抄録
The purpose of this article is to examine the relations between the early Qajars and Tehran, their capital.
The development of Tehran undeniably began in the late eighteenth century, when the city was established as the capital under the Qajars. However, the relations between the early Qajars and the city have never been discussed completely. In addition, even the exact dates of the establishment of Tehran as the capital and the beginning of the Qajar rule over Iran have never been correctly mentioned in previous studies. On the other hand, some researchers claim, in the absence of substantial evidence, that since the Qajars originally belonged to Turkish tribal groups, they did not have much interest in urban areas.
The main points regarding the relations between the early Qajars and Tehran are as follows:
1. Aqa Mohammad Shah chose Tehran as his capital in the spring of 1785, when he entered the city. He brought with him artisans and builders from Esfahan to build his palace. He also brought his family from Mazandaran to Tehran. He was crowned in the spring of 1796 in Tehran, and started issuing his royal decrees after the Safavid form, which means he was enthroned as legitimate ruler of Iran.
2. It is true that the early Qajar court indulged in seasonal travels, mainly staying in Tehran during winter. However, unlike the Mongols, they spent two-thirds of the year in the capital. They always stayed in Tehran for the important occasion of Nowruz —the Iranian new year—and celebrated it by holding a ceremony. Only twice in forty-eight years did they hold this ceremony in other places. The ceremony was based on the legend of Jamshid, the legendary Iranian king. The Qajars initiated this custom and were succeeded by the Pahlavis.
