Arteshbod Gholam-Ali Oveissi (‎; 16 April 1918 – 7 February 1984) was an Iranian general and the Chief Commander of the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was the last general to head the Imperial Army of Iran. He is regarded as one of the most powerful and adept military generals in Iran's modern history. Early life Oveissi's family from his father's lineage goes back to Shah Qara Yusuf Muhammad, the ruler of the Ghara Ghoyonlu dynasty (Black Sheep Turkomans) and descends through Uzun Hassan. He is a direct descendant of Eskandar Beik Torkaman, the minister, head of army (Iraq campaign) and personal advisor to Shah Abbas the Great. On his mother's side he was the grandson of Hossein Ali Mirza, the eldest son of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar. In 1937, Oveissi married Sharafat Baniadam, the daughter of Sharif Doleh Baniadam, and granddaughter of Sharif Doleh Bozorg. They were married until her passing in 1972. The Baniadams were members of the Ghaffari family of Kashan. Education and career Oveissi received his diploma from Iran's Military High School. He attended the Officers Faculty in the same class as Mohammad Reza Pahlavi continuing his military training in the Military Academy in Tehran where he graduated first in his class. The top graduates of the class were selected by Reza Shah to go straight to the Imperial Guard, an honor given only to the top five graduates. Oveissi sought permission from Reza Shah to be stationed at Khuzestan instead where the government was involved in battle with rebel groups. He attended the Military organization in Fort Myers, Virginia and Fort Leavenworth (Kansas) in 1959. From 1938–1939 he was chosen to command the Military Section of the 7th and 13th regiments positioned in Fars Province and replaced the commander of the 6th regiment from 1940–1941. From 1941–1943 he replaced the military commander of Fars Province, section 13. From 1940–1960 he was chief of the military faculty in Tehran. After 1955 his military career progressed rapidly. On 12 September 1954, he became a full colonel and served with that rank until 1960 when he was promoted to general in the Imperial Iranian Army. From 1958–1960 he participated actively in the military court prosecution of communist officers. He continued his military studies in the United States periodically from 1960–1965, and became a full commander of the Royal Military division of the Imperial Guards.