A History of Persia
From the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century to the Year 1858
Published on 1. December 2022
Book
Hardback
496 pages
978-0-7556-2700-4 (ISBN)
Description
Robert Grant Watson was a British diplomat attached to the British Legation in Persia. His A History of Persia, published in 1866, is a detailed account of events in the country in the first half of the nineteenth century, when the foundations of the Qajar dynasty were being laid. Watson uses both European and Persian sources to detail the circumstances of the Qajar rise to rule and recount the tumultuous events of Persia affairs - both foreign and domestic - between 1800 and 1860. This was one of the first books to be written on this specific period and details Persia's entanglements with European powers, including the war between Persia and Russia, her internal ructions, and the complex dealings of the various treaties and their upsets.
The hard-to-find volume is now re-published with a new introduction by the leading scholar of Iranian History, Ali Ansari, who is Professor at St Andrews University in the U.K.
The hard-to-find volume is now re-published with a new introduction by the leading scholar of Iranian History, Ali Ansari, who is Professor at St Andrews University in the U.K.
Reviews / Votes
The Qajar Dynasty's rise to power along with power struggles within Iran and particularly the Great Game between Russia and Britain remain critical topics that make Watson's work an important resource for scholars today. Reading a British diplomat's account of the period when Eastern Empires collided with European civilization is an invaluable resource for comprehending how 19th-century Iranian history was shaped. * Iran Calismalari Dergisi *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
940 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7556-2700-4 (9780755627004)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Robert Grant Watson
A History of Persia
From the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century to the Year 1858
E-Book
12/2022
1st Edition
I.B. Tauris
€100.99
Available for download
Robert Grant Watson
A History of Persia
From the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century to the Year 1858
E-Book
09/2022
1st Edition
I.B. Tauris
€100.99
Available for download
Persons
Robert Grant Watson was a British diplomat attached to the British Legation in Persia
Ali Ansari is Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, U.K
Ali Ansari is Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, U.K
Content
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Population of Persia - Cultivated Portion of the Country very small - Supply of Water - Artificial Irrigation - The Elburz Mountains - Attachment of Persians to their Native Country - Persia inhabited by Men of various Races - The Wandering Tribes - The Turkish and the Persian Languages - Two Classes of People in Persia - The Persians a robust Race - The Persian Character - Estimate formed of it by Europeans - Persian Government - Checks on the Royal Authority - Court of the Shah - Education in Persia - National Religion of the Persian Army - Labourers and Villagers - Mendicants - Trade and Produce - Climate - Prospects of the Country
Chapter II
The Sefaveean Dynasty - Fall of Ispahan - Expulsion of Affghans from Persia 0 Nadir Shah - Origin of the Affghan Kingdom - Adel Shah - Ibraheem - Shahrukh Meerza - Rival Candidates for the Persian Throne - The Chief of the Kajars p Herat and Seistan added to the Affghan Kingdom - Kereem Khan - Azad Khan - Zends and Kajars - Zeki Khan - Aga Mahomed Khan - His Escape from Sheeraz - Ali Murad - Jafer, Chief of the Zend - His Son Lutf'ali Khan
