Part of a series on the
History of Iran
Ancient period
BC
Prehistory of Iran Ancient Times–4000
Kura–Araxes culture 3400–2000
Proto-Elamite 3200–2700
Jiroft culture c. 3100–2200
Lullubi Kingdom/Zamua c. 3100-675
Elam 2700–539
Marhaši c. 2550-2020
Oxus Civilization c. 2400–1700
Akkadian Empire 2400–2150
Kassites c. 1500 –1155
Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609
Urartu 860–590
Mannaea 850–616
Zikirti 750-521
Saparda 720-670
Imperial period
Median Empire 678–550 BC
Scythian Kingdom 652–625 BC
Anshanite Kingdom 635 BC–550 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 BC–539 BC
Sogdia c. 6th century BC–11th century AD
Achaemenid Empire 550 BC–330 BC
Kingdom of Armenia 331 BC–428 AD
Atropatene c. 323 BC–226 AD
Kingdom of Cappadocia 320s BC–17 AD
Seleucid Empire 312 BC–63 BC
Kingdom of Pontus 281 BC–62 BC
Fratarakas 3rd-century BC–132 BC
Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD
Elymais 147 BC–224 AD
Characene 141 BC–222 AD
Kings of Persis 132 BC–224 AD
Indo-Parthian Kingdom 19 AD–224/5
Paratarajas 125–300
Sasanian Empire 224–651
Zarmihrids 6th century–785
Qarinvandids 550s–11th century
Medieval period
Rashidun Caliphate 632-661
Umayyad Caliphate 661–750
Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258
Dabuyids 642–760
Bavandids 651–1349
Masmughans of Damavand 651–760
Baduspanids 665–1598
Justanids 791 – 11th century
Alid dynasties 864 – 14th century
Tahirid dynasty 821–873
Samanid Empire 819–999
Saffarid dynasty 861–1003
Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1215
Sajid dynasty 889–929
Sallarid dynasty 919–1062
Ziyarid dynasty 930–1090
Ilyasids 932–968
Buyid dynasty 934–1062
Rawadid dynasty 955–1070
Hasanwayhids 959–1095
Ghaznavid dynasty 977–1186
Annazids 990/1–1117
Kakuyids 1008–1141
Nasrid dynasty 1029–1236
Shabankara 1030–1355
Seljuk Empire 1037–1194
Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231
Eldiguzids 1135–1225
Atabegs of Yazd 1141–1319
Salghurids 1148–1282
Hazaraspids 1155–1424
Pishkinid dynasty 1155–1231
Khorshidi dynasty 1184-1597
Qutlugh-Khanids 1223-1306
Mihrabanids 1236–1537
Kurt dynasty 1244–1396
Ilkhanate Empire 1256–1335
Chobanid dynasty 1335–1357
Muzaffarid dynasty 1335–1393
Jalayirid Sultanate 1337–1376
Sarbadars 1337–1376
Injuids 1335–1357
Afrasiyab dynasty 1349–1504
Mar'ashis 1359–1596
Timurid Empire 1370–1507
Kar-Kiya dynasty 1370s–1592
Qara Qoyunlu 1406–1468
Aq Qoyunlu 1468–1508
Early modern period
Safavid Iran 1501–1736
(Hotak dynasty) 1722–1729
Afsharid Iran 1736–1796
Zand dynasty 1751–1794
Modern period
Qajar Iran 1789–1925
Pahlavi Iran 1925–1979
Contemporary period
Iranian Revolution 1979
Interim Government 1979
Islamic Republic 1979–present
Related articles
Timeline
flag Iran portal

This article lists the heads of state of Iran since the establishment of the modern Iranian nation-state[1] in 1501 AD.

Heads of State of Iran

The Expansive Realm of Iran (1501–1736)[edit]

Safavid dynasty[edit]

No. Name Birth–Death Reign start Reign end Dynasty
Shah of Persia
1 Shah Ismail I 1487–1524 July 1501[a] 23 May 1524 Safavid
.
2 Shah Tahmasp I 1514–1576 23 May 1524 14 May 1576 Safavid
Regency:
3 Shah Ismail II 1537–1577 23 May 1576 24 November 1577 Safavid
.
4 Shah Mohammad Khodabanda 1532–1595/96 11 February 1578 1 October 1588 Safavid
.
5 Shah Abbas I 1571–1629 1 October 1588 19 January 1629 Safavid
.
6 Shah Safi 1611–1642 28 January 1629 12 May 1642 Safavid
.
7 Shah Abbas II 1632–1666 12 May 1642 25 September 1666 Safavid
.
8 Shah Suleiman I 1648–1694 1 November 1666 29 July 1694 Safavid
.
9 Shah Sultan Husayn 1668–1726 6 August 1694 23 October 1722  Surrendered Safavid
.

