‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎296r] (598/722)

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take refuge in the citadel. The only Russian who escaped the
massacre was M. Malzoff, the first secretary to the mission: hut it
is remarkable that, although the mob carried away the horses belonging
to the Russian mission, w^hich happened to be in the stables of the British
mission, all British property was rigidly respected. The Shah is said to have
been filled with consternation at this unhappy event; and Khusru Mfrza, a
son of Abbas Mfrza, the crown prince, was sent to St. Petersburg to offer
reparation to the Czar. Ultimately the Emperor Nicholas accepted the
assurance, that the Persian government had not been in any way concerned
with the lamentable occurrence, which they regarded with horror, and
simply required that the persons mainly concerned in the murder should be
punished; that the priest, who had issued a fatwa for the removal of the
ladies from the house of the envoy, should be punished; and that the
plundered property should be restored. Ultimately prince Dolgorouki
was sent as Russian minister to Persia, and declared that the Emperor was
satisfied; and the reconciliation between the two governments was publicly
announced by a parade of troops in the presence of prince Dolgorouki and
Abbas Mfrza, accompanied by a royal salute of artillery and a, feu cle joie.
Persia was now in a state of comparative rest. Rebellion had been
suppressed; the disastrous war against Russia had been brought to a
conclusion by the treaty of Turkmanchai; and there was nothing to distract
the attention of the Shah from the internal administration of his domini
ons. Under such circumstances the wild dream of extending the Persian
empire to its ancient limits began to fill the imagination of the Shah and
those around him. The mythical glories of the ancient empire of Darius
Hystaspes were not forgotten, nor the splendid conquests and commanding
influence of Shah Abbas the Great. But the greatest stress was laid upon
the brief and evanescent empire which had been maintained by Nadir Shah;
and the territories acquired by that conqueror between 1730 and 1747 were
regarded as the rightful possession of the new dynasty, although a century
had passed away since any attempt had been made to enforce^such dormant
claims, which, according to international law, are regarded as invalid after
a lapse of sixty years. In accordance with these new pretensions, Abbas
Mfrza was appointed, in 1830, to be governor of Khurasan, and directed
to establish the authority of the Shah as far as the river Oxus. Abbas
Mfrza seems to have succeeded in compelling the refractory chiefs, of
Khurasan to return to their allegiance to the Shah. His son Khusru
Mfrza captured the fortress of Turshfz, which was an effective blow at the
turbulent confederacy. Subsequently, Abbas Mfrza attempted to reduce
the Khan of the Kurdish tribe to submission. This Khan was one of the
most powerful chiefs in Khurasan. In the first instance, he opened nego
tiations with the crown prince ; but failed to come to terms. ^ At^ length
Abbas Mfrza advanced against his celebrated fortress of ^ Amirabad, and
after a desperate assault succeeded in taking the place, dhe fall of this
fortress spread consternation throughout Khurasan. The Khan of Khiva,
who had advanced against Sarakhs, retreated on hearing of the capture of
Amfrabad. The Khan of the Kurds, however, still held out; and. Abbas
Mfrza advanced against his last stronghold at Kabushan,* and ultimately
succeeded in taking the place. The submission of the Khan was now com
plete. Abbas Mfrza, however, deposed him from his authority, and
* Kachan.
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