Chapter III
Origin of the Kajar Tribe - Its three Branches - Its settlements - Astrabad Branch of Kajars - Upper and Lower Kajars - Astrabad - Unsettled Condition of that Province - Ak-kaleh - Rhages - Rhei - Tehran - Its early Condition - Aga Mahomed Khan - His Brothers - Cruel Testament to which Aga Mahomed was subjected - Kindness shown to him by Kereem Khan - Lutf'ali Khan - Cruelty of Aga Mahomed - Haji Ibraheem - His Defection from the Chief of the Zend - Decisive Battle - Siege of Kerman - Death of Lutf'ali Khan
Chapter IV
Relations between the Shahs of Persia and the Czars of Georgia - Interference of Russia in Affairs of the Caucasus - Campaign of Peter the Great in Daghestan - Taking of Bakoo and Derbend - Southern Coast of the Caspian Sea - Early Condition of Georgia - Mingrelia - Intolerance of the Georgians - Tiflis - Expedition of Aga Mahomed into Georgia - Fortress of Erivan - Annexation of Korassan to Persia - Death of Shahrukh Meerza - Missions to Persia from the French Republic - Murder of Aga Mahomed - His Character
Chapter V
Sadek Khan endeavours to make himself King- Is defeated at Kasveen by the Shah - Kasveen - Province of Fars - Sheeraz - Sadek Khan delivers the Crown Jewels to the Shah, and is pardoned - The Body of Aga Mahomed Khan conveyed t oNejjef in Arabia - His Assassins are put to Death - Fetteh Ali crowned at Tehran - Rebellion of Mahomed Khan - Ispahan - Rebellion of Sadek, Jafer, Kuli, and Mahomed Kuli Khans - Goorgeen of Georgia - Fresh Rebellion of Mahomed Khan - Rebellion of the Shah's Brother - Defection of Mahomed Veli Khan and Suleiman Khan - Celmancy of the Shah - Revolt of Ishak Meerza - Herat - Rebellion of Nadir Meerza - Mission from India - Khorazzan - Last Rebellio of Sadek Khan - His Fate - Mission of Captain Malcolm - Fall of Haji Ibraheem - Kashan - Fresh Rebellion of the Shah's Brother - Siege of Meshed - Fall of Nadir Meerza
Chapter VI
Abdication of Czar of Georgia in favour of Emperor of Russia, 1800 - Prince Alexander defeated by General Lazeroff - Captures of Genja - Battle of Etchmiadzeen - Seeseeanoff routs Persians, and lays Siege to Erivan - Nocturnal Attacks - Eiege of Erivan raised - Events on Eastern and Southern Frontiers of Persia - Bokhara, Nermansheer, and Seistan - Chief og Karabagh submits to Russia - Campaign on that Province - Russia Descent on Glan - Capture of Genja by Persians - Assassination of Seeseeanoff - Missions of M. Jaubert -Fall of Ibraheem Khaleed Kahn - Turko-Persian Frontier - Establishment of Russia Authority from the Caucasus to Moghan - War between Persians and Affghans - Embassies from Napolean and from the Talpoors of Sindh - Embassy from England - Treaty - Mission from India - Disaster to Persian Arms in Russian War = Capture of Lankoran - Peace of Gulistan, 1813
Chapter VII
The Sons of Fetteh Ali Shah - Tabreez - Rebellion of the Chiefs of Khorassan - Isaak Khan, Karai - Hassan Ali Meerza - Herat - Tribes of Hezareh and Feeroozkoh - Treaty between England and Persia - Yezd - Guebres - Their Temples and Customs - The Chief of the Assassins - Combination of Chiefs of Herat, Khorassam and Central Asia against Persia - Fetteh Khan, Barukzye - His Defeat by Hassan Ali Meerza - Dost Mahomed Khan - War between Persia and Turkey - Campaigns of Baghdad and of Turkish Armenia - Battle of Toprak-Killeh - Massacre pf Christians at Salmas - Nestorians of Persia - American and French Missionaries - Peace between Turkey and Persia - Invasion of Khorassan by the Khan of Khiva
Chapter VIII
