Analysis of Power and Art Discourse in Architectural Works of the Ilkhanid Era based on David Beetham’s Legitimation of Power Theory

Despite their prominent religious characteristics, the most important Ilkhanid structures built in their capital are great, soaring, and regal. Historical references suggest that the final shape of the preeminent buildings was determined by Sultans and their courts. This study aims to determine a discourse relationship between the outstanding architectural works of the Ilkhanid era and the main pillars of power. To this end, David Beetham’s legitimation of power theory was adopted. This qualitative and historical study uses an analytic-descriptive method to describe the discoursal performance and instances of the main pillars of power in architectural works. The results indicated that the power elements were reflected in Ilkhanid architectural works and the concepts represented matched David Beetham’s legitimation of power theory. Building the Maragheh observatory as a science center and Takht-e Soleymān palace to build solidarity with the Sassanid rulers as the first level of power legitimation, and building Buddhist temple, churches, and mosques amid constant conflicts of common religions were examples of Arghun and his successors’ failure to continue legitimacy-creating approaches at the second level of power legitimation. At the third level, the alliance of the main pillars of power during the Islamic Ilkhanid era manifested in the most important regal buildings including Shanb Ghazan (political and religious power alliance), Rab'-e Rashidi (religious and scientific power alliance), Alishah Ark and Soltaniyeh dome (the alliance of all main pillars of power with the organization of buildings such as congregational mosques, Khanqahs, governmental Divan, bazaars, and commercial roads in a structural system) is representative of the reflection of the dominant discourse of Ilkhanate society in architectural and urban development principles of that era.