Reza Shah Pahlavi was an Iranian military officer and the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. As a politician, he previously served as minister of war and prime minister of Qajar Iran and subsequently reigned as Shah of Pahlavi Iran from 1925 until he was forced to abdicate after the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Mohammad Reza Shah. A modernizer, Reza Shah clashed with the Shia clergy, but also introduced many social, economic, and political reforms during his reign, ultimately laying the foundation of the modern Iranian State. Therefore, he is regarded by many as the founder of modern Iran.
Reza Shah in uniform, c. 1931
Museum of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the house where he was born, Savadkuh, Mazandaran
Reza Pahlavi behind a machine gun
Reza Pahlavi portrait during his time as war minister
The Pahlavi dynasty is an Iranian royal dynasty that ruled for almost 54 years between 1925 and 1979. The dynasty was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a non-aristocratic Mazanderani soldier in modern times, who took on the name of the Pahlavi language spoken in the pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire to strengthen his nationalist credentials.
Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi, the heir presumptive until his death in 1954
Image: Reza Shah portrait
Image: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 1
Image: Shahanshah Aryamehr 2
