'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎303] (344/714)

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TEHERAN
of the same eentury, the first epoch of the city's political ascend
ency began.
The seat and cradle of the Kajar family was at Astrabad; but
s ™ too remote and too far situated to the East to the
Made his expanding ambitions of the eunuch candidate for the
capital by throne. For some time, while his fortunes were yet in-
Sshah TT' Wllil ! lliS sovere % nt y was practically limited
to M azanderan, Agha Mohammed fixed his residence at
Sari ; but, as he turned his eyes and aspirations southwards and
t e^dream of a Pan-Iranian kingdom became capable of realisation
a more accessible capital was required. Accordingly he selected
Teheran, and its elevation to metropolitan rank is commonly dated
from 1788. It was not till seven years later that his rivals were
all removed, and that he found himself firmly seated upon the
throne ; but what had been perhaps in the first place a choice of
necessity remained the selection of prudence. Rebellion had been
effectively stamped out of life in the south. The Afghans had
ceased for awhile to be hostile or formidable. On the other hand
at Teheran, the successful usurper was within easy reach of his own
patrimony and tribesmen ; and he was in a better position to watch
the only enemy of whom he had real apprehension—Russia. The
same considerations, aggravated rather than diminished by the
events of the present century, have compelled his successors to
endorse his judgment; and, whatever may be said against the site,
there is very small likelihood, as long as Persia escapes dismember
ment, of Teheran being dethroned from its position.
Agha Mohammed, though he elevated Teheran to the rank of
his capital, either had not the taste or did not reign long
exten 611 enou ^ to conf ' er u pon it any of the external distinction
extent wit j 1 which ^ p redeceggorg on t}le tllrone }lad alw
striven to adorn their seats of government. Olivier, who was there
in 1797, the year of the king's death, reported the city as being-
little more than two miles in circuit, and as containing a popula
tion of only 15,000, 3,000 of whom belonged to the court or army of
the Shah. Path Ali Shah, however, had more regal ideas. Under
his rule the city increased in size, importance, and display. In
1»07 General Gardanne, the French Envoy, found it containing a
population of over 50,000 in winter, though all but deserted in
summer, when the Court was away, and the inhabitants had retired
to their yeilaks, or summer quarters, on the mountains. A very