The Qajar family (; 1789–1925) was an

Iranian Iranian () may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Iran ** Iranian diaspora, Iranians living outside Iran ** Iranian architecture, architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia ** Iranian cuisine, cooking traditions and practic ...

royal family founded by Mohammad Khan (), a member of the Qoyunlu clan of the Turkoman-descended

Qajar tribe The Guarded Domains of Iran, alternatively the Sublime State of Iran and commonly called Qajar Iran, Qajar Persia or the Qajar Empire, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Qajar dynasty, which was of Turkic origin,Cyrus Ghani. ''Iran an ...

. The dynasty's effective rule in Iran ended in 1925 when Iran's ''

Majlis (, pl. ') is an Arabic term meaning 'sitting room', used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to the Mus ...

'', convening as a constituent assembly on 12 December 1925, declared

Reza Shah Reza Shah Pahlavi born Reza Khan (15 March 1878 – 26 July 1944) was shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941 and founder of the roughly 53 years old Pahlavi dynasty. Originally a military officer, he became a politician, serving as minister of war an ...

, a former brigadier-general of the

Persian Cossack Brigade The Persian Cossack Brigade, also known as the Iranian Cossack Brigade (), was a Cossacks, Cossack-style cavalry unit formed in 1879 in Qajar Iran, Iran. It was modelled after the Caucasian Cossack regiments of the Imperial Russian Army. Until 1 ...

, as the new ''

shah Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...

'' of what became known as

Pahlavi Iran The Imperial State of Iran, officially known as the Imperial State of Persia until 1935, and commonly referred to as Pahlavi Iran, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty. The Pahlavi dynasty was created in 1925 and lasted ...

List of Qajar monarchs

Qajar imperial family

The Qajar Imperial Family in exile is currently headed by the eldest descendant of Mohammad Ali Shah, Sultan Mohammad Ali Mirza Qajar, while the Heir Presumptive to the Qajar throne is

Mohammad Hassan Mirza II Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza II Qajar (born 18 July 1949) is the son of Hamid Mirza and a grandson of Mohammad Hassan Mirza, the last Crown Prince of Iran from the rule of the Qajar dynasty. As heir apparent, he is considered the Qajar prete ...

, the grandson of

Mohammad Hassan Mirza Mohammad Hassan Mirza (; 20 November 1899 – 7 January 1943) was an Iranian prince and younger brother of Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Qajar shah (king) of Iran, and former Crown Prince of the Qajar dynasty. Shortly after Reza Shah deposed the Qaj ...

, Sultan Ahmad Shah's brother and heir. Mohammad Hassan Mirza died in England in 1943, having proclaimed himself shah in exile in 1930 after the death of his brother in France. Today, the descendants of the Qajars often identify themselves as such and hold reunions to stay socially acquainted through the ''Kadjar (Qajar) Family Association'', often coinciding with the annual conferences and meetings of the International Qajar Studies Association (IQSA). The Kadjar (Qajar) Family Association was founded for a third time in 2000. Two earlier family associations were stopped because of political pressure. The offices and archives of IQSA are housed at the International Museum for Family History in

Eijsden Eijsden (; ) is a village situated in the very south of the European country the Netherlands. It is located in the southwestern part of the province of Limburg. Until 1 January 2011, Eijsden was the main village in a municipality with the sa ...

Titles and styles

The shah and his consort were styled '' Imperial Majesty''. Their children were addressed as ''

Imperial Highness Imperial Highness is a form of address used for members of an imperial family. It denotes ''imperial'' – as opposed to ''royal'' – status to show that the holder in question is descended from an emperor rather than a king (compare His ...

'', while male-line grandchildren were entitled to the lower style of ''

Highness Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style used to address (in second person) or refer to (in third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adjec ...

''; all of them bore the title of '' Shahzadeh'' or ''Shahzadeh Khanoum''.

Qajar dynasty since 1925

; Heads of the Qajar Imperial Family The headship of the Imperial Family is inherited by the eldest male descendant of Mohammad Ali Shah. * Sultan Ahmad Shah Qajar (1925–1930) *

Fereydoun Mirza Fereydun Mirza () was a Qajar prince, governor and poet in 19th-century Iran. The fifth son of Abbas Mirza, he held the governorships of Tabriz (1833–1834), Fars (1836–1840), and Khorasan (1851–1854). Biography Fereydun Mirza was the fif ...

