Rise and Fall of Amir Kabir

First two years of Nasser Al-Din Shah's reign is filled with improvements in the country, thanks to Amir Kabir. He organized the financial system, cut the salaries of those courtians who did not deserve a salery, prepered a new tax system, wrote new guidelines for army divisions, and supported domestic economy. Amir encouraged local manufacturers, using the domestic products and banning the officials from using imported material. Amir appointed governors and commanders for the border areas that he knew would protect the country by their lives. He also established strong ties with Ottomans and other neighbors, but rejected any foreign influence from Britain. France, or Russia.

One of the greatest achievments of Amir Kabir was vaccination. He brought the vaccin for small pox and for paralization to the country and ordered all of the people to be vaccinated. This action reduced the death rate in dramatic amounts and was an start for the new health system in the country. He also sent students to the European countries to study medicine, engeneering, law, politics, and military sciences. These new educated class provided the back bone for the countries fundamental change in the next half decade.

Perhaps Amir's greatest work was the building of Dar ol Fonoon, the first modern university in Iran. Amir ordered the school to be built on the edge of the city so it can be expanded as needed. He hired French and Russian instructors as well as Iranians to teach subjects as different as Language, Medicine, Law, Georgraphy, History, Economics, and Engeneering. Unfortunatelly, Mir did not live long enough to see his greatest monument completed, but it still stands in Tehran as a sign of a great man's ideas for the future of his country.

Seeing all of Amir Kabir's achievements, as well as his programs to cut the unneccessary spendings, courtians decided to depose Amir Kabir. Headed by Mahd ol Olia, Shah's mother and Amir's mother-in-law, the courtians were mad at Amir for cuting their allowences. Mahd ol Olia hated Amir because he thought of her as a bad influence in her son's reign and did not allow her to take part in ruling the country. Mahd ol Olia found herself several strong allies, notabely Mirza Agha Khan Noori, a former official and a famous anglophil. Conspirators, mostly Mahd ol Olia and her brother, started taliking to the king about Amir's negative points and persuauded him that Amir is planning to depose him. Being busy with all of his works, Amir did not know a thing about what was cooking for him.

At last, Shah was persuaded of Amir's treachery and ordered his deposition and exile to Kashan. Completely shocked and without any defense, Amir took of for Kashan with his wife, Shah's sister Ezzat ol Saltane. Still not satisfied, the conspirators asked for his execution. Shah, still feeling guilty of his action, refused, but he was persuaded of that Amir is a threat to hsi throne. Finally, while Shah was half drunk, Mahd ol Olia got his signature for the dirties act of Iran's recent history. Amirza Ali Khan, the executioner, was sent to Kashan. He found Amir taking a bath, so he went in and presented the order, Amir bowed his head to Shah's order and asked the oppertunity to chose his own death method. Mirza Ali Khan accepted and then cut his wrist vain at his request. This was the end of Iran's greatest politician and reformer in the over two centuries.