Vague Terms of Treaty of Gulistan - District of Gokcheh claimed by Russia - It is occupied by that Power - Excitement throughout Persia - War breaks out - Persians at first successful - They advance to the neighbourhood of Tiflis, and are defeated at the Zezam, and again near Genja - Avariciousness of the Shah - Division in his Council - Negotiations for Peace - The Russians checked on the Araxes - Erivan besieged - Siege raised - Abbassabad taken by General Paskiewitch - Defeat of the General Karkoffski by Persian Commanders at Asterick - Final Siege and Capture of Erivan - Invasion of Azerbaeejan by Price Aristoff - Tabreez falls into his Hands - Renewed Negotiations - Treaty of Turkomanchai
Chapter IX
Provisions of the Treaty of Turkomanchai - Alteration of the Treat between England and Persia - General Confusion in Persia - Supineness of the Shah's Government - M. Grebaiodoff - Murder of the Members of his Missions - Terror of the Shah - Embassy to Petersburg of Prince Kosroo - Severe Earthquakes in Persia - Campaign of the Crown Prince in Khoroassan - Fall of Ameerabad and of Kabulshan - Assault on Serrekhs - Origin of the Affghan War - Death of Abbas Meerza - The Kaim-makam - Last Days of fetteh Ali Shah - His Character - Burial Place of the Persian Kings
Chapter X
Three Aspirants to sovereign Power - Mahomed Meerza marches from Tabreez to Tehran - Submission of the Zil-es-Sultan - Mahomed Shah crowned at Tehran - Defeat of Hassan Ali Meerza by Sir ery Bethune - Capture of the Firman - Firma - Ardabeel - General Revolt in Khorassan - Fall of the Kaim-makam - Haji Meerza Aghassi - Ambitious Designs of the Persian Government - Expedition against Herat - Seistan - Prince Kamran and Yar Mahomed Khan - Reasons of Dost Mahomed Khan for distrusting the Government of India - Cruelty of Mahomed Shah - His Failure before Herat - Rival Influences in his Camp - The Siege of Herat raised
Chapter XI
Demands of her Britannie Majesty's Government from King of Persia - Evasive Answers of Haji Meerza Aghassi - Suspensions of Diplomatic Relations between England and Persia - Advance of Russia in the East - British Expedition to the Persian Gulf - Hussein Khan - Firmness of Lord Palmerston - The Shah yields - Rising of the Chief of the Assassins - His Success and subsequent Failure - Bunpoor - The Belooches put their Families t oDeath - Affairs of Kurdistand - Unsettled State of Turko-Persian Frontier - Commission appointed for its Delimitation - Persians# Sufferings at the Hands of Turkomans - Massacre at Kerbela - Banishment of the Asef-ed-Dowleh - War in Kohorassan - The Bab - Death of Mahomed Shah
Chapter XII
Flights of Haji Meerza Aghassi - Rival Parties at Tehran - The Queen mother Presiden of the Council - Serious Risings in the Provinces - The Salar - The Ameer-i-Nizam - Measures of Reform adopted by him - mutiny of the Garrison of Tehran - Seizure of Kotoor by the Turks - Ascendancy of the Belooches in Seistan - Persian Claims to that Province - Proracted Siege of Meshed - Blman Merrza - Prince Sultan Mraud presses of the Sege of Meshed - Foreign interference offered for the Pacification of Khorassan - Ravages of the Turkomans - Surrender of Meshed - Death of the Salar
Chapter XIII
Rising of the Followers of the Bab - Mode of carrying out Capital Punishments in Persia - Seizure of Zinjan - The Bab put to Death - Tenets of his Followers - Hopeless Contest to Zinjan - Reckless Braver of the Babis - Courage of the Women - Terrible Cruelties - Exhibition of Fanaticism at Tabreez - Results of the Administration of the Ameer-i-Nizam - Occupationof Ashorada by Russia - The Caspian Privinces - Fall of the Ameer-i-Nizam - Conduct of the Wife of the ex-Minister - The Ameer's Death - Remembrance of his Administration
Chapter XIV
