Public and State Approaches to Safavid Exemption Decrees in the Qajar Period (Case Study: Naser al-Din Shah's Era and Exemption Inscriptions)
محورهای موضوعی : Archaeology
Bahar Movaghegh
1
,
Ghobad Mansourbakht
2
,
Sina Forozesh
3
1 - Department of History and Archaeology, SR.C. Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Faculty of Literature and Human Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of History and Archaeology, SR.C Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
کلید واژه: Stone Inscriptions, Royal Decrees, Tax Exemption and Reduction, Safavid Dynasty, Qajar Dynasty,
چکیده مقاله :
Safavid and Qajar rulers, following an enduring tradition, inscribed royal decrees on stone monuments concerning issues such as tax exemptions and reductions. These inscriptions served to preserve the king’s direct voice as an authoritative document, aiming to safeguard a just fiscal system, prevent corruption among officials, avert potential uprisings caused by rising taxation, and reinforce the image of a legitimate and benevolent monarchy opposed to innovation and injustice. This study examines the extent to which Safavid decrees retained their authority and effectiveness during the reign of Nāṣer al-Dīn Shāh Qajar, particularly in the context of the interaction between the state and society. The research is based on primary documents and sources, applying a historical-comparative method and content analysis. The findings reveal that Safavid decrees on exemptions and tax reductions, though inscribed as “perpetual,” did not remain effective in practice. With the dynastic shift, and despite the people’s efforts to preserve documents and demand their enforcement, these decrees rarely yielded favorable outcomes, except in cases where the Qajar state itself benefited from their implementation.
Safavid and Qajar rulers, following an enduring tradition, inscribed royal decrees on stone monuments concerning issues such as tax exemptions and reductions. These inscriptions served to preserve the king’s direct voice as an authoritative document, aiming to safeguard a just fiscal system, prevent corruption among officials, avert potential uprisings caused by rising taxation, and reinforce the image of a legitimate and benevolent monarchy opposed to innovation and injustice. This study examines the extent to which Safavid decrees retained their authority and effectiveness during the reign of Nāṣer al-Dīn Shāh Qajar, particularly in the context of the interaction between the state and society. The research is based on primary documents and sources, applying a historical-comparative method and content analysis. The findings reveal that Safavid decrees on exemptions and tax reductions, though inscribed as “perpetual,” did not remain effective in practice. With the dynastic shift, and despite the people’s efforts to preserve documents and demand their enforcement, these decrees rarely yielded favorable outcomes, except in cases where the Qajar state itself benefited from their implementation.
Ādamiyat, F., & Nātegh, H. (1987). Unpublished works of the Qajar period. Tehran: Agah.
Afshar, I. (2010). Savad va Bayaz: Collected articles (Vol. 2). Tehran: Asatir (in Persian).
Afshar, I. (1995). Yazd relics: Introducing historical buildings and archaeological sites (Vol. 2). Tehran: Association of Cultural Heritage and National Monuments (in Persian).
Afshar, I. (2005). Golgasht's travelogue in the homeland. Tehran: Akhtaran (in Persian).
Afshar Sistani, I. (2014). Culture of the cities and provinces of Iran. Tehran: Organization for Printing and Publishing; Endowments and Charity Affairs Organization (in Persian).
Afzal al-Mulk. (n.d.). Travelogue of Khorasan and Kerman (Ghodratollah Roshani, Ed.). Tehran: Toos (in Persian).
Bamdad, M. (1992). Biography of Iran’s figures in the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries (Vol. 1). Tehran: Zavar (in Persian).
Bastani Parizi, M. E. (1983). Politics and economy in the Safavid era. Tehran: Safi Ali Shah (in Persian).
Chardin, J. (1993). Chardin’s travelogue (Vols. 3 & 4) (Eghbal Yaghmaei, Trans.). Tehran: Toos (in Persian).
Eshraghi, F. (2003). Golpayegan in the mirror of history. Isfahan: Chaharbagh (in Persian).
