The rise and fall of the life of Mostafā Qoli Khān, Farrāshbāshi of Zell-e Soltān (1294-1309 AH/1877-1891 AD)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mostafā Qoli Khān was a lesser-known Qajar statesman who served in the court of Masʽoud Mirzā Zell-e Soltān, the most potent Qajar prince. On behalf of Zell-e Soltān, he was appointed to posts such as Farrāshbāshi, member of the Anjoman-e Maʽāref, development officer, steward, and governor regent of several towns and cities. The purpose of this research is to examine Mostafā Qoli Khān’s political rise and fall, as well as the reasons for his dismissal from the Iraq 1 1 Irāq was one of the six states of Iran during the Qajar period, the centre of which was Sultānābād, built by order of Fath-Ali Shāh, the second Qajar king. Iraq meant in between Qajar courtiers, office people, and journalists to the cities of Āshtiān, Tafresh, Gorgān, Farāhān, and Sultānābād, each of which had several hundred prestigious villages and large farms. Gholam Hosayn Afzal al-Molk, Afzal al-Tavārikh, ed. Mansureh Etehādiyeh va Sirus Saʽdvandiyan (Tehran: Tārikh-e Iran, 1982), 298–301. Iraq is now called Arāk. government and the position of Farrāshbāshi. The results show that his political career took off when Zell-e Soltān climbed to prominence. He was in charge of order and security in Isfahan for over a decade, settling conflicts and repressing riots in Zell-e Soltān’s subject towns and provinces. Mostafā Qoli Khān was unexpectedly removed from Zell-e Soltān’s political circle in 1305 AH/1888 AD. His departure could be linked to Zell-e Soltān’s ambition for wealth, the scheming of powerful Iraq officials, and his disagreements over assigned taxes. The present study was conducted through historical analysis with a descriptive-analytical approach based on manuscript sources, archived documents, journals, field studies, and library sources.