Conspiracy against Life of the Shah - His Escape - Persecution of Conspirators - Ministers of State ac as Executioners - Firmness of Followers of the Bab - Jealous of European Interference at Persian Court - Alliance of the Shah sought by Russia in 1853 - Tempting Offer made to Persian Government - Alternative placed before the Shah - His Alliance declined by the Western Powers - Neutrality distasteful to Persian Government - Angry Discussions between Sedr-Azem and the British Minister - Meerza Hashem - Arrest of his Wife - Conduct of the Sedr-Azem - Diplomatic Relations suspended between England and Persia - Mr. Murray quits Tehran - Persian Expedition against Herat - War against Persia declared at Calcutta
Chapter XV
Policy of the Sedr-Azem - Embassy of the Ferrukh Khan to Europe - Fall of Herat - Rules to be observed in carrying on English War Against Persia - Singular Instance of Persian Levity - War against Infidels proclaimed at Tehran - The Sirkisikchi-Bashi - Occupation of Karrack by British Troops - Capture of Reshire - Surrender of Bushire - Sir J. Outram - Expedition to Burazjan - Action at Khushab - Bombardment of Mohamra - Defeat of Persians - Expedition to Ahwaz - Restoration of Peace - Terms of Treaty of Paris - Sultan Ahmed Khan - Murder of Price Mahomed Yoosuf - Fall of the Sedr-Azem - Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
Population of Persia - Cultivated Portion of the Country very small - Supply of Water - Artificial Irrigation - The Elburz Mountains - Attachment of Persians to their Native Country - Persia inhabited by Men of various Races - The Wandering Tribes - The Turkish and the Persian Languages - Two Classes of People in Persia - The Persians a robust Race - The Persian Character - Estimate formed of it by Europeans - Persian Government - Checks on the Royal Authority - Court of the Shah - Education in Persia - National Religion of the Persian Army - Labourers and Villagers - Mendicants - Trade and Produce - Climate - Prospects of the Country
Chapter II
The Sefaveean Dynasty - Fall of Ispahan - Expulsion of Affghans from Persia 0 Nadir Shah - Origin of the Affghan Kingdom - Adel Shah - Ibraheem - Shahrukh Meerza - Rival Candidates for the Persian Throne - The Chief of the Kajars p Herat and Seistan added to the Affghan Kingdom - Kereem Khan - Azad Khan - Zends and Kajars - Zeki Khan - Aga Mahomed Khan - His Escape from Sheeraz - Ali Murad - Jafer, Chief of the Zend - His Son Lutf'ali Khan
Chapter III
Origin of the Kajar Tribe - Its three Branches - Its settlements - Astrabad Branch of Kajars - Upper and Lower Kajars - Astrabad - Unsettled Condition of that Province - Ak-kaleh - Rhages - Rhei - Tehran - Its early Condition - Aga Mahomed Khan - His Brothers - Cruel Testament to which Aga Mahomed was subjected - Kindness shown to him by Kereem Khan - Lutf'ali Khan - Cruelty of Aga Mahomed - Haji Ibraheem - His Defection from the Chief of the Zend - Decisive Battle - Siege of Kerman - Death of Lutf'ali Khan
Chapter IV
Relations between the Shahs of Persia and the Czars of Georgia - Interference of Russia in Affairs of the Caucasus - Campaign of Peter the Great in Daghestan - Taking of Bakoo and Derbend - Southern Coast of the Caspian Sea - Early Condition of Georgia - Mingrelia - Intolerance of the Georgians - Tiflis - Expedition of Aga Mahomed into Georgia - Fortress of Erivan - Annexation of Korassan to Persia - Death of Shahrukh Meerza - Missions to Persia from the French Republic - Murder of Aga Mahomed - His Character
Chapter V
