Naser Al-Din Shah's Reign

Nasser Al-Din Mirza, heir to the throne of Mohammad Shah, was in Tabriz, seat of Azerbaijan province when he heard the news of his father's death. He was never a favourite of the old king, unlike his younger brother Abbas Mirza. Nasser Al-Din Mirza was a naive and unexperienced 19 year old with nothing in mind but girls and hunting, but this was no time for either of them.

Mirza Taghi Khan Amir Nezam, son of Mirza Abolghassem Ghaa-em Maghaam's cook, was the young prince's advisor and constable. He was a very briliant and sharp man, so clever that it is told that Mirza Abolghassem warned his sons from his future rise to power. Amir Nezam was a very patriotic person whose aim was to return Iran to its previous status as a major power, with prosperity and respect.

When Nasser Al-Din Mirza decided to go to the capital to claim his throne, Amir Nezam accumpanied him with his guards. Near Tehran, the supporters of Abbas Mirza, previous king's younger son, stopped the new king from entering the capital. Faced with a major problem at the very beginning of his reign, Nasser Al-Din was furious. Amir Nezam, being always a good commander, ordered the armies of Azerbaijan to join him in north of Tehran. He planned an attack on the city, but he only had minor fights around the city and sometimes near Qazvin or Qom. He was prepering for a major attack when he recived a message from the rebels offering peace. Apparently recognizing their opponents superior power and realizing the weaknesses of Abbas Mirza, they decided not to take the danger. Nasser Al-Din Mirza entered the city in a victorious way, being proud that his reign did not start with a blood shed. Amir Nezam, organizer of such a great stage that feared the rebels even before a real battle, was awarded the position of prime minister and the title of Amir Kabir, the Great Ruler.