(1930–1975) * Sultan Hamid Mirza (1975–1988) * Sultan Mahmoud Mirza (1988) * Sultan Ali Mirza Qajar (1988–2011) * Sultan Mohammad Ali Mirza (2011–present) ; Heirs Presumptive of the Qajar dynasty The Heir Presumptive is the Qajar heir to the Persian throne. * Sultan Ahmad Shah Qajar (1925–1930) *

(1930–1943) *

(1943–1975) * Sultan Hamid Mirza (1975–1988) *

(1988–) ''Extended Family'' *Qajar descendants of Jwamer Agha, Princesses of Qajar, great-great or great-great-great grandchildren of Naseruddin Shah Qajar.

Notable members

; Politics * Princess

Turan Amirsoleimani Turan Amirsoleimani (), born Qamar ol-Molouk Amirsoleimani (; 4 February 1905 – 24 July 1994), was an Iranian royal and the third wife of Reza Shah, with whom she had a son named Gholam Reza Pahlavi. Biography Turan was born Qamar ol-Molouk Ami ...

, she was the third wife of

, with whom she had one son

Gholam Reza Pahlavi Gholam Reza Pahlavi (; 15 May 1923 – 7 May 2017) was an Iranian prince and a member of the Pahlavi dynasty, as the son of Reza Shah and half-brother of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Following the death of his half-sister Ashraf ...

* Prince Abdol-Hossein Farmanfarma,

prime minister of Iran The prime minister of Iran was a political post that had existed in Iran (Persia) during much of the 20th century. It began in 1906 during the Qajar dynasty and into the start of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1923 and into the 1979 Iranian Revolution ...

Mohammad Mosaddegh Mohammad Mosaddegh (, ; 16 June 1882 – 5 March 1967) was an Iranian politician, author, and lawyer who served as the 30th Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, elected by the 1950 Iranian legislative election, 16th Majlis. He was a membe ...

, prime minister of Iran and nephew of Prince Abdol Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma. * Prince Firouz Nosrat-ed-Dowleh III, son of Prince Abdol-Hossein Farmanfarma, foreign minister of Iran *

Hossein Khan Sardar Hossein Qoli Khan Qajar Sardar Iravani () was a statesman and commander in Qajar Iran, who was the last khan (governor) of the Erivan Khanate from 1807 to 1828. A member of the Qajar tribe and a close relative of the Qajar dynasty, Hossein Qol ...

, last ruler of the

Erivan Khanate The Erivan Khanate (), also known as , was a Khanates of the Caucasus, khanate (i.e., province) that was established in Afsharid dynasty, Afsharid Iran in the 18th century. It covered an area of roughly 19,500 km2, and corresponded to most o ...

administrative division * Prince Majd ed-Dowleh Amirsoleimani, one of Iran's most influential politicians of his time. He was a key court figure throughout the reigns of several Qajar Shahs, including

Nasser al-Din Shah 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 ...

Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar (; 23 March 1853 – 3 January 1907) was the fifth Qajar shah of Iran, reigning from 1896 until his death in 1907. He is often credited with the creation of the Persian Constitution of 1906, which he approved of in on ...

Mohammad Ali Shah 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 ...

, and Ahmad Shah. *

Amir Abbas Hoveyda Amir-Abbas Hoveyda (; 18 February 1919 – 7 April 1979) was an Iranian economist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran from 27 January 1965 to 7 August 1977. He was the longest serving prime minister in Iran's history. He also ...

, Iranian economist and politician,

from 1965 to 1977, a Qajar descendant on his maternal side *

Ali Amini Ali Amini (; 12 September 1905–12 December 1992) was an Iranian politician who was the Prime Minister of Iran from 1961 to 1962. He held several cabinet portfolios during the 1950s, and served as a member of parliament between 1947 and 19 ...

* Prince

Iraj Eskandari Iraj Eskandari (‎; 1907–1985) was an Iranian communist politician. A Qajar prince, Eskandari received French education.Behrooz, Maziar. Rebels with a Cause: The Failure of the Left in Iran'. London: I.B. Tauris, 2000. p. 75 He was the first ...