Ghilji rebellion[edit]

10 Mahmud Shah 1699–1725 23 October 1722 25 April 1725 Hotak
.
11 Ashraf Shah 1700–1730 26 April 1725 13 November 1729 Hotak
.

Safavid restoration[edit]

12 Shah Tahmasp II 1704–1740 10 November 1722 2 September 1732 Safavid
He was crowned on 9 December 1729 after liberation of the Safavid Capital.
Reigned at exile:
13 Shah Abbas III 1732–1740 2 September 1732 8 March 1736 Safavid
Regency:

Realm of Iran (1736–1796)[edit]

Afsharid dynasty[edit]

14 Nader Shah 1688–1747 8 March 1736 20 June 1747 Afsharid
.
15 Adil Shah 1719–1749 6 July 1747 29 September 1748 Afsharid
.
16 Ebrahim Shah 1724–1749 29 September 1748 May 1749 Afsharid
.
17 Shahrokh Shah 1734–1796 May 1749 30 December 1749 Afsharid
Proclaimed as Shah at 30 September 1748 and one day later crowned at Mashhad.

Second Safavid restoration[edit]

18 Suleiman II 1714–1763 13 January 1750 20 March 1750 Safavid
Proclaimed after deposing and blinding of Shahrokh Shah and crowned at 14 January 1750.
19 Ismail III 1733–1773 29 June 1750 1773 Safavid
He was a Puppet ruler who raised to the throne by Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari and Karim Khan Zand as a front to legitimize their rule.[7]
Regency:

Afsharid restoration[edit]

(17) Shahrokh Shah 1734–1796 9 May 1755 14 May 1796 Afsharid
.

Zand dynasty[edit]

Wakil-al Raʿāyā
20 Karim Khan 1705–1779 1773 1 March 1779 Zand
.
21 Abol-Fath Khan 1755–1787 6 March 1779 May/June 1779 Zand
He and his younger brother Mohammad Ali Khan were Co-rulers.
22 Mohammad Ali Khan 1760–1779 6 March 1779 19 June 1779 Zand
He and his elder brother Abol-Fath Khan were Co-rulers until May/June 1779.
(21) Abol-Fath Khan 1755–1787 19 June 1779 22 August 1779 Zand
.
23 Sadeq Khan ?–1781 22 August 1779 14 March 1781 Zand
.
24 Ali-Morad Khan c. 1720–1785 15 March 1781 11 February 1785 Zand
.
– Bagher Shah ?–1786 12 February 1785 17 February 1785  Surrendered —
After the death of Ali-Morad Khan, Bagher Khan Khorasgani Governor of Isfahan proclaimed himself as Shah and mentioned himself in the Khutbah and on coins. He was defeated from the corps of Jafar Khan.[9]
25 Jafar Khan ?–1789 18 February 1785 23 January 1789 Zand
.
26 Seyd Morad Khan ?–1789 23 January 1789 10 May 1789 Zand
.
27 Lotf Ali Khan c. 1769–1794 10 May 1789 20 March 1794 Zand
.
Shah of Iran
(27) Lotf Ali Shah c. 1769–1794 21 March 1794 30 October 1794 Zand
.

Sublime State of Persia (1796–1925)[edit]

28 Agha Mohammad Shah 1742–1797 14 May 1796 17 June 1797 Qajar
Agha Mohammad decided to move his capital to the small town of Tehran on 1786.[10] He was formally crowned as Shah during spring 1796 at the Mugan plain, on his return after the conquest of Tbilisi.[11][12]
29 Fath-Ali Shah 1772–1834 17 June 1797 23 October 1834 Qajar
.
30 Mohammad Shah 1808–1848 9 November 1834 5 September 1848 Qajar
.
31 Naser al-Din Shah 1831–1896 13 September 1848 1 May 1896 Qajar
Queen-mother Mahd-e Olia: 5 September 1848 – 1 October 1848.
32 Mozaffar ad-Din Shah 1853–1907 2 May 1896 8 January 1907 Qajar
.
33 Mohammad Ali Shah 1872–1925 8 January 1907 16 July 1909  Surrendered Qajar
.
34 Ahmad Shah 1898–1930 16 July 1909 31 October 1925 Qajar
Reigned in exile: from 2 December 1923
Regency:

Imperial State of Iran (1925–1979)[edit]

No. Name Birth–Death Took office Left office Political Affiliation
Provisional Head of State
35 Reza Khan 1878–1944 31 October 1925 15 December 1925 Military
.
No. Name Birth–Death Took office Left office Dynasty
Shah of Iran
(35) Reza Shah 1878–1944 15 December 1925 16 September 1941  Surrendered Pahlavi
.
36 Mohammad Reza Shah 1919–1980 16 September 1941 11 February 1979 Pahlavi
Reigned in exile:
No. Name Birth–Death Took office Left office Political Affiliation

Islamic Republic of Iran (1979–present)[edit]

Leader of the Revolution
37 Ruhollah Khomeini 1900-1989 5 February 1979 3 December 1979 Independent
.
Supreme Leader of Iran
(37) Ruhollah Khomeini 1900-1989 3 December 1979 3 June 1989 Independent
.
38 Ali Khamenei 1939–present 4 June 1989 Incumbent Independent[b]
.

