Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar

Biography

Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar was opposed to the constitution that was ratified during the reign of his father, Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar. In 1907 Mohammad Ali dissolved the parliament and declared the Constitution abolished because it was contrary to Islamic law. He bombarded the Majles (Persian parliament) with the military and political support of Russia and Britain.

In July 1909, pro-Constitution forces marched from Persia's provinces to Tehran led by Sardar As'ad, Sepehdar A'zam, Sattar Khan, Bagher Khan and Yeprem Khan, deposed the Shah, and re-established the constitution. On 16 July 1909, the parliament voted to place Mohammad Ali Shah's 11-year-old son, Ahmad Shah on the throne. Mohammad Ali Shah abdicated following the new Constitutional Revolution and he has since been remembered as a symbol of dictatorship.

Having fled to Odessa, Russia (present day Ukraine), Mohammad Ali plotted his return to power. In 1911 he landed at Astarabad, Persia, but his forces were defeated. Mohammad Ali Shah returned to Russia, then in 1920 to Constantinople (present day Istanbul) and later to San Remo, Italy, where he died on 5 April 1925 (bur. Shrine of Imam Husain, Karbala, Iraq). Every Shah of Persia since Mohammad Ali has died in exile.

His son and successor, Ahmad Shah Qajar was the last sovereign of the Qajar dynasty.

Honours

Wives

Mohammad Ali Shah had two wives:

1. Robabeh Khanum "Malih-os-Saltaneh"
2. Princess Zahra Qajar "Malekeh Jahan", daughter of Kamran Mirza "Nayeb-os-Saltaneh"

Children

Mohammad Ali Shah had six sons and two daughters:

1. Hossein Ali Mirza "E'tezad Saltaneh"
2. Gholam Hossein Mirza (died in infancy)
3. Sultan Ahmad Mirza (later Ahmad Shah Qajar)
4. Mohammad Hassan Mirza
5. Sultan Mahmoud Mirza
6. Sultan Majid Mirza

1. Khadijeh Khanum "Hazrat-e Ghodsieh"
2. Assieh Khanum

List of Prime Ministers