The Lion and the Sun

The Qajar dynasty was the embodiment of ineffectiveness. Tyrants incapable of true tyranny. This is the story of their demise. Listen to book one recap to get ready for new
The fall of house of Qajar and the rise of Reza Shah and the Pahlavi dynasty. Listen to book two of The Lion and the Sun on Jan. 29!
How Reza Khan amasses an army and faces Sheikh Khaz’al and his unchecked rule in Khuzestan
The story of Sheikh Khaz'al, the powerful tribal leader who ruled over Khuzestan , and his clash with Reza Khan.
How Iran (almost) became a secular republic! Reza Khan’s ambitious journey to reshape Persia: from a republic dream to a monarchy reality.
How the 1921 coup changed Iran's political dynamic and brought Reza Khan into the spotlight
Reza Khan's army marches toward Arabistan, Khaz'al tries to unite local tribes against the government and the battle for Arabistan reaches its breaking point.
As World War 1 impacts the world, Britiain and Russia invade Iran, while Germany seeks to win the country through clandestine campaigns.
A defiant Sheikh, a province rich in oil, and Reza Khan’s push to unify a fractured Iran. The story of Arabistan and how one local tribe became the biggest threat
In the season finale of the podcast, Reza Khan aims for total control, the young shah flees his country and Iran braces itself for a brave new world.
Is it Iran or Persia? The historical roots, cultural significance, and modern relevance of these two names and which one to use.

This is the transcript for Book One, episode 6 of The Lion and the Sun podcast: Russian Roulette about Iran…

How a journalist and a military lieutenant orchestrated the 1921 coup d’état and how Reza Khan gained control of Iran’s military and became an influential player in the government.
The biggest oil field the world had ever seen, a foreign military occupation and a socialist revolution in the north. As Russia's influence wanes, Britain seizes control of Iran's newfound
As the great war breaks out in Europe, Persia is turned into the ultimate proxy battleground. The story of the First World War and how British, Russian, and German forces

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