Iranian monarchy
What is known as the Iranian monarchy went through many transformations over the centuries, from the days of the Persian Empire to the establishment of modern day Iran.
The Shah was the hereditary ruler, though the title, when used by Westerners today, generally refers to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shahanshah. According to royal order of precedence, the Shahanshah was equal in status to an Emperor. Although, from the time of the Islamic conquest of Persia until 1967, when Farah Pahlavi was crowned empress, the monarch's wife usually bore the title of Malika (Queen consort).
The modern Iranian monarchy was established in 1501 after the Safavid dynasty came to power under Shah Ismail I, and ended the so-called "fourth era" of political fragmentation.[citation needed]
For most of its existence, Iran has been ruled by absolute monarchy. During the Persian Constitutional Revolution in 1905-11, Iran became a constitutional monarchy, which it remained until 1925. Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty, and founded the Pahlavi Dynasty.
The monarchy was abolished in 1979 when a revolution, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, pressured the last Pahlavi shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, into exile, and established an Islamic Republic.
Rulers of Persia/Iran
Safavid Dynasty
- Ismail I (1487-1524)
- Tahmasp I (1514-1576)
- Ismail II (1576–1578)
- Mohammed Khodabanda (d. 1595)
- Abbas I (1571-1629)
- Safi (d. 1642)
- Abbas II (d. 1666)
- Suleiman I of Persia
- Husayn (1668?-1726)
- Tahmasp II (1704?-1740)
- Abbas III (d. 1740)
Afsharid Dynasty
- Nader Shah (1688-1747)
- Adil Shah (d. 1748)
- Ebrahim Afshar (d. 1748)
- Shah Rukh (c. 1730-1796)
Zand Dynasty
- Karim Khan (c. 1705-1779)
- Mohammad Ali Khan (c. 1760-1779)
- Abol Fath Khan (c. 1755-1787)
- Sadiq Khan (d. 1782)
- Ali Murad Khan (d. 1785)
- Jafar Khan (d. 1789)
- Lotf Ali Khan (c. 1769-1794)
Qajar Dynasty
- Mohammad Khan Qajar (1742-1797)
- Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar (1771-1834)
- Mohammad Shah Qajar (1810 - 1848)
- Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar (1831-1896)
- Mozzafar al-Din Shah Qajar (1853-1907)
- Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar (1872 - 1925)
- Ahmad Shah Qajar (1898-1930)
Pahlavi Dynasty
At this point, Persia becomes known to West by its native name, Iran.
- Reza Shah (1878-1944)
- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-1989)
Post-Imperial Heads of Pahlavi Dynasty (1979-Present)
- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1979-1980)
- Reza Pahlavi (1989)
External links
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