Faramarzi, M., Nami, H., & Masjedi Khak, P. (2021). Investigating Iran’s northeast governmental inscription in the Safavid Period by Focusing on Political and Social Issues, (Case study: Neishabur, Sabzevar, Torbate-Jam and Mashhad). Journal of Greater Khorasan, 11(41), 35–56. https://doi.org/10.22034/jgk.2021.137978 (in Persian).
Ghazi al-Qumi, Ahmad ibn Sharaf al-Din al-Husayn al-Husseini. (2004). Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh (Vol. 2) (Ehsan Eshraqi, Ed.). Tehran: University of Tehran (in Persian).
Golzāri, M. (1978). Kermanshahan-Kurdistan: Including historical buildings and monuments of Asadabad, Kangavar, and Sahneh. Tehran: Society of National Monuments (in Persian).
Hedayat, Reza Qoli Khan. (2001). Tarikh-i rawzat al-safa-yi Nasiri (Jamshid Kianfar, Ed.). Tehran: Asātir (in Persian).
Honarfar, L. (1965). Treasury of historical monuments of Isfahan: Archaeological relics and inscriptions in Isfahan province. Isfahan: Ketābforoushi-ye Saqafi (in Persian).
Ibn Hawqal, A. (1987). The travelogue of Ibn Hawqal (Iran in Surat al-Ard) (Jafar Shaar, Trans.). Tehran: Amir Kabir (in Persian).
Islam Panah, M. H. (2013). Inscriptions and stone carvings of Kerman. Tehran: Bonyād-e Mowghofāt-e Doktor Afshār (in Persian).
Iʻtimād al-Salṭanah, Muḥammad Ḥasan Khān. (1983). Kitāb-i Maṭlaʻ al-shams: The history of sacred land and famous places of Khorasan (Vol. 3) (Mohammad Peyman, Preface). Tehran: Pishgām Publications (in Persian).
Iʻtimād al-Salṭanah, Muḥammad Ḥasan Khān. (1988a). Meraat al-Boldan (Vols. 1 & 3) (Abdolhossein Nava’i & Mir Hashem Mohaddes, Eds.). Tehran: University of Tehran (in Persian).
Iʻtimād al-Salṭanah, Muḥammad Ḥasan Khān. (1988b). Tarikh-i muntazam-i Nasiri (Vol. 3) (Mohammad Esmaeil Rezvani, Ed.). Tehran: Donyā-ye Ketāb (in Persian).
Iʻtimād al-Salṭanah, Muḥammad Ḥasan Khān. (2000). Daily memoirs of Iʻtimād al-Salṭanah. Tehran: Amir Kabir (in Persian).
Iʿtiṣām al-Mulk, Khānlar Khān (1972). Travelogue of Khanlar Khan Etesam-al-Molk (Manouchehr Mahmoudi, Ed.). Tehran: Manouchehr Mahmoudi (in Persian).
I‘tizad al-Saltanah, Ali Qoli Mirza. (1991). Eksir al-tavarikh [The elixir of histories] (Edited by Jamshid Kianfar). Tehran: Veysman (in Persian).
Jahanpour, F. (1969). Documents of the Safavid period. Majalleh Barrasi-ha-ye Tarikhi, 4(4), 235 (in Persian).
Karang, A. (1995). Archaeological sites of Azerbaijan: Historical monuments and buildings of Tabriz County. Tehran: Society of National Monuments and Cultural Heritage; Rāsti-e No (in Persian).
Karimian, H., & Bidgoli, M. S. (2008). Social and economic issues of Iranian cities during the Safavid era based on royal inscriptions carved in stone: Case study: Isfahan, Yazd, and Kashan. Farhang, 68, 183–255 (in Persian).
Khademlou S. (2021). A Comparative Study of Some Inscriptions of Shah Abbas I's Edicts on Tax Discounts for Shiites. Cultural Heritage Records Studies, 4(2), 10-33. http://chrs.richt.ir/article-3-1338-en.html (in Persian).
Mardukh Kordestani, M. (n.d.). History of Mardukh (Vol. 2). Tehran: Army Printing House (in Persian).
Ma’toufi, A. (2008). Tombstones and historical inscriptions of Gorgan and Astrabad: A study on funerary architecture and burial practices in Iran and Gorgan. Tehran: Horofiyeh (in Persian).
