Sunday, October 7, 2018

Why did the Qajars choose Tehran as the capital? (William Price, [1811] 1825)


Why did the Qajars choose Tehran as the capital?




The name of his Persian majesty is Fateh Ali; his will is the law. He has generally three ministers, is above the middle age, has a great number of wives, and about sixty sons and daughters. He generally dresses plain, but on court days he is covered with jewels. His grandfather was the first of his dynasty; he seized the reins of government at a time when the nation was convulsed by internal commotions; he was of the Kajar tribe, and came from Azerbijan ― the Kajars inhabit great part of the country between Tehiran and the Caspian Sea. The court was formerly held at Ispahan; but the Kajars not feeling perfect security so far from their own province, thought proper to remove it to Tehiran, whence should any disturbance occur, the king would soon be in the midst of his own tribe.


William Price, Journal of the British Embassy to Persia; Embellished with Numerous Views taken in India and Persia: also a Dissertation upon the Antiquities of Persepolis. — London: Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen, Booksellers to the Honourable East India Company, p. 28.

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