In this essay, we will explore the Travelogue of Mazandaran and its historical significance, situating it within the context of Reza Shah’s life. We will examine his early years in Savadkuh, his military career in the Cossack Brigade, his rise to political prominence through the 1921 coup, his coronation and reign, his policies, and his ultimate abdication. By weaving together these elements, we aim to understand how the humble origins of Reza Shah in Mazandaran and his conscious cultivation of this narrative shaped both his personal identity and his broader political project.
The Travelogue of Mazandaran: Homeland as Narrative
The Travelogue of Mazandaran is one of the few surviving manuscripts directly attributed to Reza Shah. The first edition was published in 1926 (1305 solar calendar) with Reza Shah’s authorization, shortly after his accession to the throne. A second edition was issued in 1976 by the Pahlavi Political Culture Research and Publication Center in Tehran, under the reign of his son Mohammad Reza Shah.
In the text, Reza Shah traces his paternal and ancestral origins to Savadkuh in Mazandaran, a mountainous region south of the Caspian Sea. He refers to the area as “the peak of the mountain,” “the house,” and “his homeland.” He identifies the tombs of his ancestors there, situating himself in a line of Mazandarani fighters and peasants who had served in the Iranian army.
