Who was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Nick Name: The Emperor of Oil

Also Known As: Mohammad Reza Shah

Died At Age: 60

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Farah Diba, Fawzia Fuad of Egypt, Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari

mother: Tadj ol-Molouk

siblings: Abdul Reza Pahlavi, Ahmad Reza Pahlavi, Ali Reza Pahlavi, Ashraf Pahlavi, Fatimeh Pahlavi, Gholam Reza Pahlavi, Hamdamsaltaneh Pahlavi, Hamid Reza Pahlavi, Mahmud Reza Pahlavi, Shams Pahlavi

children: Ali-Reza Pahlavi, Farahnaz Pahlavi, Leila Pahlavi, Reza Pahlavi, Shahnaz Pahlavi

Emperors & Kings Iranian Men

Died on: July 27, 1980

place of death: Cairo, Egypt

Notable Alumni: Institut Le Rosey

Cause of Death: Lymphoma

City: Tehran, Iran (islamic Republic Of)

Founder/Co-Founder: SAVAK, Rastakhiz Party

More Facts

education: Institut Le Rosey

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What was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's role in modernizing Iran?

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi played a significant role in modernizing Iran by implementing various reforms in education, healthcare, and infrastructure during his rule.
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How did Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's policies impact the economy of Iran?

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's economic policies, including the White Revolution, aimed to modernize Iran's economy by implementing land reforms, industrialization, and infrastructure development.
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What was the significance of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's relationship with the United States?

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's close relationship with the United States had a significant impact on Iran's political landscape, leading to both economic benefits and increased tensions with other nations.
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How did Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule lead to social unrest in Iran?

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's autocratic rule and Westernization policies created social disparities and tensions within Iranian society, eventually leading to widespread protests and the Iranian Revolution.
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What was the impact of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's exile on Iran's political future?

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's exile marked the end of the Pahlavi dynasty and paved the way for the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, significantly shaping Iran's political landscape for years to come.

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Childhood & Early Life

He, along with his twin sister, Ashraf, was born on October 26, 1919, to Reza Pahlavi and his second wife, Tadj ol-Molouk. He was the third child and the eldest son of the father’s eleven children from four wives.

In 1925, when he was five years old, his father overthrew the Qajar Dynasty with British assistance, founded the Pahlavi Dynasty, and became the Shah of Iran. Upon his father’s coronation in April 1926, he was proclaimed crown prince.

In 1931, he went to the ‘Institut Le Rosey’ in Switzerland becoming the first Iranian heir apparent to study overseas. In 1936, he graduated from a high school in Iran and spent the following two years at the military academy in Tehran.

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Career

In the fall of 1941, his father was forced to abdicate the throne by the British and Russian forces who had occupied the country after a short struggle and he was crowned as the new Shah of Iran.

When World War II ended in 1945, the US and Britain withdrew from their spheres, but the Soviets refused to leave. With considerable American help, his government was able to pressurize the Soviet into withdrawing from northern Iran.

Later, with assistance from the United States, he started the ‘White Revolution’ in which he nationalized forests and water, established profit-sharing plans for the workers, emancipated women, and established literacy, sanitation, and development corps.

Gradually, he grew increasingly autocratic and took the extreme measure of outlawing all political parties except for his own favored Rastakhiz Party, thus abolishing the multi-party system. Displeased with his rule, his opponents soon began to hold strikes and street rallies to which he responded by deploying the army on the streets of Tehran.

On September 8, 1978, his troops opened fire on a demonstration by religious dissidents, killing many people. This event, known as ‘Black Friday’ turned out to be the beginning of the end for him as a ruler.

In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei led a revolution forcing him and his family into exile. His family traveled to Morocco, the Bahamas, and Mexico within the first six months of exile. Later, he became ill and was granted permission to receive medical treatment in the United States where he spent some time and then went to Egypt.

Major Works

He introduced a national development program called the ‘White Revolution’ that included construction of an expanded road, rail, and air network, the encouragement and support to industrial growth, and land reforms.

He also established literacy and health corps for the isolated rural population. In the 1960-70s, he sought to develop a more independent foreign policy and established working relationships with the Soviet Union and eastern European nations.

Awards & Achievements

In 1957, he was decorated with the ‘Grand Collar of the Order of the Yoke and Arrows of Spain’. The same year, he received the ‘Grand Cross w/ Collar of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy’.

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In 1959, he was knighted with the ‘Order of the Elephant of Denmark’. The same year, he also got decorated with the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion’.

In 1960, he received the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer of Greece’ and the ‘Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold of Belgium’.

In 1965, he was decorated with the ‘Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross of Brazil’.

In 1966, he was conferred with the ‘Order of the Flag with Diamonds’ by Hungary and the ‘Grand Cordon of the Grand Star of Yugoslavia’.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1939, he married Dilawar Princess Fawzia of Egypt, daughter of King Fuad I of Egypt. They had one child together, Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi, but the couple later got divorced.

In 1951, Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari, a half-German half-Iranian woman, became his second wife. However, when it became apparent that even with help from medical doctors she could not bear children, he divorced her.

Then he married Farah Diba and they were blessed with four children; two sons, Prince Reza Pahlavi and Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi, and two daughters, Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi and Princess Leila Pahlavi .

In March 1980, he underwent treatment in Cairo for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. He died on July 27, 1980 at the age of 60, and was buried in the Al Rifa'i Mosque in Cairo.

Facts About Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was an avid collector of art and artifacts, amassing a large and impressive collection during his reign as the Shah of Iran.

He was known for his love of fast cars and was often seen driving exotic sports cars around Tehran, earning him the nickname "the racing Shah."

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a skilled pilot and enjoyed flying his own planes, taking to the skies as a hobby during his leisure time.

He had a passion for modernizing Iran and embarked on ambitious infrastructure projects aimed at improving the country's economy and social development.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Biography

You wanted to know

What was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's role in modernizing Iran?

How did Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's policies impact the economy of Iran?

What was the significance of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's relationship with the United States?

How did Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule lead to social unrest in Iran?

What was the impact of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's exile on Iran's political future?