A content analysis of the petitions submitted by the Azerbaijanis to Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar (1301-1303 AH)

A petition includes different problems by which, people are involved in. Since it was impossible to eliminate and solve the problems simply and normally, the petitioners sought the king protection. Thus, either the king himself directly responded, or he obligated the princes, rulers, or other authorities to do so. The objective of this article is to be acquainted with different social problems in Iranian Azerbaijan province during three years of Naser al-din Shah reign, the documents include petitions by Iranian Azerbaijan province residences such cities as Tabriz, Urumieh, Ardabil, Mianaj, Khoy, Khalkhal, Marand, Salmas, Savojbolaq, Jolfa, Saeen Qal’eh, and Maragheh between 1301 – 1303 AH. The research method used in this article is historical (inductive) one, and a descriptive – analytic method was used for compilation and writing of it. Also, compilation of data and information was made as libraryly and documentary. Special attempts were made to describe and analyse the contents of petitions by residents in Iranian Azerbaijan Province during the reign of Nasser al-din Shah Qajar. The study and analysis of the petitions show that lack of formation of administrative institutes, absense of life and financial security caused by domestic rulers, and above all, the Shah consideration and following through the petitions were the main reasons for people to represent their petitions to the modernized, Europe – visited Nasser al-din Shah Qajar.