Editing List of monarchs of Iran (section)

== Modern Iran (1501–1979) ==

=== Safavid Iran (1501–1722) ===
{{See also|Safavid Iran|Safavid dynasty}}[[File:Safavid dynasty (greatest extent).svg|thumb|[[Safavid Iran]] under [[Abbas the Great]]|190px]]
Of native Iranian (possibly [[Kurds|Kurdish]]) origins,<ref>
* {{Harvnb|Savory|1970|p=394}}: "Despite recent research, the origins of the Safavid family are still obscure. Such evidence as we have seems to suggest that the family hailed from Kurdistān. What does seem certain is that the Safavids were of native Iranian stock, and spoke Āzarī, the form of Turkish used in Āzarbāyjān. Our lack of reliable information derives from the fact that the Safavids, after the establishment of the Safavid state, deliberately falsified the evidence of their own origins."
* {{Harvnb|Amoretti|Matthee|2009}}: "Of Kurdish ancestry, the Ṣafavids started as a Sunnī mystical order (...)"
* {{Harvnb|Matthee|2005|p=18}}: "The Safavids, as Iranians of Kurdish ancestry and of nontribal background, did not fit this pattern, although the stat they set up with the aid of Turkmen tribal forces of Eastern Anatolia closely resembled this division in its makeup. Yet, the Turk versus Tajik division was not impregnable."
* {{Harvnb|Matthee|2008}}: "As Persians of Kurdish ancestry and of a non-tribal background, the Safavids did not fit this pattern, though the state they set up with the assistance of Turkmen tribal forces of eastern Anatolia closely resembled this division in its makeup."
* {{Harvnb|Savory|2008|p=8}}: "This official version contains textual changes designed to obscure the Kurdish origins of the Safavid family and to vindicate their claim to descent from the Imams."
* {{Harvnb|Hamid|2006|p=456–474}}: "The Safavids originated as a hereditary lineage of Sufi shaikhs centered on Ardabil, Shafeʿite in school and probably Kurdish in origin."
* {{Harvnb|Amanat|2017|p=40}} "The Safavi house originally was among the landowning nobility of Kurdish origin, with affinity to the Ahl-e Haqq in Kurdistan (chart 1). In the twelfth century, the family settled in northeastern Azarbaijan, where Safi al-Din Ardabili (d. 1334), the patriarch of the Safavid house and Ismail's ancestor dating back six generations, was a revered Sufi leader."
* {{harvnb|Tapper|1997|p=39}}: "The Safavid Shahs who ruled Iran between 1501 and 1722 descended from Sheikh Safi ad-Din of Ardabil (1252–1334). Sheikh Safi and his immediate successors were renowned as holy ascetics Sufis. Their own origins were obscure; probably of Kurdish or Iranian extraction, they later claimed descent from the Prophet."
