Treaty of Turkman Chāy and the Problem of Succession: an Investigation of Russian Interference in Qājār’s Succession Problem

Document Type : ..

Authors

1 Associate Professor of History, University of Isfahan

2 PhD Student of History, university of Isfahan

Abstract

An introductory evaluation of Iran’s history during Qājār period shows that the problem of succession was a field of Russian interference in political matters of Iran. The history of foreign interference in successional problems of Persian throne might be traced as long as Achaemenid and Arsacid periods. Nonetheless, for the first time in early Qājār period and through the Gulistān and Turkman Chāy treaties, a foreign power, namely Imperial Russia, interfered formally in successional problem of Qājār dynasty. According to the seventh chapter of Turkman Chāy treaty, the Tsar guaranteed the right of Abbās Mīrzā and his house for the Persian throne. It seems there were serious challenges which threatened Abbās Mīrzā’s elevation to kingship of Iran and these challenges played an effective role for Russian formal interference in the problem of succession. This paper aims to give an explanation of this problem through analyzing the range of causes which paved way for Russian interventional activities. According to its main hypothesis, a number of causes such as lack of a firm and clear succession law, its dependence on the King’s arbitrary will and, a destroying rivalry between Qājār princes and the Vicegerent prepared the favorite ground for Russian interference.

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