Saed News: Ahmad Shah Qajar ascended to the throne at the age of 13. He received courtly education from traditional and French tutors, and before reaching the age of majority, the country was governed by a regency.
Saed News History Service reports: Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last king of the Qajar dynasty, was born on 5th of Dey 1275 in the Iranian calendar (December 21, 1896) in Tehran. He was the son of Mohammad Ali Shah and the grandson of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah. Like other Qajar princes, Ahmad Mirza grew up and was educated within the traditional court environment in his early years.
Ahmad Shah’s education began in childhood. It was a combination of traditional teachings such as the Quran, Arabic language, and Islamic history, alongside French language and modern academic subjects, which formed an important part of his royal upbringing. Among his tutors was Abdullah Mostofi, the famous Qajar-era historian, who later provided a detailed depiction of Ahmad Shah’s temperament in his book Sharh Zendegani Man (An Account of My Life).
In the year 1288 (Iranian calendar), after the deposition of his father Mohammad Ali Shah by the constitutionalists, Ahmad Shah was introduced as king at the young age of just 13. From then until four years later, ‘Adud al-Mulk Qajar acted as regent to manage affairs until the king reached legal age.
Many historical sources describe Ahmad Shah as a quiet, introverted teenager who showed little interest in ruling. Abdullah Mostofi noted in his memoirs that unlike his ancestors, Ahmad Shah lacked a political spirit and was mostly influenced by those around him.
A historic photo of Ahmad Shah’s childhood classmates in military uniforms
