The Decline and Fall of the Political and Religious Authority of the Mirzayi Family in Zanjan Society

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

PhD in History of Iran , Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

10.30484/ganj.2024.3140

Abstract

The Mirzayi family, aligned with Safavid policies, migrated from Iraq to Zanjan. The Safavid state supported the scholars of this family by granting them extensive lands. The Mirzayi family remained influential until the late Qajar period, being recognized as one of the prominent families of Zanjan. However, over the subsequent decades, their political and religious authority gradually declined, and today they hold no significant role in Zanjan society.
Purpose: This study aims to investigate and explain the political and religious position of the Mirzayi family, addressing the question: how did the political and religious status of the Mirzayi family in Zanjan deteriorate? What factors led to the decline of their authority and status?
Method and Research Design: The research employs a historical method with a descriptive-explanatory approach. It is based on library sources, articles, interviews, and documents related to the Mirzayi family from both governmental and private archives.
Findings and Conclusion: During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Mirza Abolqasem Mojtahed was a trusted advisor to the court and held a significant position among various social groups. After his death, his descendants assumed leadership roles within the Zanjan community, overseeing major religious courts. However, the family’s influence began to wane after Mirza Abotaleb, the second son of Mirza Abolqasem, migrated to Tehran, and the youngest son, Mirza Abodollah, died prematurely. Additionally, Mirza Abolmakarem, the eldest son and successor as the family head and leading religious scholar in Zanjan, lacked the necessary strength, stability, and courage to manage various social and political developments, weakening the family’s standing. The Constitutional Revolution further harmed the Mirzayi family, accelerating their decline due to their ethical traits and political actions. The early deaths of some family members, alignment with Reza Shah's modernization efforts, financial disputes over ancestral inheritance, migration from Zanjan, and the pursuit of secular professions all contributed to the degradation of the family’s religious and political stature.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 
English Translation of References
Documents
Asnād-e Anjoman-e Tārix va Farhang-e Zanjān (Documents of Zanjan History and Culture Association). (1402/2023). Zanjān: Daftar-e Anjoman-e Tārix va Farhang-e Zanjān (Zanjan History and Culture Association Office). [Persian]
Asnād-e Muze-ye Mehrāne-ye Zanjān (Mehraneh Museum of Zanjan Documents). (1402/2023). Zanjān: Bonyād-e Muze-ye Mehrāne-ye Zanjān (Mehraneh Museum of Zanjan). 1402/2023. [Persian]
Asnād-e Xāndān-e Hoseini-ye Zanjāni (Documents of Hosseini Zanjani family). (1402/2023). Zanjān: Daftar-e Āyatollāh Hoseini-ye Zanjāni (Office of Ayatollah Hosseini Zanjani). [Persian]
