Unseen photos from Reza Shah's coronation ceremony

Many had imagined that Reza Khan, whom they took to be an unsophisticated regimental officer, would be content with a high-sounding title and a sword of honour given by the shah. But he was not about to step aside to allow a mixed group of inexperienced though sincere idealists and foreign-influenced opportunists to rule the country. His progress toward supreme power was extraordinarily rapid. Of a forbidding appearance, he talked very little and never revealed his intentions.