Divine Glory and Russia and Britain Support of Iranian Kings

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abstract

Iranian long-lasting history from the beginning to Islamic revolution victory in 1979 formed around power and bout of Iranian kings. One of the most notable reasons of the continuity of this kind of government -monarchic-state- was a belief that the source of kings' power is "divine glory". Sovereignty of this political state-monarchic order was day to day becoming more powerful before the emerging of Islam in Iran. Although the situation faced some evolutions by the establishment of Baniommaye and Baniabbas caliphates, this assumption was accepted by ruling states of Iran was –with some differences- more or less accepted by political society of Iran till the emergence of Safavid state. During Safavid period by recognizing Shiism as the formal religion in Iran, this thought about power found a stronger and clearer structure. After Safavid downfall and following the elimination of royal divine right in Iran this assumption was put in question. The main question of present research is how and why this royal divine right and divine glory in Iran was deprived from Iranian kings since Second Tahmasb period. Is there any relationship between the presence of foreign forces-Russian and Ottoman states- and elimination of royal divine right in Iran? Since constitutionalism period people denied both divine right and support of foreigners and they found that the main origin of national power is the people themselves.

Keywords