Mir Mohammad Sadegh, S. (2008). Treasury of Baharestan (Collection of 9 Treatises on the History of the Qajar Period). Tehran: Library, Museum, and Documentation Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (in Persian).
Mar’ashi Safavi, Mirza Mohammad Khalil (1983). Mojmal al-Tawarikh (Abbas Eghbal Ashtiani, Ed.). Tehran: Tahouri and Sanāi (in Persian).
Molavi, A. (2003). Historical monuments of Khorasan Molavi: Including historical monuments and buildings of Jam, Neyshabur, and Sabzevar. Tehran: Society of National Monuments and Cultural Heritage (in Persian).
Mufakhkham Pāyān, L. et al. (1960). Culture of Iranian settlements, including names and geographic locations of cities and villages of the country. Tehran: Amir Kabir (in Persian).
NLAI (National Library and Archives of Iran). (11396/240 & 8104/296) (in Persian).
Naraqi, H. (2003). Historical monuments of Kashan and Natanz counties. Tehran: Society of National Monuments and Cultural Heritage (in Persian).
Nāṣer al-Dīn Shāh. (1984). Second travelogue of Khorasan. Tehran: Kāvosh, Gheseh va Navār Shab Tāb (in Persian).
Nategh, H. (2010). We reap what we sow: The misfortune of plague and the calamities of governance. Tehran: Negārestān Ketāb (in Persian).
Nava’i, A. (Ed.). (1981). Political documents and correspondences of Iran: From 1038 to 1105 AH. Tehran: Iran Farhang Foundation (in Persian).
Nezam al-Saltaneh Mafi, Hossein Qoli. (1983). Memoirs and documents of Hossein Qoli Khan Nezam Mafi (Mansoureh Ettehadieh [Nezam Mafi], Sirous Saadvandian, Hamid Ram Pisheh, Eds.). Tehran: Nashr-e Tārikh-e Iran (in Persian).
Nosrati, M. (2002). History of Damavand and its historical monuments (Edited by Nāser Nosrati). Tehran: Feiz Kāshāni Torbat (in Persian).
Olearius, A. (1984). Olearius’s travelogue: Iran section (Ahmad Behpour, Trans.). Tehran: Ebtekār (in Persian).
Pigulevskaya, N. V., et al. (1974). History of Iran (from ancient times to the end of the 18th century) (Karim Keshavarz, Trans.). Tehran: Payām (in Persian).
Rabino, Y. L. (1924/1362 AH). Travelogue of Mazandaran and Astrabad: with description of lands and geographic maps. Cairo: Iʻtimād Press (in Persian).
Rezvanfar, M. (2017). Exhibition of Mahajer inscriptions. Tehran: Sabā (in Persian).
Rostam al-Hokama, Mohammad Hashem Asaf. (2003). Rostam al-Tawarikh (Mitra Mehrabadi, Ed.). Tehran: Donyāye Ketāb (in Persian).
Sadeghnejad, N., Hooshyar, M., & Zebardast, S. (2022). Structural analysis and themes of the inscriptions of Mir Emad Mosque in Kashan. Industrial Arts, 2(3), 37-57. https://doi.org/10.22034/rac.2023.555737.1016 (in Persian).
Salarishadi, A. (2022). Hedayat's approaches to the Safavid rule and how it was linked to the Qajar rule. Cultural History Studies (Pejuhesh Nāmeh Anjoman-e Irāniye Tārikh), 14(53), 28-52 (in Persian).
Sotoudeh, M. (1998). From Astara to Starabad (Vols. 6 & 7). Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, General Office of Publications and Advertising (in Persian).
Stack, E. (2020). Six months in Iran: The travelogue of Edward Stack (Shahla Tahmasebi, Trans.). Tehran: Qoqnoos (in Persian).
Torkaman, Eskandar Beg. (2003). History of Shah 'Abbas the Great (Tārīkh-e ‘Ālamārā-ye ‘Abbāsī) (Vol. 2) (Iraj Afshar, Ed.). Tehran: Amir Kabir (in Persian).
