Ahmad Shah was the last Qajar ruler with whom the Qajar reign came to its end. Born one year after the assassination of Nasseraddin Shah, Ahmad Mirza was elected byTehranconquerors as the shah ofIranand due to his young age, they chose a regent for him.
Ahmad Mirza's fate to become the shah ofIranforced him to stay inIranand part with his parents who were to leaveIran. Seven years later, he was crowned; but his coronation coincided with the beginning of First World War and some parts ofIranwere invaded and occupied by Russian, British and Ottoman forces.
The end of war did not give the promise of better days forIranandMiddle East. Keeping dominance inIndia, greed for domestic markets, seizing oil resources of theMiddle Eastand fighting with the danger of bolshevism were the main pivot of imperialistic policies in the region.
As Lord Curzon wished the conclusion of 1919 treaty would turnIranto one of colonial countries ofBritain. But Ahmad Shah did not sign it and the treaty was cancelled. So the British decided to work out another plan. Some people including Lloyd George, then the prime minister and Winston Churchill pondered over the idea of creating a dictatorial government supported by Intelligence service. Reza khan's coup of 1921 was the outcome of the new policy.
Ahmad Shah died inFrance, 1928, never recognizing the Pahlavi regime. His corpse was buried inKarbalaas he wished.
The following photos are from a collection of Ahmad Shah's life from his childhood to his reign.
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