal dynasty that was the last to rule Iran before the country's monarchy was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Pahlavi dynasty

True or False: “Reza Shah Pahlavi was originally a member of the established Iranian aristocracy.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Reza Khan, who founded the dynasty, was described as a non-aristocratic Iranian soldier of Mazanderani origin.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Bandura — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alexander Shulgin — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering biochemist known for synthesizing and exploring over 200 psychoactive compounds.
• A. P. Elkin — Historical peer (Died in 1979) (1979): Influential Australian anthropologist and Anglican clergyman (1891–1979)
• A. Philip Randolph — Historical peer (Died in 1979) (1979): Pioneer labor unionist and civil rights activist who fought for racial equality.
• Aaron Beck — Historical peer (Born in 1921) (1921): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Historical peer (Died in 1921) (1921): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Ahmet Ertegun — Historical peer (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering Turkish-American music executive, co-founder of Atlantic Records.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Historical peer (Born in 1906) (1906): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Abdus Sattar (president) — Historical peer (Born in 1906) (1906): Bangladeshi statesman who served as President of Bangladesh (1981-1982).

Frequently Asked Questions about Pahlavi dynasty