, Iranian communist politician * Princess Maryam Farman Farmaian, Iranian communist politician, founder of the women's section of the

Tudeh Party of Iran The Tudeh Party of Iran is an Iranian communist party. Formed in 1941, with Soleiman Mirza Eskandari as its head, it had considerable influence in its early years and played an important role during Mohammad Mosaddegh's campaign to nationalize ...

Ardeshir Zahedi Ardeshir Zahedi, GCVO (; 16 October 1928 – 18 November 2021) was a prominent Iranian politician and diplomat who served as the country's foreign minister from 1966 to 1971, and its ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom during ...

, Iranian diplomat, Qajar descendant on his maternal side. * Prince Sabbar Farmanfarmaian, health minister in Mosaddeq cabinet *

Abdol-Hossein Sardari Abdol Hossein Sardari (; 1914–1981) was an Iranian diplomat. He is credited with saving thousands of Jews in Europe, issuing to Iranian Jews in France new passports that did not state their religion as well as issuing hundreds of Iranian passp ...

, Consul General at the Iranian Embassy in Paris 1940–1945; helped and saved the lives of Jews in danger of deportation by issuing them with Iranian passports. A Qajar Qoyunlu and through his mother a grandson of Princess Malekzadeh Khanoum Ezzat od-Doleh, the sister of Nasser ed-Din Shah. *

Aga Khan III Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah (2 November 187711 July 1957), known as Aga Khan III, was the 48th Imamate in Nizari doctrine, imam of the Nizari Isma'ili, Ism'aili branch of Shia Islam. He was one of the founders and the first permanent president of ...

, President of the

League of Nations The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...

from 1937 to 1938, one of the founders and the first president of the

All-India Muslim League The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party founded in 1906 in Dhaka, British India with the goal of securing Muslims, Muslim interests in South Asia. Although initially espousing a united India with interfaith unity, the Muslim L ...

and the 48th

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

of the Nizari

Ismaili Ismailism () is a branch of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelver Shia, who accept ...

Muslims. ; Military File:Aleksander Petrovich Reza Qoli Mirza Qajar in Russian military uniform.png, Aleksander Petrovich Reza Qoli Mirza (1869-1941) File:Feyzulla Mirza Qovanlu-Qajar.JPG,

Feyzullah Mirza Qajar Feyzullah Mirza Qajar (; ; ) also Fazullah-Mirza Qajar (; ) (b. December 15, 1872 - d. 1920) - was a prince of Iran's Qajar dynasty and a decorated Imperial Russian and Azerbaijani military commander, holding the rank of Major-General. In the ...

(1872-1920) File:Amanullah Mirza Jahanbani.png, Amanullah Mirza Jahanbani (1869-1912) File:General Nader Jahanbani.png,

Nader Jahanbani Sepahbod Nader Mirza Jahanbani (; 16 April 1928 – 13 March 1979) was an Iranian prince, general, distinguished fighter pilot of Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) and the deputy chief of the IIAF under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah ...

(1928-1979) * Prince Amanullah Mirza Qajar,

Imperial Russian The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

, Azerbaijani, and

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

ian military commander * Prince Feyzulla Mirza Qajar, Imperial Russian and Azerbaijani (ADR) military commander * Prince Ali Qulu Mirza Qajar, Imperial Russian military commander, having the rank of Lieutenant Colonel * Prince

Aleksander Reza Qoli Mirza Qajar Aleksander Petrovich Reza Qoli Mirza Qajar (; ; 25 May 1869 – ) was a prince of Iran's Qajar dynasty, an Imperial Russian military leader and the commander of Yekaterinburg (1918), holding the rank of Colonel ( Polkovnik). Biography Alexander P ...

, Imperial Russian military leader, commander of Yekaterinburg (1918) * Prince

Amanullah Jahanbani Amanollah Jahanbani (; 1891 – 1 February 1974) was a member of the Qajar dynasty of Iran and a senior general of Reza Shah Pahlavi. Early life and education Born in 1895, Jahanbani was a great grandson of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. At the age of 10, ...