* {{harvnb|Manz|2021|p=169}}: "The Safavid dynasty was of Iranian – probably Kurdish – extraction and had its beginnings as a Sufi order located at Ardabil near the eastern border of Azerbaijan, in a region favorable for both agriculture and pastoralism."</ref> the [[Safavid dynasty]] originated as the leaders of the medieval mystic [[Safavid order]]. In 1499, the Safavid ''[[sheikh]]'' [[Ismail I|Ismail]] defeated the [[Shirvanshahs]] of Azerbaijan and began to wrest control of Iran from the Aq Qoyunlu. The power of the Aq Qoyunlu was decisively broken in 1501 with the defeat of [[Alvand Beg]].{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}} In 1502, Ismail crowned himself ''šâhanšâh'' at [[Tabriz]].{{Sfn|Rahimi|2011|p=166}} The rise of the Safavids is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, with their state being the earliest stage of the modern Iranian [[nation state]].{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}} Through further conquests, the Safavids restored Iran as a single Iranian political unit and retransformed the tribal nomadic order of the land, established during its period under Turko-Mongol rule, into a sedentary society. [[Shia Islam]] was for the first time established as the state religion.{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}}

The Safavids ruled as ''šâhanšâh-e Irân'' ({{Literal translation|King of Kings of Iran}}).{{Sfn|O'Brien|2022|p=47}} The initial capital of the Safavid Empire was at Tabriz. Due to conflict with the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the west, the capital was moved eastwards to [[Qazvin]] in 1548, and then to [[Isfahan]] in the 1590s.{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Portrait of Shah Ismail I. Inscribed "Ismael Sophy Rex Pers". Painted by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, dated 1552-1568.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ismail I]]'''
|11 May 1502 – 22/23 May 1524{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1502|5|11|1524|5|22}})</small>
|Conquered and reunified Iran{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}}
|-
|[[File:Portrait of Shah Tahmasp I. Inscribed "Tammas Pers". Painted by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, dated 1552-1568.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Tahmasp I]]'''
|22/23 May 1524 – 22 August 1576{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1524|5|22|1576|8|22}})</small>
|Son of Ismail I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Shah Ismayil I.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ismail II]]'''
|22 August 1576 – 11 February 1578{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1576|8|22|1578|2|11}})</small>
|Son of Tahmasp I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Illustration of the Safavid shah Mohammad Khodabandeh.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Mohammad Khodabanda]]'''
|11 February 1578 – 2 December 1587{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1578|2|11|1587|12|2}})</small>
|Son of Tahmasp I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:ShahAbbasPortraitFromItalianPainter.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Abbas the Great|Abbas I]]'''<br /><small>''the Great''</small>
|2 December 1587 – 21 January 1629{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1587|12|2|1629|1|21}})</small>
|Son of Mohammad Khodabanda{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Shah Safi I of Persia on Horseback Carrying a Mace- Sahand Ace.png|65px]]
|'''[[Safi of Persia|Safi I]]'''
|21 January 1629 – 12 May 1642{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1629|1|21|1642|5|12}})</small>
|Grandson of Abbas I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Abbas II of Persia.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Abbas II of Persia|Abbas II]]'''
|12 May 1642 – 27 September 1667{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1642|5|12|1667|9|27}})</small>
|Son of Safi I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Portrait of a ruler of Persia, painted by a follower of Ali Quli Jabbadar, Safavid Iran.jpg|65px]]
|'''Safi II'''{{efn|The coronation of Safi II was followed by epidemics and famine. Court astrologers thus declared that he had been crowned at an inauspicious time. This prompted the ''shah'' to have himself re-crowned under the name Suleiman I in 1668.{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}}}} <small>(1667–1668)</small><br />'''[[Suleiman I of Persia|Suleiman I]]''' <small>(1668–1694)</small>
