Sam Khan, the headman of Haji-Alilu tribe of

Arasbaran Arasbaran (), also known as Qaradagh (; , ; ), is a large mountainous area stretching from the Qūshā Dāgh massif, south of Ahar, to the Aras River in East Azerbaijan province of Iran. The region is confined to Aras Riv ...

, was a legendary military commander in early twentieth century. He was given honorary titles such as Arshad Nezam, Sardar Arshad, Shoja Nezam, Salar Nezam, and Amir Arshad ( امیر ارشد). In Chronicles of

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (; ; 17 July 1831 – 1 May 1896) was the fourth Shah of Qajar Iran from 5 September 1848 to 1 May 1896 when he was assassinated. During his rule there was internal pressure from the people of Iran, as well as external ...

era, Amir Arshad is referred to as the commander of mounted troops stationed in Qaradağ. Amir Arshad and his brother, Moḥammad Ḥosayn Khan Sardār(-e) Ashayer, supported the Constitutionalists during

Persian Constitutional Revolution The Persian Constitutional Revolution (, or ''Enghelāb-e Mashrūteh''), also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911 during the Qajar Iran, Qajar era. The revolution led to the establishment of a Majl ...

. In the winter of 1909–10, they helped revolutionary forces crush the Chalabianlu and their allies, who, under the leadership of Rahimkhan Chalabianloo, had been the major supporters of the deposed

Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar (‎; 21 June 1872 – 5 April 1925) was the sixth shah of the Qajar dynasty and remained the Shah of Iran from 8 January 1907 until being deposed on 16 July 1909. He was furthermore the grandson of Iran’s early mod ...

. Consequently, in 1911-1920 period, Amir Arshad was effectively ruling

region, a vast area north of

Tabriz Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...

. Amir Arshad was killed in the Battle of Shekar Yazi against Kurdish insurgency. He is credited with fending off the communism from Iran.Stephanie Cronin, 'The Making of Modern Iran: State and Society Under Riza Shah, 1921-1941', 2007, p. 207 Amir Arshad's residence in the Okhara village of

Varzaqan County Varzaqan County () is in East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. Its capital is the city of Varzaqan. Demographics Population At the time of the 2006 National Census, the county's population was 46,833 in 10,766 households ...

is still standing and has been registered as a historical site.

References

{{Reflist People from Tabriz Iranian revolutionaries Year of birth missing Year of death missing 19th-century Iranian politicians People of the Persian Constitutional Revolution 20th-century Iranian politicians