Asnād-e Xāndān-e Mirzāyi (Documents of Mirzaei family). (1400/2021). Tehran: Asnād-e Ja’far-e Mirzāyi navāde-ye Mirzā Abolqāsem-e Mojtahed (Documents of Jafar Mirzaei, the descendant of Mirza Abu al-Qasem Mojtahed). [Persian]
Sāzmān-e Asnād va Ketābxāne-ye Melli-ye Irān (Sākmā) (National Library and Archives Organization of Iran(: 250/016787; 296/005506. [Persian] [Persian]
Manuscripts
“Šarh-e zendegi-ye ‘olamā-ye xamseh” (Description of the lives of Khamsa scholars). (1400/2021). Zanjān: Daftar-e Āyatollāh Hoseini-ye Zanjāni (Office of Ayatollah Hosseini Zanjani). [Persian]
Books
Amir Tahmasebi, Abdollah. (1305/1926). “Tārix-e šāhanšāhi-ye a’lā-hazrat Rezā Šāh-e Kabir” (Imperial history of His Highness Reza Shah Kabir). Tehran: Matba’e-ye Majles. [Persian]
Anoushiravani, S. V. (1361/1982). “Sarāqāz-e tejāri šodan-e kešāvarzi dar Irān” (The beginning of the commercialization of agriculture in Iran). In “Masā’el-e arzi va dehqāni: Majmu’e-maqālāt” (Agrarian and Peasant Issues: Collection of articles) (1st ed.). Tehran: Āgāh. [Persian]
Azimi, Fakhreddin. (1374/1995). “Bohrān-e demokrāsi dar Irān 1320 – 1332” (Iran, The crisis of democracy, 1989) (2nd ed.). Translated by Abdorreza Houshang Mahdavi & Bijan Nozari. Tehran: Alborz. [Persian]
Aziz al-Soltan, Gholam Ali. (1376/1997). “Ruznāme-ye xāterāt-e ‘Aziz-os-Soltān (Malijak-e Sāni)” (Aziz al-Sultan's Diary (Malijak Sani)) (vol. 2). Edited by Mohsen Mirzayi. Tehran: Zaryāb. [Persian]
Bayat, Kaveh; & Kouhestani Nejad, Masoud (Eds.). (1372/1993). “Asnād-e matbu’āt 1286-1320” (Press documents 1907-1941) (vol. 1). Tehran: Sāzmān-e Asnād-e Melli-ye Irān (National Archives Organization of Iran). [Persian]
Bayat, Masoud. (1386/2007). “Enqelāb-e eslāmi dar Zanjān” (Islamic revolution in Zanjan) (1st ed.). Tehran: Markaz-e Asnād-e Enqelāb-e Eslāmi (Marāsān) (Islamic Revolution Documents Center). [Persian]
Browne, Edward. (1381/2002). “Yek sāl dar miyān-e Irāniyān” (A year amongst the Persians: Impressions as to the life, character). Translated by Mani Salehi Allameh. Tehran: Māhriz. [Persian]
“Dār-os-Sa’āde-ye Zanjān: Tahrir-e nofus-e Zanjān bar hasb-e mahalle-hā-ye šahr” (Tahrir Nafus Zanjan) (1st ed.). (1397/2018). Edited by Hasan Hossein Ali. Zanjān: Nikān Ketb. [Persian]
Ehtesham Al-Saltaneh. (1392/2013). “Xāterāt-e Ehtešāmossaltaneh” (Memories of Ehtesham Al-Saltaneh). (2nd ed). Edited by Mohammad Mehdi Mousavi. Zawār. [Persian]
Etezad Al-Saltaneh. (1362/1983). “Fetne-ye Bāb” (Riot of Bábism) (3rd ed.). Explanations and articles by Abdolhossein Navayi. Tehran: Bābak. [Persian]
Field, Henry. (1343/1964). “Mardom-šenāsi-ye Irān” (Contributions to the anthropology of Iran). Translated by Abdollah Faryar. Tehran: Ebn-e Sinā.
Ghasemi Androud, Parastou; & Khatibi, Bahman. (1394/2015). “Farāmin-e šāhi-ye dowre-ye Qājār: Dār-os-Sa’ādeh” (The royal edicts of the Qajar period). Zanjān: Nikān-e Ketāb. [Persian]
Haji Vazir Zanjani. (1389/2010). “Xāterāt va xāndān: Xāterāt-e Hāji-vazir-e Zanjāni” (Memories of Haji Vazir Zanjani). In Iraj Afshar (Ed.), “Daftar-e tārix: Majmu’e-asnād va manābe’-e tārixi” (Collection of historical documents and sources) (vol. 4). Tehran: Bonyād-e Mowqufāt-e Afšār (Dr. Mahmoud Afshar Foundation). [Persian]
