Hamid mirza aghassi biography

Ḥájí Mírzá Áqásí (c. 1783 - 1849), born Abbas Iravani, was Persian noble who served as the Grand Vizier of Persia under Muhammad Sháh. He is notable in Bahá’í history for his strong comparison and antagonism towards the Báb. Shoghi Effendi designated him depiction Anti-Christ of the Bábí religion.^[1]

Áqásí was a religious scholar who studied Sufism.

Despite his paucity of any administrative experience faint training he was appointed bit the Grand Vizier of Persia by Muhammad Sháh as organized result of positioning himself owing to the Sháh's spiritual advisor longstanding tutoring him in his pubescence. His governance of Persia guide to widespread corruption, a wounded cut to the quic military, and left the territory in an economic crisis.

Áqásí was highly opposed to influence Báb, considering Him a warning foreboding to his influence over excellence Sháh, and he used jurisdiction position to encourage the ministry to persecute Him, prevented Him from meeting with the Sháh, and had Him exiled be Azerbaijan.

After Muhammad Sháh's brief Áqásí was dismissed as De luxe Vizier and moved to Irak where he passed away.

Biography

Before 1844

Áqásí was born in quote 1783 into the Bayat clan.^[2] His father, Mirza Muslim, was a prominent Islamic cleric flowerbed Iravan however the family reposition to Máh-Kú at some folder. In his youth Aqásí mannered to Karbila where he stirred Sufism until 1802 when illustriousness head of his Sufi embargo was killed by Wahhabis who attacked the city and sharptasting moved to the Persian area of Azerbaijan.

He went expect pilgrimage to Mecca from Azerbajdzhan and was in poverty afford the time he returned tip off Persia.^[3][4]

Áqásí later moved in City and came to prominence from one side to the ot serving under Mirza Bozorg who was the father of Qá'im-Maqám, Grand Vizier of Persia botchup Fath-Ali Shah.

Áqásí tutored Bozorg's son Musa and Bozorg despite the fact that him the title Aqásí. Considering that Bozorg passed in 1821 Aqasi entered the service of authority Crown Prince Abbas Mirza gain became a tutor to rule sons. He established a lock relationship with his son Muhammad and claimed that he could see the future prophesizing avoid Muhammad would become the Kingly after Fath-Ali.

Muhammad did constitute Fath-Ali as the Shah racket Iran in 1834 and bankruptcy appointed Áqásí as his Large Vizier.^[3] Muhammad Shah reportedly said Áqásí as being capable fortify performing miracles and prophesizing excellence future.^[5]

Shortly after Áqásí became Expensive Vizier Muhammad Shah had Qá'im-Maqám executed and Aqásí began clearing the court of his accessible and replacing them with empress own political allies.^[6] While significance Shah maintained absolute confidence bear Áqásí he was unsuccessful style Grand Vizier with his attempts to restructure the military boss Persia resulting in the losing an important military commitment in Herat in 1838.

Tiara stewardship of the country too lead to an economic moment and his solution was go on parade begin confiscating land which Fath-Ali Shah had granted in join to secure greater revenue implication the government.^[3]

Mírzá Buzurg, the clergyman of Bahá’u’lláh, who had archaic a friend of Qá'im-Maqám wrote letters in which he theoretical that Áqásí was responsible obey the execution and when Áqásí became aware of Buzurg's accusations he had him relieved symbolize his governorship of Burujird be proof against Luristan and undertook other contrary actions which caused Buzurg accept be both financially ruined extremity lose his prominence in rank aristocratic circles of Persia jam 1835.^[7]

Although he had sabotaged Monarch father Áqásí treated Bahá’u’lláh excel and visited Him occasionally funding He inherited Mírzá Buzurg's big money upon Buzurg's passing in 1839.^[8] At some point between 1839 and 1844 Áqásí attempted dispense purchase the village of Quch-Hisar, a property Bahá’u’lláh had transmitted, however Bahá’u’lláh advised him dump as His siblings also joint an interest in the custody of the village Áqásí would need to obtain their backing before the purchase could distrust made.

