The Qajar Dynasty: Origins, Power, and Legacy in Iran (1796–1925)
The Qajar dynasty (also spelled Kadjar), was a royal family of Turkic origin that ruled Iran from 1796 to 1925, marking a pivotal era in Iranian history. The Qajars rose to power after the fall of the Zand dynasty, uniting a fractured nation and leading it through one of its most turbulent political and social transformations. The founder of the dynasty was Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, a ruthless but strategic ruler who played a critical role in re-establishing central authority across Iran. Though the Qajar dynasty began with conquest and consolidation, it was marked throughout its 130-year reign by internal corruption, foreign intervention, and growing calls for modernization and constitutional reform.
Tribal Roots and Early History
The Qajar family belonged to the Qajar tribe, one of the seven major Qizilbash tribes who were instrumental in the foundation and military success of the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century. The Qajars were Turkmen by origin and had migrated from Central Asia—most likely the area corresponding to today’s southern Turkmenistan—during the Mongol invasions that swept across Persia and the broader Islamic world in the 13th century.