Graphical timeline of overlaps

│
1722
│
1727
│
1732
│
1737
│
1742
│
1747
│
1752
│
1757
│
1762
│
1767
│
1772
│
1777
│
1782
│
1787
│
1792
│
1797
│
1802
Timeline of heads of state of Iran during 75 years of unstable governments (Siege of Isfahan (1722) to Persian Expedition of 1796)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Is equivalent to Muharram 907 AH.
  2. ^ Resigned from Combatant Clergy Association after selection as Supreme Leader.[15]

References

  1. ^ Mikaberidze 2011, p. 432.
  2. ^ a b c Potts 2014, p. 230: "During the first nine years of his reign Shah Tahmasp was advised, in succession, by a Rumlu regent (Div Sultan Rumlu); a Triumvirate including a Takkalu (Chuha Soltan Takkalu) and an Ustajlu (Köpek Sultan Ustajlu) chief; a Takkalu (Chuha Sultan) who distributed land widely to members of his own tribe during his four years in office and was ruler of Iran in all but name; and a Shamlu (Husayn Khan Shamlu) who held his post for three years before being put to death in 1533 in alleged complicity with the Ottoman regime."
  3. ^ Mitchell 2009: "Ṭahmāsp's puppet status continued with his accession to the throne on 23 May 1524, and the self-appointed status of Div Solṭān Rumlu as the Shah's Vicegerent and the Empire's De facto ruler.."
  4. ^ Savory 1995: "Dīv Solṭān, by virtue of a testamentory disposition of the late Shah, retained the office of Amīr al-Omarā and was made Atābeg (Guardian) of the young prince Ṭahmāsb, who succeeded his father at the age of ten and a half. Dīv Solṭān thus became the De facto ruler of the state... After a period of negotiation, a Triumvirate was formed consisting of Dīv Solṭān Rūmlū, Čūha Solṭān Takkalū, and Kopek Ostājlū, but civil war broke out between rival Qezelbāš factions in 932 AH / 1526 AD. Kopek Solṭān was killed in 933 AH / 1526 or 1527 AD, and Čūha Solṭān succeeded in persuading Shah Ṭahmāsb that Dīv Solṭān was the cause of the discord."
  5. ^ Savory 2004: "Ḥosayn Khan, however, did not draw the obvious conclusions from the fate of Čuha Sultan, but proceeded to repeat the latter's mistakes, appointing members of the Šāmlu tribe to provincial governorships and fatally underestimating the Shah's new determination to rule De facto as well as De jure."
  6. ^ Savory 1982: "After the deposition of his father by Nāder Khan Afšār in Rabīʿ I 1145 AH / August 1732 AD, the eight-month-old Abbas was invested as ʿAbbās III on 7 September 1732. Nader Khan, who was the real ruler of the country, dropped his own now obviously inappropriate style of Ṭahmāsp-qolī Khan and assumed the titles of Vakīl-Al-dawla (Deputy of the state) and Nāʾeb-al-salṭana (Viceroy)."
  7. ^ a b Perry 1998.
  8. ^ Perry 1991, pp. 68: "The early months of 1751 thus mark the beginning of Karim Khan's rule as Viceroy of the nominal King Ismaʿil III, a position to be hotly disputed for twelve more years but never wrested from him."
  9. ^ Bamdad 2005, p. 177.
  10. ^ Gharipour 2012, p. 204.
  11. ^ Axworthy 2008, p. 192.
  12. ^ Hambly 1963, p. 169.
  13. ^ Mahbubi Ardakani 1988: "After the deposition of Mohammad Ali Shah on 16 July 1909, a regent had to be appointed because Ahmad Shah was a Minor. The choice fell on ʿAżod-al-molk. As a senior dignitary and the chief of the Qajar tribe, he enjoyed the respect of the constitutionalists and was in good relationship with the olamā. He served as regent for one year and three months until his death."
  14. ^ Bakhash 2015: "Citing the disordered state of affairs in Iran, the divisions in parliament, the lack of parliamentary unanimity over his own election, he left France for Iran only in December, arriving home two months later. He did not take the Oath of office until March 1911."
  15. ^ "جامعه روحانيت مبارز جوان مي‌شود" [Combatant Clergy Association gets younger] (in Persian). Fararu. 8 July 2012. 118101. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.

Bibliography

External links

Iran topics
Heads of state and government of Asia
Categories