|3 October 1667 – 30 January 1694{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1667|10|3|1694|1|30}})</small>
|Son of Abbas II{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Sultan Husayn of Persia.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Soltan Hoseyn|Soltan Hoseyn I]]'''
|28 April 1694 – 22 October 1722{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1694|4|28|1722|10|22}})</small>
|Son of Suleiman I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|}

=== Intermediate period (1722–1796) ===
Complex rivalries in the region of [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]] led to the Afghan [[Hotak dynasty]] invading Iran. In 1722, this conflict led to the collapse of the Safavid Empire after the [[siege of Isfahan]].{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}}{{Sfn|Aghaie|2012|p=306}} The brief interlude between 1722 and the rise of the [[Qajar dynasty]] in 1789–1796 was marked by widespread political turmoil in Iran and several rival attempts to establish power over the country. The Safavids failed to regain power and the Hotaks failed to establish control. The rival [[Afsharid Iran|Afsharid]] and [[Zand dynasty|Zand]] dynasties were established by [[Nader Shah]] (1736–1747) and [[Karim Khan Zand|Karim Khan]] (1751–1779), respectively. Although both of these founding figures established their rule over large parts of the former Safavid domain, the political influence of their dynasties swiftly collapsed under their successors.{{Sfn|Aghaie|2012|p=306}}

==== Hotaks (1722–1729) ====
{{See also|Hotak dynasty}}
[[File:Hotak dynasty (greatest extent).svg|thumb|The [[Hotak dynasty]] under [[Mahmud Hotak]]|190px]]
In 1701, unrest among the [[Ghilji]] [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] tribe of [[Afghanistan]] led to a rebellion against the Safavids. This uprising was suppressed by the local commander, [[George XI of Kartli]], but the Afghan anti-Safavid movement continued under [[Mirwais Hotak]] and his son, [[Mahmud Hotak]]. Mahmud initially feigned loyalty and was officially appointed as governor of [[Kandahar]]. In 1720, he began raiding the [[Kerman]] area and in March 1722, a larger hastily assembled and more powerful Safavid army was defeated at the [[Battle of Gulnabad]]. Following a six-month [[siege of Isfahan]], [[Soltan Hoseyn|Soltan Hoseyn I]] formally submitted to Mahmud and recognized him as the new ''shah'' of Iran.{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}} The Hotak rulers of Iran ruled from the former Safavid capital of Isfahan.{{Sfn|Balland|1987}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:SHAH-MAHMUD-HOTAK.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Mahmud Hotak]]'''
|22 October 1722 – April/May 1725{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1722|10|22|1725|4}})</small>
|Invaded and seized power from Soltan Hoseyn I{{Sfn|Balland|1987}}
|-
|[[File:Ashraf Shah Hotaki 1725-1729.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ashraf Hotak]]'''
|April/May 1725 – 1729{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>(4 years)</small>
|Cousin of Mahmud Hotak; murdered and overthrew Mahmud{{Sfn|Balland|1987}}
|}

==== Safavid dynasts (1722–1773) ====
When news of the fall of Isfahan reached Soltan Hoseyn I's son [[Tahmasp II]] at Qazvin, Tahmasp proclaimed himself ''shah''.{{Sfn|Matthee|2008}} Pro-Safavid forces successfully defeated Ashraf Hotak in 1729 and forced to Afghan forces out of Iran.{{Sfn|Balland|1987}} Tahmasp failed to assert his authority in the aftermath of the Hotak invasion and the effective ruler of Iran was instead the general [[Nader Shah|Nader Khan]]. In 1732, Nader deposed Tahmasp and replaced him with the eight-month old [[Abbas III]]. Abbas was in turn deposed in 1736 and Nader Khan was proclaimed the new ''shah'' of Iran under the name Nader Shah, terminating the Safavid dynasty.{{Sfn|Savory|1982}} Safavid descendants continued to emerge for some time after 1736 as pretenders or as figurehead rulers put forward by warlords vying for power in Iran.{{Sfn|Perry|1998}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Coin of Tahmasp II, minted in Ganja (obverse).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Tahmasp II]]'''
|31 October 1722{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}} – August 1732{{Sfn|Savory|1982}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1722|10|22|1732|8}})</small>
|Son of Soltan Hoseyn I{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|[[File:Abbas III.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Abbas III]]'''
