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One of the world's longest-lasting monarchies, the Iranian monarchy went through many transformations over
the centuries, from the days of Persia to the creation of what is now modern day
Iran.
The hereditary ruler of the Iranian monarchy was the Shah, who according to royal order of
precedence, was equal in status to an Emperor. For most of its existence the
Iranian monarchy had been an absolute monarchy, although there
were attempts to reform it into a constitutional
monarchy in the early twentieth century and following World War II.
The modern Iranian monarchy was established in 1502 after the Safavid Dynasty came to power under Shah Ismail I, and ended
the so-called "fourth era" of political fragmentation. The monarchy was abolished in 1979
when a revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini forced Shah
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi into exile, and established an
Islamic Republic in its place.
Iranian monarchs since 1502
Safavid dynasty
Afsharid dynasty
Zand dynasty
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