Issavi, Charles Phillip. (1362/1983). “Tārix-e eqtesādi-ye Irān: Qājārieh 1215-1332 AH” (The economic history of Iran Translated by Yaghoub Azhand Tehran: Gostareh.  [Persian]
Jamalzadeh, Mohammad Ali. (1362/1983). “Ganj-e Šāygān” (The worthy treasure) (1st ed.). Tehran: Ketāb. [Persian]
Kasravi, Ahmad. (1323/1934). “Dah sāl dar ‘adliyeh” (10 years in the judiciary) (1st ed.). Tehran: Peymān. [Persian]
Kasravi, Ahmad. (1383/2004). “Tārix-e mašrute-ye Irān” (The constitutional history of Iran) (21st ed.). Tehran: Amir Kabir. [Persian]
“Ketāb-e nārenji: Gozāreš-hā-ye siāsi-ye vezārat-e ‘omur-e xārejeh-ye Rusie-ye Tezāri darbāre-ye enqelāb-e mašrute-ye Irān” (Orange book: Political reports of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tsardom of Russia on the Iranian constitutional revolution) (vol. 2) (1st ed.). (1366/1987). Edited by Ahmad Bashiri. Translated by Fathollah Dideban et al. Tehran: Nur. [Persian]
Khosroshahi, Hadi. (1395/2016). “Asnād-e vezārat-e omur-e xāreje-ye Irān darbāre-ye Seyyed Jamāl-ed-Din-e Asadābādi” (Documents of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran about Seyyed Jamaluddin Asadabadi) (1st ed.). Tehran: Ettelā’āt. [Persian]
Mahboubi Ardakani, Hossein. (1380/2001). “Čehel sāl tārix-e Irān dar dowre-ye pādešāhi-ye Nāser-ed-Din Šāh: Ta’liqāt-e Hosein-e Mahbubi-ye Ardakāni bar Al-Ma’āser val-Āsār dar ahvāl-e rejāl-e dowreh va darbār-e Nāseri” (Forty years of Iran’s history during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah) (vol. 2) (2nd ed.). edited by Iraj Afshar. Tehran: Asātir. [Persian]
Makki, Hossein. (1374/1995). “Tārix-e bist-sāle-ye Irān” (The twenty-year history of Iran) (vol. 8). Tehran: ‘Elmi Farhangi. [Persian]
Malekzadeh, Mahdi. (1387/2008). “Tārix-e enqelāb-e mašrutiyat-e Irān” (The history of the constitutional revolution of Iran) (vols. 4 & 5) (2nd ed.). Tehran: Soxan. [Persian]
Mirzayi, Jafar. (n. d.). “Yādmān-e zendegi” (The memory of life). Zanjān: n. p. [Persian]
Mousavi Zanjani, Haj Seyyed Ebrahim. (1352/1273). “Tārix-e Zanjān: ‘Olamā va dānešmandān” (History of Zanjan: Scholars and scientists). Tehran: Ketāb-foruši-ye Mostafavi – Buzarjomehri. [Persian]
Nazem Al-Eslam Kermani. (1349/1970). “Tārix-e bidāri-ye Irāniān” (History of the Iranian awakening) (vol. 2). Edited by Ali Akbar Saeedi Sirjani. Tehran: Entešārāt-e Bonyād-e Farhang-e Irān (Iranian Culture Foundation). [Persian]
Raeis Tousi, Reza. (1401/2022). “Zavāl-e nezām-e ejtemā’ee va forupāši-ye dowlat-e Qājār bar asās-e asnād-e āršiv-e vezārat-e xāreje-ye Beritāniyā” (The decline of the social system and the collapse of the Qajar government based on British Foreign Ministry archive documents) (1st ed.). Tehran: Ney. [Persian]
Rohani, Mohammad Reza. (1347/1968). “Farhang-nāme-ye Zanjān” (Dictionary of Zanjan) (1st ed.). Zanjān: Parčam. [Persian]
Rostami, Hasan. (1402/2023). “Mašrutiyat dar Zanjān, setize-hā va kešmakeš-hā-ye goruh-hā-ye ejtemā’ee va ‘anāser-e siyāsi va mazhabi dar sāl-hā-ye 1324 – 1329 AH” (Constitutionalism in Zanjan: Conflicts of social groups and political and religious elements in 1324 – 1329 AH / 1906 – 1911 AD) (1st ed.). Tehran: Negāh-e Mo’āser. [Persian]
Salour, Ghahreman Mirza. (1374/1995). “Ruznāme-ye xāterāt-e ‘Eyn-os-Saltaneh” (The daily memoirs of Eyn Al-Saltaneh) (vol. 2) (1st ed.). Edited by Masoud Salour & Iraj Afshar. Tehran: Asātir. [Persian]