|7 September 1732 – 8 March 1736{{Sfn|Savory|1982}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1732|9|7|1736|3|8}})</small>
|Son of Tahmasp II{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}
|-
|colspan="4" style="background:#E6E6E6;"|No recognized Safavid ruler 1736–1750
|-
|[[File:Suleiman II of Iran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Suleiman II of Persia|Suleiman II]]'''
|13 January – March 1750{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}<br /><small>(2 months)</small>
|Grandson of Suleiman I.{{Sfn|Floor|2005|pp=435–481}} Proclaimed ''shah'' at [[Mashhad]] after the deposition of Shahrokh Shah (Afsharid) and ruled until Shahrokh was restored.{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
|-
|[[File:Coin minted in the name of Ismail III in Mazandaran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ismail III]]'''
|Summer 1750 – 1773{{Sfn|Perry|1998}}<br /><small>(23 years)</small>
|Grandson of Soltan Hoseyn I. Proclaimed ''shah'' at Isfahan by [[Karim Khan Zand]] in 1750, as a puppet ruler.{{Sfn|Perry|1998}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Soltan Hoseyn II]]'''
|1752{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}/1753{{Sfn|Perry|1971|pp=63–72}}
|Son of an [[Azerbaijanis|Azeri]] man and an [[Armenians|Armenian]] woman, but claimed to be a son of Tahmasp II.{{Sfn|Perry|1971|pp=63–72}} Proclaimed ''shah'' at Baghdad by [[Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari]], as a puppet ruler.{{Sfn|Perry|1971|pp=63–72}}
|}
==== Afsharids (1736–1796) ====
{{See also|Afsharid Iran|Afsharid dynasty}}
[[File:Afsharid dynasty (greatest extent).svg|thumb|[[Afsharid Iran]] under [[Nader Shah]]|190px]]
The [[Afsharid dynasty]] was established by [[Nader Shah]], a general under the Safavids who seized control of the empire in 1736 after the deposition of Abbas III.{{Sfn|Savory|1982}} Nader was a powerful conqueror but the Afsharid Empire quickly collapsed after his assassination in 1747. Large territories fell to the rival [[Zand dynasty]] as well as the Afghan [[Durrani Empire]]. The domain of Nader's heirs became largely confined to the Iranian parts of [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]]. For most of its later history, the Afsharid state was dominated by military leaders or other court factions.{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}} The Afsharids ruled with the style of ''šâhanšâh''{{Sfn|Tucker|2022|p=9}} and their capital was at [[Mashhad]].{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Contemporary portrait of Nader Shah. Artist unknown, created in ca. 1740 in Iran (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Nader Shah]]'''
|8 March 1736 – 20 June 1747{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1736|3|8|1747|6|20}})</small>
|General; deposed Abbas III{{Sfn|Savory|1982}}
|-
|[[File:Portrait of Adel Shah.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Adel Shah]]'''
|6 July 1747{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}} – 24 September 1748{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1747|8|6|1748|9|24}})</small>
|Nephew of Nader Shah; proclaimed ruler after Nader's assassination{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Shahrokh Afshar, struck at the Ganja mint (obverse).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Shahrokh Shah]]'''
|1 October 1748{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}} – 13 January 1750{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}<br /><small>(</small><small>''1st reign'')</small><br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1748|10|1|1750|1|13}})</small>
|Grandson of Nader Shah and matrilineal grandson of Soltan Hoseyn I (Safavid). Proclaimed ruler by tribal leaders at Mashhad in opposition to Adel.{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Ebrahim Shah Afshar, struck at the Tiflis mint (obverse).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ebrahim Afshar|Ebrahim Shah]]'''
|8 December 1748 – December 1749{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}}<br /><small>(~1 year)</small>
|Brother of Adel Shah; proclaimed ruler (in opposition to Shahrokh Shah) after deposing and blinding Adel{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
|-
|colspan="4" style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Shahrokh Shah was removed from the throne in January–March 1750 in favor of the Safavid ruler [[Suleiman II of Persia|Suleiman II]]{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Shahrokh Afshar, struck at the Ganja mint (obverse).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Shahrokh Shah]]'''