Sadek Khan endeavours to make himself King- Is defeated at Kasveen by the Shah - Kasveen - Province of Fars - Sheeraz - Sadek Khan delivers the Crown Jewels to the Shah, and is pardoned - The Body of Aga Mahomed Khan conveyed t oNejjef in Arabia - His Assassins are put to Death - Fetteh Ali crowned at Tehran - Rebellion of Mahomed Khan - Ispahan - Rebellion of Sadek, Jafer, Kuli, and Mahomed Kuli Khans - Goorgeen of Georgia - Fresh Rebellion of Mahomed Khan - Rebellion of the Shah's Brother - Defection of Mahomed Veli Khan and Suleiman Khan - Celmancy of the Shah - Revolt of Ishak Meerza - Herat - Rebellion of Nadir Meerza - Mission from India - Khorazzan - Last Rebellio of Sadek Khan - His Fate - Mission of Captain Malcolm - Fall of Haji Ibraheem - Kashan - Fresh Rebellion of the Shah's Brother - Siege of Meshed - Fall of Nadir Meerza
Chapter VI
Abdication of Czar of Georgia in favour of Emperor of Russia, 1800 - Prince Alexander defeated by General Lazeroff - Captures of Genja - Battle of Etchmiadzeen - Seeseeanoff routs Persians, and lays Siege to Erivan - Nocturnal Attacks - Eiege of Erivan raised - Events on Eastern and Southern Frontiers of Persia - Bokhara, Nermansheer, and Seistan - Chief og Karabagh submits to Russia - Campaign on that Province - Russia Descent on Glan - Capture of Genja by Persians - Assassination of Seeseeanoff - Missions of M. Jaubert -Fall of Ibraheem Khaleed Kahn - Turko-Persian Frontier - Establishment of Russia Authority from the Caucasus to Moghan - War between Persians and Affghans - Embassies from Napolean and from the Talpoors of Sindh - Embassy from England - Treaty - Mission from India - Disaster to Persian Arms in Russian War = Capture of Lankoran - Peace of Gulistan, 1813
Chapter VII
The Sons of Fetteh Ali Shah - Tabreez - Rebellion of the Chiefs of Khorassan - Isaak Khan, Karai - Hassan Ali Meerza - Herat - Tribes of Hezareh and Feeroozkoh - Treaty between England and Persia - Yezd - Guebres - Their Temples and Customs - The Chief of the Assassins - Combination of Chiefs of Herat, Khorassam and Central Asia against Persia - Fetteh Khan, Barukzye - His Defeat by Hassan Ali Meerza - Dost Mahomed Khan - War between Persia and Turkey - Campaigns of Baghdad and of Turkish Armenia - Battle of Toprak-Killeh - Massacre pf Christians at Salmas - Nestorians of Persia - American and French Missionaries - Peace between Turkey and Persia - Invasion of Khorassan by the Khan of Khiva
Chapter VIII
Vague Terms of Treaty of Gulistan - District of Gokcheh claimed by Russia - It is occupied by that Power - Excitement throughout Persia - War breaks out - Persians at first successful - They advance to the neighbourhood of Tiflis, and are defeated at the Zezam, and again near Genja - Avariciousness of the Shah - Division in his Council - Negotiations for Peace - The Russians checked on the Araxes - Erivan besieged - Siege raised - Abbassabad taken by General Paskiewitch - Defeat of the General Karkoffski by Persian Commanders at Asterick - Final Siege and Capture of Erivan - Invasion of Azerbaeejan by Price Aristoff - Tabreez falls into his Hands - Renewed Negotiations - Treaty of Turkomanchai
Chapter IX
Provisions of the Treaty of Turkomanchai - Alteration of the Treat between England and Persia - General Confusion in Persia - Supineness of the Shah's Government - M. Grebaiodoff - Murder of the Members of his Missions - Terror of the Shah - Embassy to Petersburg of Prince Kosroo - Severe Earthquakes in Persia - Campaign of the Crown Prince in Khoroassan - Fall of Ameerabad and of Kabulshan - Assault on Serrekhs - Origin of the Affghan War - Death of Abbas Meerza - The Kaim-makam - Last Days of fetteh Ali Shah - His Character - Burial Place of the Persian Kings
Chapter X
