'Military Report on S.-W. Persia, Vol. I. Bakhtiari Garmsir' [‎12v] (29/168)

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All those who now figure in the public eye as Khans, have only
to look back for two generations to find a common ancestor in one
J’afar Quli Khan, and in the generation preceding the present one
they still find themselves concentrated in two brothers and an uncle.
The family of the last named, if now not entirely negligible from
every point of view, does not at any rate enter into the field of view
under consideration, and attention need not be extended beyond
the families of Husain Quli Khan, and Imam Quli Khan, also known
as Haji Ilkkanl. These two brothers each held the Ilkhamship
for varying periods during the eighties of last century, and each
dying left a considerable family behind him. Jealousy has always
existed between these two families, but it was held in abeyance for a
long time during the combined rule of Isfandiar Khan, and Muhammad
Husain Khan, the senior members of the two families respectively.
Both men were possessed of considerable capability and wisdom,
and worked together in unanimity as Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. and Ilbegi. Isfandiar
Khan died in 1903, after 13 years’ unbroken tenure of the supreme
power, during the last 5 of which there was no one to dispute his
authority,* and Muhammad Husain Khan, who succeeded to his offi-
cial position, succumbed early in 1905 to an illness which has given
grounds for some suspicion of foul play. The way to the dignity and
responsibility of the Ilkhaniship was then laid open to the remaining
brothers of each family, and their subsequent history presents a record
of constant jealousies and intrigues, periodically terminating in the
transfer and retransfer of the supreme power from the one to the
other. These changes have only been accomplished by deputations
to Tehran, and very liberal payments expended in obtaining the
support of the various Persian Ministers, and the net result has been
a great weakening of the political fabric of the State, the excessive
embitterment of the rival Khans, and the aggravation to the last
degree of that jealousy which may be expected between families of
cousins similarly situated. Both sides have shown themselves equal
ly incapable of producing an individual qualified by force of character
and weight of personality to command any general influence.
Reference to the genealogical table (Appendix V) will give
acquaintance with the names and relationships of the various Khans.
It is generally recognized that neither party can, even when the
chance occurs under the most favourable circumstances, carry on
* On his release from confinement in 1890 Isfandiar Khan was appointed Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. ;
but he was not able fully to assert his position during the life-time of ImSm Quli Khan-
There was therefore some division of authority, at least in practice, and Imam Quli
Khan has sometimes been represented as holding the Ilkhaniship from 1890 until his
death, which probably occurred in A. H. 1315—1316, or about 1898 A.D., but is
sometimes ascribed to the year 1896.