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Behind the Pahlavi dynasty were three politicians: the kingmakers who orchestrated Reza Khan’s rise and shaped his rule. But as Reza Shah tightened his grip on power, this alliance of three faced exile, prison, and death
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Episode Summary
Three men—Firouz Nosrat al-Dowleh, Abdolhossein Teymourtash, and Ali Akbar Davar—once formed a powerful alliance that reshaped modern Iran. Each brought unique strengths: Firouz, a reform-minded aristocrat; Teymourtash, a cunning political operator; and Davar, a man who came from nothing and had fought his way into power. They all supported Reza Khan’s rise to power and helped implement major reforms once the Pahlavi Dynasty was established.
But as Reza Shah consolidated his power, he became suspicious of his close allies, removing them from his circle of trust one by one.
Firouz Nosrat al-Dowleh was from a prominent Qajar family and served in various ministerial roles. Though he initially signed the unpopular Anglo-Persian Agreement and lost his position, his allies supported his return to government. He played a central role in financing national projects like the Trans-Iranian Railway but was later arrested on corruption charges. His connections to foreign diplomats and past political baggage made Reza Shah suspicious. He was imprisoned, tried, and eventually exiled.
Teymourtash, once Reza Shah’s closest advisor and Minister of Court, helped manage the administration and drive modernization efforts. Over time, his influence declined, especially after a failed oil negotiation with the British and increasing foreign criticism of the Shah. Reza Shah dismissed him, accused him of corruption, and sent him to Qasr Prison. There, after surviving an attempted poisoning, he was ultimately killed by suffocation.
The same system they helped build first put both men at the center of the state’s reforms, then removed and eliminated them. Their downfall reflected Reza Shah’s growing authoritarianism and mistrust of his own inner circle.
Music
- Frédérik Chopin – Waltz No. 3, Op. 34 No. 2
- Kai Engel – Sunset
- Kai Engel – Irsen’s Tale
- Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen – Covert Affairs