|March 1750{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}} – 1796{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=310}} <small>(''2nd reign'')</small><br /><small>(46 years)</small>
|Restored to the throne{{Sfn|Perry|1984b}}
|}

==== Zands (1751–1794) ====
{{See also|Zand dynasty}}
[[File:Zand dynasty.svg|thumb|Land held by the [[Zand dynasty]] under [[Lotf Ali Khan]]|190px]]
In the aftermath of Nader Shah's assassination, the [[Zand dynasty|Zand]] family grew to become the most powerful rivals of the Afsharids and seized control of much of Iran in the 1750s.{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=13}} Established by the tribal leader [[Karim Khan Zand]], the Zand rulers never proclaimed themselves to be ''shah''s.{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=13}}''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}'' Instead, they presented themselves as regents of Iran, at first on behalf of the Safavid puppet [[Ismail III]] (1750–1773) and then on behalf of the Iranian people.{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=13}}''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}'' Karim Khan Zand ruled with the title of ''khân'', as well as the style of ''wakil'' (regent) or ''wakil-al-raʿāyāʾ'' ({{Literal translation|regent of the people}}).''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}'' His successors ruled simply as ''khân'', though were often considered to be "kings" by European observers.''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}'' The Zand dynasty ruled from [[Shiraz]].''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Karim Khan-e Zand.png|65px]]
|[[Karim Khan Zand|Karim Khan]]
|1751 – 1 March 1779''{{Sfn|Perry|2011}}''<br /><small>(28 years)</small>
|Seized power over much of Iran{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=13}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Mohammad-Ali Khan Zand|Mohammad-Ali Khan]]
|2 March – 19 June 1779{{Sfn|Busse|1983}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1779|3|2|1779|6|19}})</small>
|Son of Karim Khan.''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}'' Joint co-ruler with his brother Abol-Fath Khan.{{Sfn|Busse|1983}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Abol-Fath Khan Zand|Abol-Fath Khan]]
|2 March – 22 August 1779{{Sfn|Busse|1983}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1779|3|2|1779|8|22}})</small>
|Son of Karim Khan.''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}'' Initially joint co-ruler with his brother Mohammad-Ali Khan.{{Sfn|Busse|1983}}
|-
|[[File:Image of sadiq khan zand.png|60px]]
|[[Sadeq Khan Zand|Sadeq Khan]]
|22 August 1779 – 14 March 1781{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=311}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1779|8|22|1781|3|14}})</small>
|Brother of Karim Khan''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}''
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Ali-Morad Khan Zand|Ali-Morad Khan]]
|14 March 1781 – 10 January 1785{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=311}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1781|3|14|1785|1|10}})</small>
|Member of the 'Hazāra' branch of the Zand family''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}''
|-
|[[File:Ja`far Khan.png|60px]]
|[[Jafar Khan]]
|17 January 1785 – 23 January 1789{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=311}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1785|1|17|1789|1|23}})</small>
|Son of Sadeq Khan''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}''
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Sayed Morad Khan]]
|23 January – 7 May 1789{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=311}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1789|1|23|1789|5|7}})</small>
|Cousin of Ali-Morad Khan. Mutinied against Jafar Khan (leading to Jafar's death) and opposed the accession of Jafar's son, Lotf Ali Khan.''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}''
|-
|[[File:Lotf Ali Khan Zand.jpg|65px]]
|[[Lotf Ali Khan]]
|7 May 1789{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=311}} – November 1794''{{Sfn|Perry|2000}}''<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1789|5|7|1794|11}})</small>
|Son of Jafar Khan.{{Sfn|Spuler|1977|p=311}}
|}

=== Qajar Iran (1789–1925) ===
{{See also|Qajar Iran|Qajar dynasty}}
[[File:Qajar dynasty (greatest extent).svg|thumb|[[Qajar Iran]] under [[Agha Mohammad Shah]]|190px]]
