A loveless marriage, a secret trip to the Vatican, a princess who died abroad as a Christian

This article is about the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty Rza of the king and His wife, Nimtaj, is about Prince Shams, his first child.

He was born in 1917. His father was still a colonel in the Cossack division, not even a general. But when Shams was 8 years old, his father ascended the throne and became the king of Iran. Let me tell you that, Some sources claim that her name was Khadija when she was born, and that her father was given the title of Shamsulmulk after his accession to the throne, which resulted in her being called Shams for short.

His name was first mentioned in 1932 in connection with public activities. The same year, the second conference of Eastern women was held in Tehran. Australia, China, Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Japan, Greece and At the conference, which was attended by representatives from Zanzibar, 15-year-old Shams was elected honorary chairman, and an Iranian feminist named Sidiga Dovlatabadi was elected secretary.

In these years Rza the shah pursued a policy of emancipation of women. Of 1936 JanuaryShams on the 8th, his mother Tajulmulk and He and his sister Ashraf attended a graduation ceremony at Tehran Pedagogical College. All three women were wearing headscarves and Western clothing. Their pictures were published in newspapers and On the same day, the shah issued an edict forbidding the wearing of the hijab, which would later be called “kashf-e hijab” (opening of the hijab).

But the emancipation took place, and in 1937 the Shah married Firudin Jama without consulting Shams. The groom was the son of Mahmoud Jamin, who held the post of Prime Minister of Iran at that time (1935-1939). Shams did not love her husband and In 1944, immediately after her father’s death, she divorced him.

In the summer of 1941, the Great Iran Britain and It was occupied by the USSR troops. The two countries accused the king of pursuing a pro-German policy and forced him to relinquish the throne in favor of his son. The former shah was sent first to Mauritius and then to South Africa. Among those who accompanied him in exile was his daughter Shams. He later published his memoirs in the Ettelaat newspaper.

Shams married Mehrdad Pahlbod (Izzatullah Minbashian) in 1945.

Her husband came from a musical family. His grandfather Gulamrza Minbashian was considered one of the founders of Iranian classical music. His father and his uncle was also a musician.

This marriage was not to the king’s liking and the couple had to live in exile in 1945-1947. Even the title of His Majesty the Prince of Shams was taken away, but then returned and they were allowed to return to Iran. Mehrdad even served as Iran’s Minister of Culture from 1964 to 1978. Shams said, “The Red Cross and The Red Lion, the Iranian analogue of the Red Crescent and The Sun (Shir-i Khurshid – ed.) until 1978. Their two sons and became a daughter.

But all this would happen later…

Shortly after returning to Iran, Shams and his family was deported again. This was due to the events of 1952-53, when Musaddiq was prime minister. The family returned to the country after the prime minister was overthrown in a CIA operation.

Between these two events, the prince converted to Catholicism. Her husband under her influence and their children took the same step. It is clear that, this issue was kept secret from the people. Shams went to the Vatican with her husband in 1974 to meet with the Pope, but these meetings were kept secret from the press.

The prince was suffering from asthma and to it according to He preferred to live in Karaj, which has a dry climate, rather than Tehran. It used to have an area of ​​3,000 hectares. When the Shah’s reforms called the White Revolution began, most of the land was given to the peasants in exchange for state money, leaving 111 hectares.

He built a building in a part of the area called “Miravari Palace” (Kakh-e Morvarid) due to its appearance. The palace, built by Taliesin Associated Architects, designed by the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, cost $ 1 million. This was many times more than in 1969, when the palace was opened.

An artificial lake where salmon was grown surrounded the palace on three sides. In addition, a golf course in the area and there was also a helicopter pad.

Like all members of the Shah’s family, Shams was not immune to corruption. He was either the owner or a major shareholder in companies operating in various sectors of the Iranian economy. The prince had taken a number of concessions from his brother. For example, nothing he imports according to did not pay customs duties. This privilege of Shams was used not only by him, but also by other importers. In exchange for the bribe, goods were imported in the name of his companies.

However, Shams was not as hated in Iranian society as his sister Ashraf. Most likely, too that, to politics snowcan be explained by the lack of light.

At a time when the revolutionary movement in Iran was taking a very dangerous turn, in late 1978, Shams left Iran with his family, as well as his mother. They first settled in the United States in Beverly Hills. However, Iranian students studying in the United States had to relocate several times due to the attack. Finally, after the tension subsided, they lived in Santa Barbara.

Shams Pahlavi died of cancer in 1996 in Santa Barbara and was buried in a local cemetery according to Christian rules. Her husband Mehrdad 2018died at the age of 101.

The famous Pearl Palace of the Prince was registered as a cultural heritage of Iran at the beginning of the XXI century. However, the building is in a dilapidated condition due to neglect. Iranian cultural figures often sound the alarm. But the repair of the palace cost several million dollars is required that, Iran’s financial situation does not allow it.