The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal
dynasty of Turkmen tribal origin,
specifically from the Qajar tribe, which
ruled then Persia, nowadays Islamic
Republic of Iran, from 1785 to 1925.
The state ruled by the Qajar dynasty
was officially known as the Sublime
State of Iran. Although the Qajar family
took full control of Iran in 1794 and re-
asserted Iranian sovereignty over large
parts of the Caucasus, they
permanently lost many of Iran's integral
areas to the Russia over the course of
the 19th century, comprising modern-
day Georgia, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia. The occupation of Iran during
World War I (1914- 18) by Russian,
British, and Ottoman troops was a blow
from which the Qajar dynasty never
effectively recovered. With a coup d'état
in February 1921, Reza Khan who
afterwards ruled as Reza Shah Pahlavi
(1925-41) became the preeminent
political personality in Iran and the last
Qajar sovereign was formally deposed
in October 1925 while he was absent in
Europe, while the National Iranian
Assembly declared the rule of the Qajar
dynasty to be terminated.
The wooden scabbard is covered by
black donkey-skin, embossed overall
with arabesques and sewn down the
back edge with gilt wire.
The hilt is decorated by a male standing
figure on both sides, between
decorative elements and a short Islamic
inscription.
The blade has been skilfully incised by
the stylised scene of a feline while
attacking a deer.
- (CB.221)
|
