A considerable actor in Iran's transition to modernization and constitationality: Mirza Malkum Khan (1833-1908)

Mirza Melkum Khan shown up during the Qajar Dynasty reign in Iran, after completing his education in France he came back his country and became an important figure in the way of modernization and constitutioalism of his country. Mirza Melkum Khan served in various grade of state as a statemen, as a result of the setting up the first telegraph system in Iran he lauded by Shah Nasiruddin who was Shah of Iran at that period of time. Via forge closer ties with Shah he found first mason lodge called "Feramuşhâne". His political adventure which started in internal affairs as an interpreter proceed in sequence with being ambassador of London and Rome. In Europe trip with Nasiruddin Shah since he accept bribe in return of concession for foreign companies he discarded by the Palace and Shah. He was seeing salvation of Iran in Western Civilization, for this reason Mirza Melkum Khan played a significant role in proclamation of the constitutionalism in Iran by explaining the terms such as improvement, Reform, Law, Equality, Brotherhood. In this thesis as a political figure during the reign of Qajar Dynasty Mirza Melkum Khan's life, his role in process of modernization and embracement of constitutionalism and socio-economic and political issues in latter half of the 19th century and in the begging of the 20th century in Iran have been discussed according to Mirza Melkum Khan's own works, domestic and international studies related to Iran's constitutionalism and Qajar Dynasty, political reminiscences of politicians and travelbooks. Unlike previous studies that related to Iran's modernization and process of constitutionalism Aim of this study is to expose the contribution of Mirza Melkum Khan in this progression. The study consists of six main sections, including introduction and conclusion sections. In the first chapter, the process of establishment and demolition of the Safavid Empire was first described. Later, the history of the dynasties which dominated Iran after the collapse of the Safavid Empire was briefly explained. In the third chapter, firstly, the political activities of Mirza Melkum Khan, then his official duties and his exile life in a period were evaluated. Afterwards, the role of Nasiruddin Shah of the Qajar dynasty in foreign concessions and his role in the Iranian constitutionalism has been explained in detail. In the fourth chapter, considering the works of Mirza Melkum Khan, his thoughts on political, social and economic fields were given; afterwards, his attempts about the alphabet for the reclamation of the alphabet which he saw as an obstacle to Iran's modernization were written in detail. This thesis study is mostly carried out by the literature review in Iran and the sources obtained from it. In this respect, the study was carried out after the examination of Melkum Han, especially the works written in Iran and some official documents. The study also opened new doors for comparison of the Ottoman and Persian Constitutionalism by telling Ottoman Second Constitutional Monarchy and Constitutional very recently occurred in Iran.