HRH Reza Pahlavi, Shah

He was also known as Rezā Shāh Kabir (Reza Shah the Great), or Rezā Shāh Pahlavi (Persian: رضا شاه پهلوی, pronounced [re%CB%88z%C9%91%CB%90 ˈʃɑːhe pæhlæˈviː]; March 16, 1878 – July 26, 1944), was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925 until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in September 16, 1941.

In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty, and founded the Pahlavi Dynasty, which consisted of himself and ended with his son. He established an authoritarian government that valued nationalism, militarism, secularism and anti-communism combined with strict censorship and state propaganda.Known as quite intelligent despite his lack of formal education,Reza Shah introduced many socio-economic reforms, reorganizing the army, government administration, and finances.To his supporters his reign brought "law and order, discipline, central authority, and modern amenities - schools, trains, buses, radios, cinemas, and telephones".However, his attempts of modernisation have been criticised for being "too fast" and "superficial", and his reign a time of "oppression, corruption, taxation, lack of authenticity" with "security typical of police states." For many Iranian nationalists he is considered the father of modern Iran.

Overthrow of the Qajar dynasty

On October 26, 1923, Reza seized control of Iran and the young Ahmad Shah Qajar fled to exile in Europe given his anticipation of dark political clouds hovering over the country. Reza Khan's political cohorts would mostly consist of ill educated Cossack officers, yet he was extremely fortunate to have at his side the able Dabir Azam Bahrami as advisor. Much as Teymourtash must claim credit for the most constructive aspects of Reza Shah's reign, Dabir Azam Bahrami proved indispensible in both allowing Reza Shah to ascend the political ladder, rung by rung, to the throne, and imbued Reza Khan with a resonant nationalist message. Proded by his Cossack supporters Reza Khan persevered to prevent a potential restoration of the Qajar dynasty. He now machinated for a republic and his military junta started a massive propaganda campaign for establishment of a republic. However, the idea of a republic was fiercely opposed by the powerful clergymen, and the feudal landlords.. Some leaders of the National Assembly of Iran, known as the Majlis, particularly Hassan Modarres and the young Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh forcefully opposed Reza Khan’s plan to consolidate his autocracy. His supremacy was imposed by 1925 with the subjugation of all tribal insurrections and nationalists’ unrest. He maneuvered against Qajar dynasty and in October forced the parliament to depose the young King. He assured the landlords and the conservative clergy that he would defend Islamic law and would not undertake any radical reform. The Majlis, convening as a constituent assembly on December 12, 1925, declared him the Shah.

Three days later, on December 15, 1925, he took his imperial oath and thus became the first Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty. It was not until April 25, 1926 that Reza Shah would receive his coronation and first place the Imperial Crown on his head. At the same ceremony his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was proclaimed the Crown Prince of Persia – to rule after his father.

Legacy

Reza Shah's main critics were the so-called "new intelligencia", often educated in Europe, for whom the Shah "was not a state-builder but an oriental despot ... not a reformer but a plutocrat strengthening the landed upper class; not a real nationalist but a jack-booted Cossack trained by the Tsarists and brought to power by British imperialists. His defenders included Ahmad Kasravi, an older intellectual who defended the Shah saying:

   "Our younger intellectuals cannot possibly understand, and thus cannot possibly judge Reza Shah. They cannot because they were too young to remember the chaotic and desperate conditions out of which he arose."

Family

Reza Shah's first wife, whom he married in 1894, was Maryam Khanum (died 1904). They had one daughter:

   * Hamdamsaltaneh Pahlavi (1903–1992) (see, Aga Khan III)

His second wife was Tadj ol-Molouk (1896–1982), by whom he had four children:

   * Princess Shams Pahlavi (1917–1996)

* Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1919–1980)
* Princess Ashraf Pahlavi (1919-2016)
* Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi (1922–1954)
In 1922 (divorced 1923), Reza Shah married Turan (Qamar al Molk) Amir Soleimani (1904 – 1995), by whom he had one son:[56]

   * Gholam Reza Pahlavi (b. 1923)

Reza Shah's fourth wife was Esmat Dowlatshahi (1904–1995), by whom he had five children:

   * Abdul Reza Pahlavi (1924–2004)

* Ahmad Reza Pahlavi (1925–1981)
* Mahmud Reza Pahlavi (1926–2001)
* Fatimeh Pahlavi (1928–1987)
* Hamid Reza Pahlavi (1932–1992)
Honours

   * Decoration of the Imperial Portrait, 1st Class of the Persian Empire-1923

* Nishan-i-Aqdas, 1st Class of the Persian Empire-1923
* Order of the Lion and Sun, 1st Class of the Persian Empire-1923
* Grand Collar of the Order of the Supreme Sun of the Kingdom of Afghanistan-1928
* Knight of the Order of the White Eagle of Poland-1929
* Collar of the Order of Muhammad 'Ali of the Kingdom of Egypt-1932
* Collar of the Grand Order of the Hashimites of the Kingdom of Iraq-1932
* Knight of the Order of the Seraphim of Sweden-1934
* Knight of the Order of the Elephant of Denmark-1937
* Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold of Belgium-1937
* Grand Cross of the Legion d'honneur of France-1937
* Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation of the Kingdom of Italy-1939
* Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of the Kingdom of Italy-1939
* Chain of Fuad I of the Kingdom of Egypt-1939
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shah