, senior Iranian general *

, general and vice-deputy chief of the Imperial Iranian Air Force * Brig. General Changiz Voshmgir, deputy commander-in-chief of the Ground Forces of the Imperial Iranian Army, son of Hassan Khan Shoja Saltaneh & Bashir-ol-Moluk ; Social work * Princess Sattareh Farmanfarmaian, Iranian social work pioneer ; Business * Princess Fakhr-ol-dowleh Religion *

Aga Khan IV Prince Karim al-Husseini (13 December 1936 – 4 February 2025), known as the Aga Khan IV, was the 49th Imamah, imam of Imamate in Nizari doctrine, Nizari Isma'ilism from 1957 until his death in 2025. He inherited the Imamate in Nizari doctrine ...

, the 49th

Nizari Ismailism Nizari Isma'ilism () are the largest segment of the Ismailis, who are the second-largest branch of Shia Islam after the Twelvers. Nizari teachings emphasise independent reasoning or '' ijtihad''; pluralism—the acceptance of racial, ethnic, ...

, a denomination of

Isma'ilism Ismailism () is a branch of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor (Imamate in Nizari doctrine, imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the ...

within

Shia Islam Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...

. ; Women's rights *Princess Taj-al-Saltaneh Qajar, daughter of Naser-din-Shah, co-founder of the first Iranian women's rights movement Anjoman Naswan, author of a memoir, painter * Princess

Mohtaram Eskandari Mohtaram Eskandari (; 1895 – July 27, 1924), was an Iranian intellectual and a pioneer of the Iranian women's movement. She was the co-founder and first leader of Jam'iyat-e Nesvan-e Vatankhah, the first women's rights association in Persia ...

, intellectual and pioneering figures in Iranian women's movement. *

Iran Teymourtash Iran Teymourtāsh (; 1914–1991nardein), the eldest daughter of Abdolhossein Teymourtāsh, is considered a pioneer among women activists in 20th-century Iran. Her father's position as the second most powerful political personality in Iran, from 1 ...

(''Légion d'honneur''), journalist, editor and publisher of the newspaper ''Rastakhiz'', founder of an association for helping destitute women. Daughter of court minister Abdolhossein Teymourtash and through both her maternal grandparents a Qajar.L. A. Ferydoun Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn (Khosrovani) (ed.), "Qajar Studies". ''Journal of the International Qaja Studies Association'', vol. X–XI, Rotterdam, Gronsveld, Santa Barbara and Tehran 2011, p. 220. ; Literature Princess Taj-al-Saltaneh Qajar, daughter of Naser-din-Shah, First Iranian woman to write a memoir, co-founder of the first Iranian women's rights movement Anjoman Naswan, author of a memoir, painter * Prince

Iraj Iraj (; Pahlavi: ērič; from Avestan: , literally "Aryan") is the seventh Shah of the Pishdadian dynasty, depicted in the ''Shahnameh''. Based on Iranian mythology, he is the youngest son of Fereydun. He was killed by his brothers Salm and ...

, Iranian poet and translator *

Sadegh Hedayat Sadegh Hedayat (, ; 17 February 1903 – 9 April 1951) was an Iranian peoples, Iranian writer, translator, satirist, and poet. Best known for his novel ''The Blind Owl'', he was one of the earliest Iranian writers to adopt literary modernism in ...

, a Qajar descendant through the female line * Anvar Khamei, the Iranian economist, politician, and sociologist. ; Entertainment * Sepand Amirsoleimani, Iranian actor. * Kamand Amirsoleimani, Iranian actress. *

Gholam-Hossein Banan Gholām-Hossein Banān (; 5 May 1911 – 27 February 1986) was an Iranian musician and singer. One of the most prominent Iranian singers of the 20th century, he was renowned for the quality of his voice. Biography Born in Tehran, Banān descend ...

, Iranian musician and singer, Qajar descendant on his maternal side.

Family tree

Mothers of Qajar Shahs

Notes

Citations

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * Gvosdev, Nikolas K.: ''Imperial policies and perspectives towards Georgia: 1760–1819'', Macmillan, Basingstoke 2000, * Lang, David M.: ''The last years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658–1832'', Columbia University Press, New York 1957 * * * * *

External links

The Qajar (Kadjar) Pages

The International Qajar Studies Association

Dar ol-Qajar

Qajar Family Website

Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran Digital Archive by Harvard University

Qajar Documentation Fund Collection
at the

International Institute of Social History International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

{{Authority control 1780s establishments in Iran 1785 establishments in Asia 1925 disestablishments in Iran * Middle Eastern dynasties Shia dynasties