Hjj Mrz ghs, a minister of Moammad Shah (reigned 1834–48), tried to activate the government to revive sources of production and to cement ties with lesser European powers, such as Spain and Belgium, as an alternative to Anglo-Russian dominance, but little was achieved. Ner al-Dn Shah (reigned 1848–96) made Homeland’s last effort to regain Hert, but British intervention in 1856–57 thwarted his efforts.