AbdolHossein Mirza Farmanfarma

Parvaneh Babai

 

Son of Firuz Mirza Nosratoddowleh, AbdolHossein Mirza Farmanfarma was born in Tehran, 1852. He received his primary education from his father and his mother, Hajieh Khanum Homa at home. Then he entered technical school of Darolfonun and studied in military field. Upon mastering military sciences, he received the title of Salar Lashkar and became the commandant of Azerbaijan troops. Two years later he was recalled to Tehran and became the governor of Kerman and Baluchestan with the title of Farmanfarma.

 

Upon the rise of constitutional revolution, he made overtures to the revolutionaries. Subsequent to the ratification of constitutionality by the Shah, he was appointed minister of justice in the temporary cabinet of Afkham. He kept his office in the next cabinet headed by Mirza Ali Asghar Khan Atabak.

 

Among military missions of Farmanfarma, is repelling of Ottoman encroaching to Iran’s frontiers and also repel of Salaroddowleh’s rebel in Kordestan and Kermanshah under MohammadAli Shah’s reign. In the interregnum between the first and second period of legislation, he was minister of interior in Mirza Aboulqassem Khan Nasserolmolk’s cabinet. He kept his office in Javad Khan Saadodowleh’s cabinet. Upon the conquest of Tehran and Mohammad Ali Shah’s flight, MohammadVali Khan Tonokaboni formed a cabinet and again Farmanfarma became minister of justice.

 

In the second period of legislation in the first and second cabinets of Mirza Hassan Khan Mostofialmamalek, he became minister of war. In the third period of legislation in AbdolMajid Mirza Einoddowleh’s cabinet, Farmanfarma became minister of interior.

 

Eventually he formed his cabinet in the interregnum between third and fourth majlis. His cabinet lasted only for one month and a half, and he was at the same time, minister of interior. Upon the fall of his cabinet, Sepahdar Azam was commissioned to form his cabinet.

 

Subsequent to 1921 coup, Farmanfarma and his two sons, Nosratoddowleh and Salar lashkar were put to jail by orders from Seyyed Zaiaadin Tabatabai. Farmanfarma provided a great present for Seyyed Zia and in return, he promised not to kill him and his sons.

 

Subsequent to one hundred days rule of Seyyed Zia and when Qavamoddowleh was the prime minister, the prisoners were released and Farmanfarma with his exclusive political intuition made overtures to Sardar Sepah Reza Khan, the minister of war who was the head of his guards in the past. They became friends and Farmanfarma gave remarkable parts of his lands to Reza Khan and in return, Reza Khan let his two sons become members of parliament and appointed his son, Nosratoddowleh a minister. Farmanfarma had unique character. He accumulated great wealth and held many high offices. He was one of the great landowners of Iran. He had 36 children.

 

He adopted a conservative life until 1936 and spent his attention to his lands until when his son, Nosratoddowleh was arrested and was sent to Semnan prison. Shortly after, they gave Farmafarm the news of his death in prison.  It had very impact on his father. He could not bear it, and eventually he died in 1939 at the age of 88. His body was buried in the holy shrine of AbdolAzim in Share Rey.