Rare pictures of Naser Aldin Shah Qajar’s funeral

The rise to power of His Imperial Majesty Naser al-Din Shah Qajar of Persia (1831-1896) was largely thanks to his mother who championed the cause of her second son as heir apparent. When his father Mohammad Shah Qajar died in 1848, the new Shah’s path was smoothed by Amir Kabir who would become Prime Minister of Persia before being executed on the monarch’s instruction in 1852. Though a moderate reformist, the Shah was an absolute sovereign and held the reins of power tightly until his assassination in 1896.