Sarreshtedar, Mirza Ali. (1380/2001). “Safarnāme-ye rāh-e Tabriz be Tehrān” (Tabriz to Tehran: Travel Guide). In Iraj Afshar (Ed.), “Daftar-e tārix: Majmu’e-asnād va manābe’-e tārixi” (Collection of historical documents and sources) (vol. 1). Tehran: Bonyād-e Mowqufāt-e Afšār (Dr. Mahmoud Afshar Foundation). [Persian]
Sepehr, Mohammad Taghi. (1351/1972). “Nāsex-ot-tavārix: Salātin-e Qājāriyeh” (The Corrector of Chronologies) (vol. 2). Edited & annotated by Mohammad Bagher Behboudi. Qom: Mo’assese-ye Matbu’āt-e Dini. [Persian]
Shobeiri Zanjani, Musa. (1393/2014). “Jor’e-ee az daryā: Maqālāt va mabāhes-e šaxsiyat-šenāsi va ketāb-šenāsi” (A sip of the sea: Essays and discussions on personality and bibliography) (vol. 3) (1st ed.). qom: Mo’assese-ye Ketāb-šenāsi-ye Ši’eh. [Persian]
Shobeiri Zanjani, Musa. (1399/2020). “Jor’e-ee az daryā: Maqālāt va mabāhes-e šaxsiyat-šenāsi va ketāb-šenāsi” (A sip of the sea: Essays and discussions on personality and bibliography) (vol. 4) (1st ed.). qom: Mo’assese-ye Ketāb-šenāsi-ye Ši’eh. [Persian]
Tafreshi Hosseini, Ahmad. (1351/1972). “Ruznāme-ye axbār-e mašrutiyat va enqelāb-e Irān: Yāddāšt-hā-ye Seyyed Ahmad-e Tafreši-ye Hosseini” (Iran’s constitutional and revolution newspaper: Notes of Seyyed Ahmad Tafreshi Hosseini). Edited by Iraj Afshar. Tehran: Amir Kabir. [Persian]
Tapper, Richard. (1384/2005). “Tārix-e siyāsi-ejtemā’ee-ye Šāhsavan-hā-ye Moqān” (Frontier nomads of Iran). Translated by Hasan Asadi. Tehran: Axtarān. [Persian]
Yazdani, Sohrab. (1401/2022). “Rustāeeyān va mašrutiyat-e Irān” (Peasants and Iran’s constitutionalism) (1st ed.). Tehran: Māhi. [Persian]
Zanjani, Ebrahim. (1393/2014). “Xāterāt-e Šeix Ebrāhim-e Zanjāni” (Memoirs of Sheikh Ebrahim Zanjani) (2nd ed.). Edited by Gholam Hossein Mirza Saleh. Tehran: Kavir. [Persian]
Zanjani, Musa. (1380/2001). “Al-fehrest ol-mašāhir va ‘olamā’-e Zanjān” (The list of celebrities and scholars of Zanjan) (1st ed.). Edited by Gholam Hossein Mirza Saleh. Qom: Āl-e ‘Abā. [Persian]
Zargarinejad, Gholam Hossein. (1390/2011). “Rasā’el-e mašrutiyat; mašruteh be ravāyat-e movāfeqān va moxālefān” (Constitutional messages; Constitution according to supporters and opponents) (vol. 1) (2nd ed.). tehran: Mo’assese-ye Tahqiqāt va Towse’e-ye ‘Olum-e Ensāni. [Persian]
Electronic Disk
“Mašruh-e mozākerāt-e majles-e šorā-ye melli, mozākerāt-e dowre-ye 1 tā 23” (Annotated deliberations of the National Council, deliberations of the 1st to 23rd term). (1393/2014). Tehran: Ketāb-xāne, Muze va Markaz-e Asnād-e Majles-e Šorā-ye Eslāmi (Kemām) (Library, Museum and Document Center of Iran Parliament). [Persian]
Articles
Behzadi, Mohammad Reza. (1389/2010). “Zanjān-e ‘asr-e Qājār: Pažuheši dar asnād-e Mirza Abol-Makārem-e Zanjāni” (Zanjan of the Qajar era: A study on the records of Mirza Abu al-Makarem Zanjani). Majalle-ye Tārix-e Mo’āser-e Irān (Institute for Iranian Contemporary Historical Studies) (IICHS), issues 53 & 54, pp. 277 – 356. [Persian]
