A large firman of Nasr al-Din Shah Qajar (reg. 1848-96), appointing Hasan 'Ali Khan Garrusi, known as Amir-e Nizam, as Persian ambassador to the Sublime Porte in Constantinople, and praising his previous service in France and Britain
<p>Qajar Persia, dated Muharram 1288/March-April 1871
</p><p>Persian manuscript on paper, five lines of text in large and elegant nasta'liq script in black ink, inner margins ruled in gold, blue, orange and green, seal impression of the Shah within illuminated medallion at top against a ground of floral motifs in gold, signature and personal note added in the Shah's own hand at upper left within a floral cartouche, wide right-hand margin with floral motifs in gold and a European-style Qajar crest dated AH 1287/AD 1870-71 within a roundel at upper right
580 x 430 mm.
</p><p>Amir Nezam Garrusi Hasan Ali Khan, also known as Salar-e-Lashkar (1820-1900), was amongst the most important and distinguished Qajar military officers, diplomats and administrators of the 19th Century, spending sixty-four years of his life in various military and internal and foreign posts. He was also a literary figure in composition and calligraphy. As mentioned in the firman, he had a history of diplomatic service and his last foreign appointment prior to the one described here was to Paris. While on duty in France he was also responsible for the education of 64 Persian students, mostly graduates of the Dar al-Funun. After he returned from Paris in June 1867 for reasons of bad health, he became a member of the government consultative council (majles-e shaura-ye daulati) but he appears to have spent most of his time in effect as Governor of Garrus. He was then sent to Constantinople, to replace Moshir-al-Dowleh, who had been summoned back first to be Minister of Justice and who later (November 1871) became first minister. Moshir-al-Dowleh reached Tehran in December 1870 and Hassan Ali Garrusi was appointed to that post in March 1871. He remained in that position for fourteen months.
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On the importance of Amir Nezam Garrusi for Persian diplomacy during the reign of Nasr-al-Din Shah, see Abbas Amanat, 'Amir Nezam Garrusi' in Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 1, London 1985, pp. 966-969; S. Bakhash, Monarchy, Bureaucracy and Reform under the Qajars 1858-1896, London 1978, pp. 33-35; F. Hellot-Bellier, 'Quatre cents ans de dialogue' in Cahier de Studia Iranica 34, Paris 2007. pp. 541-552. See also M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1960, vol. 1, Tehran 1966, pp. 359-67.
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