About Me
Born in Mazenderan, Iran on March 16 1878, the son of Abbas Ali Khan, as Reza Khan. In 1896 he joined the Russian Cosack Regiment of Iran's Army, where he would distinguish himself in combat against bandits. He would soon become an officer under the command of Farmanfarma in 1910 and by 1918 had become a Satrip in Iran's Army.
In 1921 Reza Khan successfully led the Iranian Army to supress a Communist uprising in Gilan which was Russian backed. In february 1921 he would lead the Iranian Cossacks to depose Vizier Sephadar Azam in support of Seyyid al-Din Tabatabai. In April Farmanfarma would persuade Reza Khan to depose Tabatabai in favor of Ahmad Ghavam. As a reward Reza Khan was made Minister of War and Farmanfarma rewarded him with property in Tehran. Reza Khan was appointed Vizier on October 28, 1923, and would begin rebuilding Iran's military. In late 1924 Reza Khan ordered the Iranian Army to occupy the territory of Sheikh Khazal Khan, who was intriguing with the British. Sheikh Khazal Khan was defeated and the British forced to leave Iran in march 1925. When Ahmad Shah left Iran in 1925 the Majlis voted to depose him and elected Reza Khan Shahanshah.
As Reza Shah Iran prospered under his rule. Iran's military was modernized, being able to manufacture fighter planes, tanks, and modern artillery and firearms. Iran still relied on imports, though this did not stop reforms of Iran's Navy.
These reforms were easily implemented due to his successes as a military leader.
Equally important were domestic reforms and improvements in Iran. The Trans-Iranian railway, built on his order, would link up most of the nation.
Reza Shah took a personal interest in government, firing corrupt officals and replacing them with efficent ones. More schools were opened, and he personally opened the University of Tehran in 1934. Reza Shah's reforms effected women as well, as women were no longer required to wear veils and girls schools were opened.
In 1941, with war raging throughout the world and rumors of a Nazi-Iranian alliance, Russia and Britain invaded Iran on August 25, 1941. By September 14, 1941 most of Iran had been occupied, and Reza Shah prepared to abdicate. Despite British plots to effect a Qajar restoration Reza Shah abdicated in favor of his son Mohammed Reza on September 16, 1941 and went into exile.
After being denied permission to settle in Mumbai he settled first in Mauritius, then Johannesburg, South Africa, where he would die on July 26, 1944.
His son would eventually have his body returned to Iran during his reign.
