Hormoz Ashtyani
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One hundred and seventy years ago, in January 1851, Mirza Taghi Khan Amir Kabir was murdered in Fin Garden Kashan. Iran still is in the throes of this murder and its aftershocks. Who was this man and who’s shadow still looms over Iran and his struggles are still germane today.
We will examine Amir Kabir, the man, his policies and attempts to reform and rejuvenate Iran, the domestic political- social as well as the international conditions that he confronted and ultimately took his life and postponed his reforms.
The son of a cook in the household of Gha‘emMagham Farahani and his father, he was quickly recognized for his brilliance and competence. He was educated and appointed to the army of Azerbaijan as a finance officer. He quickly proved his mettle and was given the task of organizing the Azerbaijan troops. He attained the rank of Mirpanj (brigadier general).
His brilliance placed him in multiple foreign mission assignments which exposed him both to the power and achievements of the modern (then western) world, but also the colonial interests, designs and operations of the foreign powers, namely the British, Russian and Ottoman states.
His most important assignments were to St. Petersburg (the capital of Russia) and Erzurum negotiations between Iran and Ottoman Turkey, mediated by the British and Russian Empires.
In St. Petersburg, the Russians took note of this young muscular, stern looking Iranian officer who spent his time going to universities, factories and military installations and endlessly questioning and taking notes of how they worked and what they did.
In Erzurum now a more senior member, the Russian and British delegates both with admiration and suspicion realized that he is probing their goals in what is now the “Middle East.”
With the Turks he asked about the Turkish attempts to modernize, or Tenzimat (ultimately unsuccessful), and specifically how to make reforms despite the power of the clergy, which was limiting the power of the government.
Mirza Taghi had a profound (at the time unappreciated) effect on the outcome of the negotiations, despite the ineptitude of Tehran and the pressures from Russia and the British. But he single-handedly fought and ultimately succeeded in keeping Mohammare (now Khorramshahr) and Iran’s rights in Shatt ol Arab (later on conceded by Reza Shah to appease the British).
In his 3 short years as the prime minister (1848-1851) and commander of the army (Amir Nezam), he initiated profound reforms which aimed to create a strong modern state, that can stand up to the colonial powers of Britain and Russia by the following:
– Creating a budget (separate from the king) and balance it, this included cutting the salaries of the royal family;
– Collecting farmland taxes based on the size of the loo land rather than the produced crops (which incentivized more farming to maximize the income;
– Starting vaccination against smallpox;
– Creating a compulsory military service (which eliminated the reliance of the central government on tribal troops but was met with public resentment);
– Replacing the courts held by individual clergy (rife with corruption and arbitrary, inconsistent rulings) with government run courts ”Divan Khaneh”, in which reputable clerics were hired and supervised by the government;
– Publishing the first newspaper (Vaghe Ettefaghieh or “ what is happening” which was mandatory for the government officials to read. In this paper, government rules and actions were reported (creating transparency). A section for world news and the competitive and actions of the European colonial powers;
– He canceled Russian and British commercial concessions including the fisheries of the Caspian Sea and the British “right “of navigation in Karoun River and;
– Brought the Austrian faculty (as oppose to the British, Russian or French) for the teaching in Dar-ol-fonoon University, with provisions in their contracts specifically mandating that they TRAIN AN IRANIAN FACULTY and help to translate their textbooks to Persian! (Why did he choose Austria?)
This brings us to the foreign policy doctrine of Amir Kabir, He was fearful of both British and Russian goals and at the same time understood the need for bringing in European science and technology. France not only was a a “junior partner” of the British in their colonial devouring of Lithe world (today this role is played by the UK as the assistant to the US, and France has been relegated to the second row.
Amir implemented a policy of negative balance vis a vis Russia and the UK, both of them were asked to reciprocally relinquish their concessions and privileges. Amir created for the first time a “foreign counter intelligence service” monitoring the embassies and specifically placing spies in the Russian and British embassies (which he paid out of his own pocket) and personally received the reports from his agents.
What Were Amir’s Plans?
A railway system and telegram. In these plans he took in account the military need for communication and transfer of troops across Iran frontiers and;
Preparation to reassert Iran central authority over Herat, Turkmenistan, Baluchistan and the Persian Gulf.
In the International Scene
After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 the British ruled supreme, France was defeated, Russia, powerful in its periphery, was contained in its landmass. Prussia was a new state (Germany didn’t exist yet) and an ossified Austria was beset by its Balkan problems.
This “world order” was formulated in the Vienna conference in 1815. Iran and Ottoman Turkey were at the mercy of the colonial powers and subject to their intrigues and competition, however in February 1848 most of the European continent, from France to Russia, erupted in a revolution (the Spring of Europe), which while ultimately failed it sent shock waves through the world (including Iran and Turkey), it made the ruling classes in those countries even more intransigent and reactionary!
Iran Internal Environment
Iran’s socio political conditions, already precarious, effectively collapsed after the defeats of 1813 and 1829 in the hands of the modern Russian Army. The “national confidence” was lost. Many, including those at the top, thought nothing was good in Iran or its people!
If it is not worth anything, why to fight for it?
An internalization of defeat and sense of worthlessness still continues (you see its current existence in the conference in Georgetown University or rallies outside the Munich Security Conference).
The “grandees” realigned themselves with the British or Russians and the Royal Court was more afraid of the people of Iran than its enemies.
What were the internal forces against Amir Kabir?
The Qajar princely class who saw its prerogatives eroded (and specifically Mahd Olia, the queen mother). The aristocracy and clergy who preferred ruling over a poor backward nation (and working for colonialists) over being subjects of a law based powerful state, And, they could recruit a public concern with their immediate interests.
Several mutinies broke against Amir, such as the mutiny of Tehran the barracks which ended with Tehran Friday Prayer, Imam intervening on behalf of Amir Kabir. Mutiny of Isfahan (Amir,who was preparing artillery for the Herat campaign, had ordered the extra copper chattel to be confiscated and paid, for the purpose of making cannons.
And maybe Amir’s blunt, uncompromising and unforgiving attitude, when the young Naser Al Din Shah, the King, missed a few government meetings, Amir wrote to him: “with this child like attitude, how can a country be governed?”
The intrigues intensified, Mirza Agha Khan Nouri an old time enemy of Amir Kabir who was OPENLY on the payroll of the British embassy made an alliance with the Queen Mother Mahd Olia. She was furious after she was ordered to pay taxes, and she felt that Qajars have won the country with the sword, they own it and can’t be humiliated by paying taxes), the alliance was made with the mediation of Sir William Thomson the British charge d’ affaires, and referring to the European revolutions, the young Naser Al Din Shah was asked, “do you want to lose your throne?” The question was deadly effective, Amir was removed from the office and replaced by Mirza Agha Khan Nouri!
Amir Knew, he would be killed
Amir knew that death was hovering over him (despite being the brother in law of the king), he had witnessed the fate of Graeme Magham, his mentor. His wife Princess Ezzat Al Doleh did not leave his side as she was sure that no one would dare to commit this murder in front of the king’s sister. She was wrong, they went with him to the bathhouse!
The last available statement from Amir reveals his character. He was contacted by the Russian ambassador, who was doubtless alarmed by the grip of the British on the new politics of the court. The ambassador offered Amir the protection of the Tsar, Amir thanked the gracious offer of His Majesty and replied: “his Majesty knows that I am a soldier, it is preferable for me to die on the order of my king, rather than to live under another banner!”