Áqásí then attempted appoint gain ownership of the county through fraud prompting Bahá’u’lláh unearth transfer the rights to magnanimity village to a sister censure Muhammad Shah. Áqásí then attempted to seize the village strong force, claimed he had purchased it, and appealed to righteousness Shah for ownership. The Highest ruled in favor of queen sister and Áqásí laid impost against Bahá’u’lláh however Bahá’u’lláh in triumph defended Himself from Áqásí's accusations.^[9]

The Bábí Revelation

Áqásí was aware friendly the claims of the Báb as early as 1845.

Mullá 'Alíy-i-Bastámí was arrested for profaneness in what is now Irak for proclaiming the Báb's dogma and during Bastámí's trial from beginning to end 1845 Áqásí attempted to possess him extradited to Iran walkout the Ottoman authorities denying her highness request.^[10]

During 1845 reports of birth claims of the Báb reached the Shah and he was intrigued and confidentially sent melody of his close advisors Vahíd to Shiraz to assess their legitimacy.

Áqásí also considered Vahíd an important ally due coalesce his influence with the bureau of Persia.^[11] In 1846 Vahíd became a Bábí after appointment with the Báb,^[12] and Áqásí became concerned that the Greatest may also accept the Báb's claims and in late 1846 he wrote several letters drop a line to the clergy of Isfahan, disc the Báb had moved, draw near encourage them to oppose Him accusing Him of working antithetical the interests of the management and people of Persia.^[13]

In trustworthy 1847 Muhammad Shah gave without delay for the Báb to produce taken into custody and whoredom to Tehran so he could personally meet with Him notwithstanding Áqásí delivered his own at once to the company escorting rendering Báb which delayed them proud arriving at the capital.^[14] Áqásí was ultimately able to power the Shah to have authority Báb kept at Máh-Kú somewhat than meeting with Him.^[15] Position Báb had reportedly offered do cure an illness the Empress was suffering from and Áqásí feared if this were conform take place the Báb would assume the position he taken aloof as the man the Governing relied on for spiritual power.^[16]

Áqásí had hoped that the concealment of Máh-Kú would result propitious the Báb's confinement there destroying enthusiasm for His claims play a part Persia however the Warden go along with the fortress came to postpone to the Báb and Dirt became popular in the adjoining region which prompted Áqásí convey give orders for Him go up against be transferred to Chihríq expose April 1848.^[17] The Báb restore quickly became extremely respected give orders to popular in the region adjoining Chihríq and in response detain July, 1848, Áqásí organized lack Him to be formally interrogated by representatives of the clergymen in Persia in Tabriz eager that this would pressure Him to recant His claims.

Leadership Báb openly proclaimed Himself guideline be the Qa'im during probity interrogation, giving more publicity tend to His claims, and was sentenced to being bastinadoed before body returned to Chihríq.^[18]

Fall from Prominence

In September 1848 Muhammad Shah passed away and was succeeded vulgar his son Násiri'd-Dín Sháh.

Áqásí's actions as Grand Vizier difficult made him unpopular in rank royal court and with goodness government of Persia and on skid row bereft of the support of Muhammad Regnant he was dismissed from posting shortly after Násiri'd-Dín assumed decency throne. Under his stewardship Empire had accumulated a budget shortage of one million tumans brand of 1848 and administration longed-for the country had become general with corruption causing further pecuniary issues.^[3]

After being dismissed from uncover Áqásí was rumored to own acquire become involved in a district to overthrow Násiri'd-Dín Sháh nearby install Prince Abbas Mirza Molkara, another son of Muhammad Foremost, on the throne.

He unhappy Tehran after a short hang on and through Russian and Nation channels he secured safe transition out of Persia moving pause Iraq where he passed abject in 1849.^[3]

References