The Qajar dynasty originated as a local [[Turkoman (ethnonym)|Turkoman]]{{sfn|Perry|1984|pp=602–605}} noble family in northern Iran, under the Safavids.{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=13}} The Qajars gradually increased in power as other families fought each other in Iran, culminating in [[Agha Mohammad Shah]] proclaiming himself ruler in 1789, in opposition to the Afsharids and Zands.{{sfn|Perry|1984|pp=602–605}} Agha Mohammad defeated the Zand dynasty in 1794{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=13}} and was officially crowned in 1796.{{sfn|Perry|1984|pp=602–605}} Shortly thereafter, he captured and deposed the Afsharid Shahrokh Shah, reunifying Iran under a single ruler.{{sfn|Perry|1984|pp=602–605}}

Agha Mohammad Shah ruled with the title ''khân'' and later ''šâh'', never assuming the more grandiose ''šâhanšâh''.{{sfn|Amanat|1997|p=10}} Agha Mohammad's successor, [[Fath-Ali Shah Qajar|Fath-Ali Shah]], assumed both ''šâhanšâh'' and the Mongol ''khagan'',{{sfn|Amanat|1997|p=10}} titles frequently used by later Qajar rulers.{{sfn|Ashraf|2024|p=48}} Many other honorifics of imperial and religious significance were also used by the Qajar rulers.{{sfn|Amanat|1997|p=10}} The Qajar dynasty ruled from [[Tehran]], inaugurated as Iran's capital in the 1780s under Agha Mohammad Shah.{{sfn|Amanat|1997|p=12}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Agha mohamad khan qajar (cropped).JPG|65px]]
|[[Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar|'''Agha Mohammad Khan''']]
|1789{{sfn|Perry|1984|pp=602–605}} – 17 June 1797{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>(8 years)</small>
|Seized power and reunified Iran 1789–1796{{sfn|Perry|1984|pp=602–605}}
|-
|[[File:Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar (reg. 1798-1834), Persia, second half of the 19th Century.jpg|65px]]
|[[Fath-Ali Shah Qajar|'''Fath-Ali Shah''']]
|17 June 1797 – 23 October 1834{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1797|6|17|1834|10|23}})</small>
|Nephew of Agha Mohammad Shah{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=397}}
|-
|[[File:Mohammad Shah.jpg|65px]]
|[[Mohammad Shah Qajar|'''Mohammad Shah''']]
|23 October 1834 – 5 September 1848{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1834|10|23|1848|9|5}})</small>
|Grandson of Fath-Ali Shah{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=397}}
|-
|[[File:Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, close up, with slight smile by Nadar.png|65px]]
|[[Naser al-Din Shah Qajar|'''Naser al-Din Shah''']]
|5 September 1848 – 1 May 1896{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1848|9|5|1896|5|1}})</small>
|Son of Mohammad Shah{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=397}}
|-
|[[File:Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar portrait.jpg|65px]]
|[[Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar|'''Mozaffar ad-Din Shah''']]
|1 May 1896 – 3 January 1907{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1896|5|1|1907|1|3}})</small>
|Son of Naser al-Din Shah{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=397}}
|-
|[[File:Mohammad Ali Shah.jpg|65px]]
|[[Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar|'''Mohammad Ali Shah''']]
|3 January 1907 – 16 July 1909{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1907|1|3|1909|7|16}})</small>
|Son of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=397}}
|-
|[[File:AhmadShahQajar2 (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Ahmad Shah Qajar|'''Ahmad Shah''']]
|16 July 1909 – 15 December 1925{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1909|7|16|1925|12|15}})</small>
|Son of Mohammad Ali Shah{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=397}}
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ Later pretenders (1925–1943)
|-
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Tenure
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:AhmadShahQajar2 (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Ahmad Shah Qajar|Ahmad Shah]]
|15 December 1925{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=20}} – 27 February 1930{{Sfn|Majd|2012|p=364}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1925|12|15|1930|2|27}})</small>
|Ruler of Iran 1909–1925. Died in exile in France.{{Sfn|Majd|2012|p=13}}
|-
|[[File:Mohammad Hassan Mirza portrait 2.jpg|65px]]
|[[Mohammad Hassan Mirza]]
|27 February 1930{{Sfn|Majd|2012|p=364}} – 7 January 1943{{Sfn|Majd|2016|p=356}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1930|2|27|1942|1|7}})</small>