Ghadimi Gheydari, Abbas; & Rostami, Hassan. (1401/2022). “Andiše-hā va koneš-hā-ye siyāsi-ye Mirzā Abol-Makārem va Mirzā Abu-Tāleb-e Zanjāni, bargi az mašrute-ye Zanjān va Irān” (Thoughts and actions of Mirza Abolmakarem and Mirza Aboutaleb Zanjani, as a part of the constitutional movement of Zanjan and Iran). Motāle’āt-e Tārix-e Eslām (A Quarterly Journal of Historical Studies of Islam), 14(54), pp. 109 – 144. [Persian]
Majlesi, Fazlollah. (1350/1971). “Xāterāti az māliye-ye mamlekat dar dowre-ye Qājāriyeh” (Memories of the country's finances during the Qajar period). Xāterāt-e Vahid, 9(5), pp. 63 – 65. [Persian]
Mousavi Mirzayi, Kazem. (1326/1947a). “Mā va xānandegān; Marhum Mirzā Abu-Tāleb-e Musavi va barādar-e išān” (The late Mirza Abutaleb Mousavi and his brother). Majalle-ye Yādegār, 3(6 & 7), pp. 131 – 134. [Persian]
Mousavi Mirzayi, Kazem. (1326/1947b). “Tarjome-ye ahvāl-e Marhum Mirzā Abu-Tāleb-e Musavi” (Translation of the status of the late Mirza Abu Taleb Zanjani). Majalle-ye Yādegār, 3(8), pp. 35 – 44. [Persian]
Rostami, Hassan; & Bayat, Masoud. (Spring 1402). “Bohrān-e nān-e xamseh (Zanjān) dar avāxer-e dowre-ye Qājār; dexālat-hā va siyāsat-hā-ye goruh-hā-ye nofuz” (Khamseh bread crisis (Zanjan) at the end of the Qajar period; Interventions and policies of influential elders and groups). Pažuheš-hā-ye ‘Olum-e Tārixi (Historical Sciences Studies), 15(1), pp. 71 – 92. [Persian]
Yektayi, Majid. (1352/1973). “Māliye-ye kešvar dar zaman-e Qājār” (Country finance during the Qajar period). Barresi-hā-ye Tārixi, 49, pp. 139 – 176. [Persian]
Interviews
Bahraini, Manouchehr. (1402/2023). Interview with Manučehr Bahreyni. Zanjān: Daftar-e Anjoman-e Tārix va Farhang-e Zanjān (Zanjan History and Culture Association). [Persian]
Ghaemi, Abdul-Aziz. (1402/2023). Interview with ‘Abdol- ‘Aziz Qāemi. Zanjān: Daftar-e Anjoman-e Tārix va Farhang-e Zanjān (Zanjan History and Culture Association). [Persian]
Golpasand, Rahman. (1402/2023). Interview with Rahmān Golpasand. Zanjān: Bāzār-e pāyin, Kuče-ye Mirzāyi (Lower Bazaar, Mirzaei Alley). [Persian]
Hosseini Zanjani, Mohammad. (1402/2023). Interview with Āyatollāh Hosseini Zanjāni. Zanjān: Daftar-e Āyatollāh Hosseini Zanjāni (Office of Ayatollah Hosseini Zanjani). [Persian]
Mirzaei, Mohsen. (1399/2020). Interview with Mohsen Mirzāyi. Tehran: Daftar-e Mohsen Mirzāyi (Mohsen Mirzayi’s office). [Persian]
Press
Majalle-ye Āyin-e Eslām, issue 143, Sunday, 1 Dey 1325 SH / 22   December 1946. [Persian]
Majalle-ye Mard-e Emruz, issue 84, Saturday, 9 Āzar 1325 SH / 30   November 1946. [Persian]
Ruznāme-ye Anjoman-e Tabriz, year 1, issue 143, 22 Ša’bān 1325 AH / 30 September 1907. [Persian]
Ruznāme-ye Habl-ol-Matin-e Kalkateh (Habl al-Matin), year 12, issue 13, 19 Ramezān 1322 AH / 27 November 1904. [Persian]
Ruznāme-ye Habl-ol-Matin-e Kalkateh (Habl al-Matin), year 14, issue 23, 6 Dhu al-Hijjah1324 AH / 21 January 1907. [Persian]
Ruznāme-ye Parvin-e Xamseh, year 3, issue 160, 6 Rabi’-ol-āxar 1351 AH / 18 Mordād 1311 SH / 9 August 1932. [Persian]
Ruznāme-ye Parvin-e Xamseh, year 3, issue 281, 13 Ramezān 1352 AH / 10 Dey 1312 SH / 31 December 1933. [Persian]

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 27 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 05 May 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 January 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics