Mirza Mohammad Taqi Khan Farahani (Amir Kabir), one of the statesmen of the Qajar dynasty, and his reforms (1807-1852)

Mirza Taki Khan, known as Amir Kabir in Persian literature, was one of the prominent statesmen during the Qajar Dynasty period. Scholars propose various dates for his birth. Prior to his appointment as Grand Vizier, he served in various governmental positions. Having held different roles in the administration, Mirza Taki Khan was appointed as Grand Vizier by Naser al-Din Shah due to his influential role in the Shah's ascension to the throne. During his tenure as Grand Vizier (1848-1851), Mirza Taki Khan initiated modernization movements in various fields, contributing significantly to Iran's modernization process. Amir Kabir implemented two important reforms in the cultural domain. The first was the establishment of the Dar al-Funun school. Dar al-Funun, one of the most influential institutions in modern Iranian history, was inaugurated on December 29, 1851, after Amir Kabir's dismissal from the position of Grand Vizier. Although this educational institution was initially established to train expert personnel in administrative and military fields, it later expanded to teach various scientific disciplines. Regarding the school's name, sources suggest terms such as "Madrasah," "Madrasah-i Jadid," "Madrasah-i Nizamiyya," and "Talimkhane." However, it has been determined that "Maktabkhane-i Shahi" was widely used, inspired by the Mekteb-i Sultani in Istanbul. Indeed, the term "Maktabkhane-i Shahi" was used in the contract with Austrian teachers hired to teach at the school. Despite recruiting educators from Austria and Germany, the language of instruction was French. The second reform was the publication of the Ruzname-i Vakayi-i Ittifakiyye newspaper, which began circulation in the fourth year of Naser al-Din Shah's reign. This newspaper serves as an important source for the first decade of Naser al-Din Shah's rule. In the field of healthcare, Amir Kabir's reform was the vaccination campaign against smallpox. Although this practice had been individually implemented by some Qajar princes for royal family members and the public since the early Qajar period, it was actively pursued during Amir Kabir's tenure as Grand Vizier. The power Amir Kabir gained and the reforms he implemented disturbed his political rivals (such as Mirza Agha Khan Nuri), dynasty members (Mahd-i Ulya Malek Jahan Khanum), and foreign powers like Britain and Russia, as they conflicted with their interests. This led to the formation of an alliance against Amir Kabir, resulting in his dismissal from the position of Grand Vizier, his subsequent exile, and shortly thereafter, his execution. This study aims to explore the life of Mirza Taki Khan, one of the significant statesmen of the Qajar Dynasty period, and the reforms he implemented. Key Words: The Qajar Family,Amir Kabir,Reforms,Mahd-e Olia Malek Jahan Khanom, grand viziership.