|Son of Mohammad Ali Shah and designated successor of Ahmad Shah (his brother).{{Sfn|Majd|2016|p=356}}
|-
|[[File:Hamid Mirza.jpg|65px]]
|[[Hamid Mirza]]
|''No formal claim put forth''
|Son of Mohammad Hassan Mirza. Viewed himself as the rightful heir after his father's death but did not officially claim the throne.{{Sfn|Majd|2012|p=369}} Was monitored by the [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]] in 1943 over whether he would declare himself Shah of Iran.{{Sfn|Majd|2012|p=367}}
|-
|[[File:Fereydoun Mirza.jpg|65px]]
|[[Fereydoun Mirza Qajar|Fereydoun Mirza]]
|''No formal claim put forth''
|Son of Ahmad Shah. While he lived in Switzerland in 1943, the [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]] intercepted and suppressed messages from relatives urging Fereydoun to declare himself the rightful Shah of Iran.{{Sfn|Majd|2012|p=367}}
|-
|colspan="4" style="background:#E6E6E6;"|<!-- Later heads of the family shouldn't be added here since they did not claim the Iranian throne -->There continues to be recognized heads of the Qajar family in exile to the present day, though the family has renounced all claims to rule through lineage and does not endorse political activity under its coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |postid=CniG-yVt7PB |user=qajar.association |title=Official Statement of the Qajar Association |date=17 January 2023}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2025}}
|}

=== Pahlavi Iran (1925–1979) ===
{{See also|Pahlavi Iran|Pahlavi dynasty}}
[[File:Iran (orthographic projection).svg|thumb|Map of [[Pahlavi Iran]]|190px]]
During the late Qajar dynasty, Iran became increasingly embroiled in internal political turmoil over the extent of the monarch's power, among other events leading to the [[Persian Constitutional Revolution]] (1905–1911). In 1923, the brigade commander [[Reza Shah|Reza Khan]] quickly rose through the ranks to become [[Prime Minister of Iran|prime minister]].{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=14}} In 1925, Reza succeeded in deposing Ahmad Shah and having himself proclaimed by Iran's National Assembly first as regent and then as the new monarch.{{Sfn|Hiro|2011|p=29}} As his family name, Reza took ''Pahlavi'', after the [[Middle Persian|Pahlavi language]] of the pre-Islamic [[Sasanian Empire]].{{Sfn|Hiro|2011|p=29}}

The Pahlavi rulers styled themselves as ''šâhanšâh-e Irân'' ({{Literal translation|King of Kings of Iran}}).{{Sfn|Hiro|2011|p=29}}''{{Sfn|Bulloch|Morris|2017|p=202}}'' [[Tehran]] remained the capital of Iran under Pahlavi rule.{{Sfn|Lee|2024|p=105}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Reza shah uniform.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Reza Shah]]'''
|15 December 1925 – 16 September 1941{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=21}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1925|12|15|1941|9|16}})</small>
|Former prime minister{{Sfn|Baker|2005|p=14}}
|-
|[[File:Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (cropped).png|65px]]
|[[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|'''Mohammad Reza Shah''']]
|16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=21}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1941|9|16|1979|2|11}})</small>
|Son of Reza Shah{{Sfn|Hiro|2011|p=29}}
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ Later pretenders (1979–present)
|-
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Tenure
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Shahanshah Aryamehr 2.jpg|65px]]
|[[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Mohammad Reza Shah]]
|11 February 1979{{Sfn|Papoli-Yazdi|Dezhamkhooy|2021|p=21}} – 27 July 1980{{Sfn|Lea|2001|p=55}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1979|2|11|1980|7|27}})</small>
|Ruler of Iran 1941–1979. Died in exile in Egypt.{{Sfn|Lea|2001|p=55}}
|-
|[[File:Shahbanu of Iran.jpg|65px]]
|[[Farah Pahlavi]]
|27 July – 31 October 1980<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1980|7|27|1980|10|31}})</small>
|As regent
|-
|[[File:Reza Pahlavi Crown Prince of Iran 1973.jpg|65px]]
|[[Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran|Reza Pahlavi]]<br /><small>("Reza Shah II"{{Sfn|Brentjes|1999|p=160}})</small>
|31 October 1980{{Sfn|Brentjes|1999|p=160}} – present<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|1980|10|31}})</small>
|Son of Mohammad Reza Shah. Proclaimed himself "Reza Shah II", rightful ruler of Iran, in October 1980.{{Sfn|Brentjes|1999|p=160}} Has voiced support for democracy but has not renounced his claim to the throne.{{Sfn|Kazemzadeh|2022|p=124}}
|}