The Central Government and Developments in the West of Iran: Governors of Ilam

After coming to power, the Qajars in pursuit of security and continuity of government sought to suppress and dismantle local powers and their possible rivals. The governors organized military forces using natural, geographic, mountainous, and strategic conditions. Thus, Qajars recognized them as legitimate governors. The Qajars utilized the power of the governors to suppress the rebellion of Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Kermanshah regions, and to prevent the Ottoman boundary interferences. Hossein-Quli Khan was a governor who received Nasser-al-Din Shah’s support including titles and continuity of his post. After the death of Qulam-Reza Khan, Mozafar al-Din Shah continued this support for his son. Although the son was not capable like his father, he managed to secure the governorship. However, with the fall of Qajars and the rise of the Pahlavi Dynasty, he fled to Iraq and eventually the governorship collapsed. The present study sought to investigate how the relationship between the central power structure and Poshtkuh governors was, and how the equilibrium of power was established between the central government of Qajar and the said Governors. The research hypothesis is that the Qajar government has supported the governors in the pursuit of internal and border stability, and the governors have been loyal to the Qajars.