The Pahlavi Dynasty of Iran

 










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Imperial Coat of Arms of Iran under the Pahlavi Dynasty (1925-1979): The shield is composed of the Lion and the Sun symbol in first quarter and in the second quarter the Faravahar representing Zoroastrianism. In the third quarter, the curved blade of a Imam Ali "Zulfiqar" sword representing Shia Islam and the Simurgh in the fourth quarter. Overall in the center is a circle depicting Mount Damavand with a rising sun, the symbol of the Pahlavi dynasty. The shield is crowned by the Pahlavi crown and surrounded by the chain of the Order of Pahlavi. Two lions rampant regardant, holding scimitars supports the coat of arms on either side. Under the whole device is the motto: "Mara dad farmud va Khod Davar Ast" ("Justice He bids me do, as He will judge me" or, alternatively, "He gave me power to command, and He is the judge"). Some of the colours were changed in 1971.


Flag of Iran
          Flag of Iran, 1907–1979







Brief  Background:

The Pahlavi dynasty (Persian: دودمان پهلوی) was the last Iranian royal dynasty, ruling for almost 54 years between 1925 and 1979. They are connected with the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt. The dynasty ruled Iran for 28 years as a form of constitutional monarchy from 1925 until 1953, and following the overthrow of the democratically elected prime minister, for a further 26 years as a more autocratic monarchy until the dynasty was itself overthrown in 1979. The dynasty was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a non-aristocratic Mazanderani soldier in modern times, who took on the name of the Pahlavi language spoken in the pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire in order to strengthen his nationalist credentials. The dynasty replaced the Qajar dynasty in 1925 after the 1921 coup d'état, beginning 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 in what became known as the 1921 Persian coup d'état.  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 new 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 Atatürk had done in Turkey, but abandoned the idea in the face of British and clerical opposition.

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 Shah's birth.  His father was a Mazandarani, commissioned in the 7th Savadkuh Regiment, and served in the Anglo-Persian War in 1856. The former constitution of Iran specifically provided that only a male who was not descended from Qajar dynasty could become the heir apparent. This made all half-brothers of Mohammad Reza ineligible to become heirs to the throne. Until his death in 1954, the Shah's only full brother Ali Reza was his heir presumptive. The constitution also required the Shah to be of Iranian descent, meaning that his father and mother are Iranian.

 

 

 

 

Heads of House of Pahlavi:

Name Portrait Family relations Lifespan Entered office Left office
Shahs of Iran
1 Reza Shah Pahlavi Reza Shah Son of Abbas Ali 1878–1944 15 December 1925 16 September 1941
(Abdication)
2 Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Shah Son of Reza Shah 1919–1980 16 September 1941 11 February 1979
(Iranian Revolution)
In pretence
1 Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Son of Reza Shah 1919–1980 11 February 1979 27 July 1980
(Death)
—
Farah Pahlavi Wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 1938– 27 July 1980[15] 31 October 1980[15]
2 Reza Pahlavi Reza Pahlavi II Son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 1960– 31 October 1980[15] Incumbent

 

 

 

 

Line of succession in February 1979

Current Line of Succession

 

 Source: Wikipedia


 

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