![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![](db/pages/2023/07/11/002/zimg_002_02.jpg)
Al-Din ascended to the Sun Throne in 1848 upon the death of his father, Mohammad Shah Qajar. In 1873, he was the first Iranian king to visited Europe. On the visit he became the first Persian King to be appointed a Knight of the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria. He returned for subsequent royal visits in 1878 and in 1889. Although the Shah had a desire for a modern Iran, his style of governance was dictatorial which won little support from his people. Most reforms took place under the Prime Minister Amir Kabir who he later executed.