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SIX IMPORTANT QAJAR FIRMANS ISSUED BY MUHAMMAD 'ALI SHAH (R.1907-1909) IN RELATION TO THE 1908 BOMBARDMENT OF THE TEHRAN MAJLIS

SIX QAJAR FIRMANS

TEHRAN, IRAN, RABI II AH 1326/MAY 1908 AD

Details

SIX QAJAR FIRMANS
TEHRAN, IRAN, RABI II AH 1326/MAY 1908 AD
Comprising six Qajar firmans, each dated Rabi II AH 1326, in black nasta'liq on light green papers headed with the official embossed emblem of Muhammad Shah, all documents bear the approval signature of the Shah on the right hand border
Largest 10 x 8in. (25.8 x 20.8cm.) (6)

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Louise Broadhurst

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Lot Essay

Mozaffar al-Din Shah (r.1896-1907) created the first constitution of Iran in 1905 which resulted in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution in 1906 and 1911, and the establishment of a Majlis (parliament) in Iran during the Qajar period. Muhammad Ali Shah (r.1907-1909), Muzaffar al-Din’s son, was completely against his father’s orders and abolished the constitution and bombarded the parliament with Russian and British support on 23 June 1908. This lead to another pro-constitutional movement and his abdication from the throne in 1909.
These six firmans were issued by Muhammad Ali Shah in May 1908, one month before he ordered the bombardment of the parliament to execute the constitutionalist. They demonstrate the governmental Cabinet formation which was organised on 23 January 1908 despite the disapproval of the Iranian Consultative Assembly. Muhammad Ali Shah nominated the cabinet members himself and designated Ahmad Moshir al-Saltaneh (in office 1908-09) as his Prime Minister.

The members of the cabinet which were assigned by Muhammad Ali Shah in each of the firmans are as follows:
- Moshir al-Saltane: Prime Minister
- Moshir al-Doleh: Minster of Science and Education
- Mostofi’ol Mamalek: Minister of Military
- Ala’ol Saltaneh: Minister of Foreign Policy
- Motamed’ol Molk: Minister of Commerce
- Mirza Vali Khan: Head of Shah’s Primary Office

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