About
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (1831-1896) was the fourth Shah of the Qajar dynasty, reigning for nearly 48 years. He modernized Iran by introducing the telegraph, postal service, roads, a Western-style school, and a newspaper. The first Persian monarch to visit Europe, he made three tours (1873, 1878, 1889) and published his travel diaries. A talented artist, he practiced painting and photography. His 1890 Tobacco Concession sparked a national boycott that forced its cancellation, an event considered the origin of modern Iranian nationalism. He was assassinated in 1896.
* 1831-07-16 — † 1896-05-01
Major works
- The Diary of H.M. the Shah of Persia during His Tour through Europe in A.D. 1873 (1874)travel diary
- Mi'rat al-Buldan (1877)geographical encyclopedia
Key milestones
- 1848Becomes Shah of Iran on September 5.
- 1873First visit of a Persian monarch to Europe; appointed Knight of the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria.
- 1896Assassinated in Tehran on May 1.
Themes
ModernizationTravels in EuropePhotographyIranian nationalismReform and resistance
Sources: britannica.com · nli.org.il · smb.museum-digital.de