Saed News: Next, join us for images of Reza Shah Pahlavi's fourth wife, their children, and her memories of the wedding night and Taj al-Muluk’s jealousy, the second wife of Reza Shah.
Saed News History Desk Report: The following is part of the text from four sessions of interviews with Reza Shah Pahlavi's last wife, conducted in 1994 and 1995— the first interview on June 3, 1994, and subsequent ones on November 12, 1994, December 23, 1994, and May 21, 1995, just a few months before her passing. The interviews took place at her residence.
How did Taj al-Muluk (another wife of Reza Shah) react to this marriage?
Interestingly, on the wedding night, she stood at the door of the yard, visibly upset about the situation, constantly cursing and screaming. She did not want a co-wife. She had brought several people with her to disrupt the wedding, but Sardar Sepah (Reza Shah) noticed and ordered several soldiers to escort her out and take her home.
Reza Shah’s Marriages:
Reza Shah’s first marriage was to his cousin, Maryam (Safiyeh Taj Mah), with whom he lived for nine years until her death during her first childbirth. She left behind a daughter named Hamdam (Fatemeh), who was later titled Hamdam al-Saltaneh.
Reza Shah’s second wife, Taj al-Muluk, was the daughter of Mir-Panj Timur Khan Irmalo, an officer from the Caucasus. When Reza Shah married Taj al-Muluk in 1915, he held the rank of Captain, and they had four children: Shams, Mohammad Reza, Ashraf, and Alireza.
In 1921, Reza Shah decided to marry again, and his new wife was Queen Turan, daughter of Isa Khan. This marriage, which took place during Reza Shah's role as Minister of War, marked his connection to the Qajar family. They had one son, Gholamreza. After their divorce in 1923, Queen Turan did not remarry until 1942 when she married a wealthy businessman, Zabiollah Malekpour.
Taj al-Muluk’s Reaction:
In 1921, Reza Shah, having gained more power after the 1921 coup, married Turan Emirsalimani, a 17-year-old from the Qajar family, without divorcing Taj al-Muluk. Naturally, Taj al-Muluk was upset by this marriage. The union lasted only a year before it ended in separation. Taj al-Muluk, without divorcing Reza Shah, moved into a separate house due to the emotional distance in their relationship.
Esmet al-Muluk Dowlatshahi:
A year after his separation from Turan, Reza Shah married Esmet al-Muluk Dowlatshahi, and they remained married until his death. Esmet al-Muluk was the mother of Abdolreza, Ahmadreza, Mahmoudreza, Hamidreza, and Fatemeh Pahlavi.
Esmet al-Muluk was born in 1905 into a prominent Qajar family. Her father, Gholamali Mirza Mojallal al-Dowleh, was involved in governmental work. Reza Shah had previously arranged for her marriage, with her father's support, due to their close ties.
In her recollections, Esmet al-Muluk recalls that when she was 13 or 14, she had many suitors, one of whom was Reza Shah, whom she had never seen before. Despite having no prior relationship, her father praised Reza Shah, and she agreed to the marriage.
Taj al-Muluk’s Jealousy and Disputes:
Taj al-Muluk's jealousy of Esmet al-Muluk caused significant tensions, especially after Reza Shah bought a new home in the Marble Palace complex for Esmet al-Muluk, which angered Taj al-Muluk further. In particular, Taj al-Muluk was upset by Reza Shah's preference for Esmet al-Muluk, and disputes between the two women were frequent.
Hussein Fardoust writes that during the time he entered the royal court, the conflicts between Taj al-Muluk and Esmet al-Muluk were at their peak. Taj al-Muluk even sent people to provoke fights with Esmet al-Muluk, and her children were also involved in some of these confrontations.
Reza Shah's Relationship with Esmet al-Muluk:
The King's Beloved Wife
Ismat Dolatshahi talks about her life with Reza Shah: "I must admit, after marrying me, he treated me with so much kindness that he wouldn't allow the slightest discomfort to come my way. This behavior wasn't just in Iran during his reign; even when we were together on the island of Mauritius, he showed me the utmost attention... My father was appointed the head of court ceremonies during his reign. Reza Shah also had good relations with my sister, Ezzat-ol-Saltaneh. I don't know where it was, but my sister had hosted him well, and Reza Shah always praised her. I never experienced any disrespect from him, and he never once addressed me as 'you'."
"I never asked him for anything personal, but during his reign, he allocated a monthly stipend of one thousand tomans for me. When we were in Tehran, he rarely came to the inner quarters. Whether when he was Sardar Sepah or after he was crowned king, he spoke very little and usually expressed himself in a single sentence, never waiting for a response... Reza Shah spent most of his time with political and military figures. Everything he did was on schedule. He had two sisters who visited and interacted with me, but he had instructed the mother of the crown prince not to socialize with me."
Reza Shah's life with Ismat Dolatshahi continued peacefully until the Allies invaded Iran, forcing Reza Shah to abdicate the throne.
After the occupation of Iran and Reza Shah's exile to Mauritius, Ismat Dolatshahi accompanied him there. She stayed with him for about eight months, and eventually, due to poor weather and health issues, she returned to Iran under Reza Shah's orders. At the same time, Reza Shah sent a telegram to Tehran, asking Brigadier General Safari to take care of Ismat Dolatshahi's affairs and ensure that the king's beloved wife wanted for nothing.
One of Reza Shah's concerns in his final days was Ismat Dolatshahi's well-being. In the letters and telegrams he sent to Iran, he expressed his concern and urged others to look after her. This concern also extended to Taj-ol-Molouk.
In Reza Shah's absence, Taj-ol-Molouk assumed responsibility for the internal affairs of the royal family. In one of his letters, which had a will-like tone, Reza Shah asked Taj-ol-Molouk to treat Ismat Dolatshahi kindly.
In the letter, Reza Shah apologized for the complaints Taj-ol-Molouk had about their shared life, attributing the issues to his twenty years of governing the country. He then wrote about Ismat Dolatshahi: "Although I am sure that your behavior toward the mother of Shahpour Abdolreza [Ismat Dolatshahi] is entirely affectionate, I expect you to support her in my absence, and to show her kindness often to relieve me of pressure."
Reza Shah also asked her to check on the education and moral status of Shahpour's children and to ensure they feel supported in her presence. The letter concluded with Reza Shah praying for the health and happiness of every family member and hoping that the wish for a reunion would come true, with God's help, to make up for their previous hardships.
The End of Ismat Dolatshahi's Story
After returning to Iran, Ismat Dolatshahi had little contact with the Pahlavi family, focusing instead on her life and children. However, she still attended official events, and the new king always supported her. As she put it: "Sometimes, Mohammad Reza Shah would inquire about my well-being and show kindness toward me."
In 1973, about a year before her death, Ismat Dolatshahi gave several interviews with historians. When asked why she hadn't left Iran after the revolution, she responded: "I had nowhere to go. Before the revolution, I lived in a house on Seventh Street in Sa'adabad. After the revolution, my house and cars were confiscated. I then moved to Hamidreza's house on Zafaraniyeh Street, opposite the Kuwaiti Embassy, where I lived for three years until that property was also confiscated. After that, the foundation gave me this house on Pasyan Street, and I was told I could stay here for the rest of my life. Even now, none of my children contact me. I don't know why. Maybe they feel uncomfortable or are afraid. None of them ask themselves if they were always like this or if they gradually grew up. Right now, my only comfort comes from the kindness of my neighbors."
Ismat Dolatshahi passed away on July 26, 1995, at the age of 90.
