Akbar Mash’uf

The great Iranian reformist, Mohammad Taghi Farahani, was born in the Hazaveh village of Farahan. His father, Karbalai Mohammad Qorban, was the chef of Mirza Eissa Qaem Maqam’s household and then in his son, Mirza AboulQassem’s household, he became the supervisor of the kitchen. Due to his special talent, Mohammad Taghi found his way from working in the back kitchen with his father to the classrooms of the noble children. Then he became a member of his secretariat. After a while he left to become a state accountant of Mohammad Khan Zanganeh Amir Nezam. Later he accompanied Khosrow Mirza to Russia to offer the apologies of Iranian government for the murder of Gribaidov.

His second visit to Russia with Amir Nezam and the mission was headed by Nasseraddin Mirza. His most important foreign visit was to Arzerum during the crisis in Iran Ottoman relationship.

Following the death of Mohammad Shah, Amir Kabir brought the young crown prince with exceptional know how from Tabriz to Tehran and became his premier and was entitled Atabak Azam and Amir Kabir and married princess Malekzadeh Khanum Ezzat-od-dowleh, the Shah’s sister. From his first wife whom he had divorced before premiership, he had a son called Ahmad Mirza, who was entitled Saed-ol-Molk and became the Minister of forces in Azerbaijan after his father’s death. His two daughters from Ezzattoddowleh taj-ol-Moluk and Hamdam-ol-Saltaneh married with Mozaffarddin Shah and Zil-os-Soltan respectively.

Amir managed to suppress Hassan Khan Salar’s riot. Though he believed in the religious tolerance, but he had to adopt a severe policy towards the Babis. During his three years office of premiership, he carried out many great socio- political, cultural, and military reforms. Among his achievements we may refer to the foundation of Dar-ol-fonun, print houses, publication of Vaqaye Ettefaqieh, the translation of European books, and the sending of students to Europe and establishment of many factories in different regions.

The reforms of Amir Kabir did not suite Mahd Olia, the Shah’s mother and Mirza Agha khan Nouri’s taste. So they planned to depose him. After a time of resistance, the Shah surrendered to their wishes and ordered for his removal and exile to Kashan. Later he signed his death sentence which was carried in the Fin bath of Kashan.