Meanwhile, Russia’s drive towards warm-water ports and the weakness of Iran under the Qajar rule (1796–1925) led to the revival of the preoccupation of Russia’s rulers with Iran. In its particularly sustained and orchestrated fashion, the new Russian drive towards colonization started in 1801 with the annexation of Georgia, which was then Iranian territory.
Christian Georgia, which was seeking Russia’s protection from the Muslim Iranians and Ottomans, was Russia’s main ally in the Caucasus. Catherine the Great viewed Georgia as a vital strategic base for operations against the Ottoman Empire and Iran. In July 1783, Georgia was placed under Russian protection with the Treaty of Georgievsk, and in 1801, it was annexed to Russia. After the Russian commander-in-chief in the Caucasus captured the city of Ganjeh and appeared before the city of Erevan, the first Russo-Iranian war broke out. The Iranian army was led by ‘Abbas Mirza, heir of Fath ‘Ali Shah and Governor of Azerbaijan. The war lasted for nine years and ended in the defeat of Iran; the Treaty of Gulistan was signed in 1813. Under the terms of the treaty, Iran “lost most of her Caucasian possessions, including Baku, Darband, Ganjeh, and Georgia, gave up her right to maintain a navy on the Caspian, which thereby became ‘a Russian lake’ and accepted an unfavorable arrangement in regard to tariffs.”9 The provisions concerning the borders were vague and soon led to a new conflict.
In 1826, Iran launched a revanchist war against Russia under the banner of jihad. Again, Iran was soon defeated and the Treaty of Turkmanchai was signed in 1828. In addition to lands yielded under the Treaty of Gulistan, Iran had now to cede to Russia the khanates of Erevan and Nakhichevan. Iran also had to pay Russia the considerable indemnity of 20 million rubles.
The first Russian minister to be appointed to Tehran after the Treaty of Turkmanchai was Alexander Griboedov, the famous writer, who focused his attention on the implementation of the treaty by the Iranian government, in particular the articles dealing with the indemnity and the return of prisoners of war. On 11 February 1829, a mob incited by the prominent Tehran mujtahid (high-ranking religious authority) Mirza Masih stormed the Russian Mission. With one exception, all the members of the Mission were killed, including Griboedov. One of Fath ‘Ali’s sons, Khosrov Mirza, was sent to the Russian court bearing gifts to apologize to the Emperor Nicholas I (ruled 1825–55). The Iranian prince received a cordial welcome in St. Petersburg and was granted forgiveness.10 The way the Russian travelers depicted that tragedy is discussed later in the book.
Russo-Persian Socio-Cultural Relations