Three Aspirants to sovereign Power - Mahomed Meerza marches from Tabreez to Tehran - Submission of the Zil-es-Sultan - Mahomed Shah crowned at Tehran - Defeat of Hassan Ali Meerza by Sir ery Bethune - Capture of the Firman - Firma - Ardabeel - General Revolt in Khorassan - Fall of the Kaim-makam - Haji Meerza Aghassi - Ambitious Designs of the Persian Government - Expedition against Herat - Seistan - Prince Kamran and Yar Mahomed Khan - Reasons of Dost Mahomed Khan for distrusting the Government of India - Cruelty of Mahomed Shah - His Failure before Herat - Rival Influences in his Camp - The Siege of Herat raised
Chapter XI
Demands of her Britannie Majesty's Government from King of Persia - Evasive Answers of Haji Meerza Aghassi - Suspensions of Diplomatic Relations between England and Persia - Advance of Russia in the East - British Expedition to the Persian Gulf - Hussein Khan - Firmness of Lord Palmerston - The Shah yields - Rising of the Chief of the Assassins - His Success and subsequent Failure - Bunpoor - The Belooches put their Families t oDeath - Affairs of Kurdistand - Unsettled State of Turko-Persian Frontier - Commission appointed for its Delimitation - Persians# Sufferings at the Hands of Turkomans - Massacre at Kerbela - Banishment of the Asef-ed-Dowleh - War in Kohorassan - The Bab - Death of Mahomed Shah
Chapter XII
Flights of Haji Meerza Aghassi - Rival Parties at Tehran - The Queen mother Presiden of the Council - Serious Risings in the Provinces - The Salar - The Ameer-i-Nizam - Measures of Reform adopted by him - mutiny of the Garrison of Tehran - Seizure of Kotoor by the Turks - Ascendancy of the Belooches in Seistan - Persian Claims to that Province - Proracted Siege of Meshed - Blman Merrza - Prince Sultan Mraud presses of the Sege of Meshed - Foreign interference offered for the Pacification of Khorassan - Ravages of the Turkomans - Surrender of Meshed - Death of the Salar
Chapter XIII
Rising of the Followers of the Bab - Mode of carrying out Capital Punishments in Persia - Seizure of Zinjan - The Bab put to Death - Tenets of his Followers - Hopeless Contest to Zinjan - Reckless Braver of the Babis - Courage of the Women - Terrible Cruelties - Exhibition of Fanaticism at Tabreez - Results of the Administration of the Ameer-i-Nizam - Occupationof Ashorada by Russia - The Caspian Privinces - Fall of the Ameer-i-Nizam - Conduct of the Wife of the ex-Minister - The Ameer's Death - Remembrance of his Administration
Chapter XIV
Conspiracy against Life of the Shah - His Escape - Persecution of Conspirators - Ministers of State ac as Executioners - Firmness of Followers of the Bab - Jealous of European Interference at Persian Court - Alliance of the Shah sought by Russia in 1853 - Tempting Offer made to Persian Government - Alternative placed before the Shah - His Alliance declined by the Western Powers - Neutrality distasteful to Persian Government - Angry Discussions between Sedr-Azem and the British Minister - Meerza Hashem - Arrest of his Wife - Conduct of the Sedr-Azem - Diplomatic Relations suspended between England and Persia - Mr. Murray quits Tehran - Persian Expedition against Herat - War against Persia declared at Calcutta
Chapter XV
Policy of the Sedr-Azem - Embassy of the Ferrukh Khan to Europe - Fall of Herat - Rules to be observed in carrying on English War Against Persia - Singular Instance of Persian Levity - War against Infidels proclaimed at Tehran - The Sirkisikchi-Bashi - Occupation of Karrack by British Troops - Capture of Reshire - Surrender of Bushire - Sir J. Outram - Expedition to Burazjan - Action at Khushab - Bombardment of Mohamra - Defeat of Persians - Expedition to Ahwaz - Restoration of Peace - Terms of Treaty of Paris - Sultan Ahmed Khan - Murder of Price Mahomed Yoosuf - Fall of the Sedr-Azem - Conclusion