‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎295v] (597/722)

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upon the single province of Azarbaijan. Under such circumstances, disaster
followed disaster. The resources of the province were soon exhausted, and
the Russians advanced into Azarbaijan, and took possession of Tabriz. This
was the crowning event of the war. Negotiations followed, and at
length the unequal contest was brought to a close in 1823 by the treaty of
Turkmanchai. Under this treaty the existing frontier was laid down and
the parsimony of the Shah was duly punished; for the Persian govern
ment was required to pay an indemnity for the expenses of the war amount-
ino- to five millions of tumans, or more than two millions sterling. It was
also agreed that all the prisoners of war made on either side, and all the
subjects of either sovereign who might be in captivity in the dominions of
the'other power, should be liberated within a specified time.
The conclusion of the treaty of Turkmanchai was followed the same
vear by the appearance of M. Grebaiodoff at Tib ran, as envoy extraordi
nary and minister plenipotentiary from the Emperor Nicholas to the
court of Persia. The Russian envoy was receivetl with the utmost dis
tinction by Fateh Alf Shah; but a hostile feeling seems to have prevailed
amongst the inhabitants of Tihran, although no manifestation was
allowed to appear. This natural feeling was aggravated by circumstances.
The Cossacks of the mission were often seen in a state of intoxication in
the streets of Tihran ; and M. Grebaiodoff is said to have refused redress
when complaints were made of the conduct of his followers. Early
in the following year he obtained his audience of leave, and was about to
return to Tabriz. At this juncture a eunuch in the harem of the Shah
claimed the protection of the Russian mission. He was a native of Erivan,
and urged his right to return to his own country under the treaty of
Turkmanchai. M. Grebaiodoff, after vainly endeavouring to turn him
from his purpose, at length gave him shelter ; although by so doing he
placed the Russian mission in opposit ion to the household of the Shah.
Two days later M. Grebaiodoff claimed the surrender of two ladies in the
harem of Allah Yar Khan, better known as the Asaf-ud-Daulat, who had been
recently degraded from the post of prime minister. It was urged that
these ladies were natives of the districts ceded to Russia ; and consequently
possessed the same right as the eunuch to return to their native country
under the recent treaty. The ladies were given up ; but the insult must
have rankled in the breast of Allah Yar Khan, who had always been
an inveterate foe to the Russians. Meantime the populace of Tihran were
roused to indignation at the surrender of Mussulman converts to the
unbelievers ; and the chief priest issued a fatwa declaring that it would be
lawful to rescue the Mussulman ladies from the hands of the intidel. On
the morning of the 1th February, 1829, the bazars of Tihran were all
closed, and a great mob gathered round the house of the Russian minister,
and burst into the courtyard. M. Grebaiodoff permitted the ladies to be
given up ; but the mob persisted in carrying away the eunuch as well. A
struggle ensued, in which a fatal shot was fired, and a citizen of Tihran
was killed. The eunuch was torn to pieces by the mob, and the Cossack
guard fired upon the rabble; and the populace then swarmed to the top
of the house, broke down the roof, and drove the Russian gentlemen into
the courtyard, and soon despatched them with daggers. Thirty-five
Russians were massacred, and the house was plundered. The governor
of Tihran and commander of the forces endeavoured to quell the
disturbances ; but were set at defiance by the mob, and compelled to