25 Facts About Abbas Mirza

Abbas Mirza was the Qajar crown prince of Iran during the reign of his father Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.

Abbas Mirza is recognized for leading Iran's first reform and modernization attempts with the help of his ministers Mirza Bozorg Qa'em-Maqam and Abol-Qasem Qa'em-Maqam.

Under continuous medical care by both Western and Iranian physicians, Abbas Mirza ultimately died of illness on 25 October 1833 in Mashhad.

Abbas Mirza was the fourth son of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, the second Qajar shah of Iran and part of the Qovanlu branch of the Qajar tribe.

Abbas Mirza's mother was Asiya Khanom Devellu, a daughter of Fath-Ali Khan Davalu and part of the Davalu branch of the Qajars.

Fath-Ali Shah's eldest son, Mohammad-Ali Abbas Mirza Dowlatshah, whose mother was a Georgian concubine, was excluded from the succession due to this obsession with settling tribal disputes amongst the Qajars.

Abbas Mirza was given Soleyman Khan Qajar and Mirza Bozorg Qa'em-Maqam as his adjutants.

Hossein Ali Abbas Mirza was given the governorship of Fars and the Persian Gulf provinces, where he preserved autonomy.

Since Abbas Mirza was only fifteen at the time, his leadership would have been more symbolic than actual, yet he nonetheless actively took part in the war and displayed bravery as a military commander.

Fath-Ali Shah assigned experienced tutors and commanders to assist Abbas Mirza, which included figures such as Mirza Bozorg, Soleyman Khan, Ali Qoli Khan Shahsevan, Ali Qoli Khan Sartip Qajar, Pir Qoli Khan Qajar, Sadeq Khan Qajar, and Mehdi Qoli Khan Qajar.

Abbas Mirza's aid was eagerly solicited by both England and Napoleon, anxious to checkmate one another in the East, especially as Persia bordered a common rival, namely Imperial Russia.

Alexander Mikaberidze notes, Abbas Mirza led the army in an overall disastrous campaign against the Russians, suffering defeats at Gyumri, Kalagiri, the Zagam River, Karakapet, Karababa, Ganja, Meghri, the Aras River, and Akhalkalaki.

The Russians were encamped on the opposite bank of River Aras when his two British advisers, Capt Christie and Lt Pottinger, told him to post sentry pickets in short order, but Abbas Mirza ignored the warnings.

Christie and other British officers tried to rally an army retreating in panic; for days the Russians launched fierce assaults, but at last Christie fell, and Abbas Mirza ordered a full retreat.

Complacency cost 10,000 Persian lives; Abbas Mirza believing wrongly in the weight of superior numbers.

The only promise the Shah received in return was a lukewarm guarantee that Abbas Mirza would succeed to his throne, without let or hindrance.

Abbas Mirza first opted for a diplomatic solution to the problems, and the British supported him in this decision.

The Iranians and Ottomans were unable to find a solution, and following the eruption of the Greek war of independence against the Ottomans in 1821, Abbas Mirza offered Russia that they make a joint assault on the Ottoman Empire.

Abbas Mirza's offer was declined by Russia, who nevertheless encouraged Iran to attack the Ottomans, even offering them financial help.

On May 1822 at Khoy, Abbas Mirza successfully defeated the Ottoman counterattack, but by this point, cholera had spread throughout his force, leading him to sue for peace.

Under continuous medical care by both Western and Iranian physicians, Abbas Mirza ultimately died of illness on 25 October 1833 in Mashhad.

Abbas Mirza wore a Mongolian mail coat from the royal treasures when he went to battle in 1804; this was likely done partially for symbolical purposes.

Abbas Mirza first employed Russian prisoners of war and deserters who provided practical instruction.

Abbas Mirza was familiar with Iranian historians' writings, the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi being his favorite book.

Abbas Mirza is recognized for leading Iran's first reform and modernization attempts with the help of his ministers Mirza Bozorg and Abol-Qasem Qa'em-Maqam.