Persepolis Timeline

founding of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company

Apr 14, 1909

Ahmad Qajar, Marjane's great grandfather, becomes Shah

Jul 16, 1909

Reign of Ahmad Qajar

Period: Jul 16, 1909 to Dec 15, 1925

Britain purchases 51% of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company

Apr 14, 1914

Reza Pahlavi begins a coup d'etat against Ahmad Qajar

Feb 22, 1921

Ahmad Qajar is overthrown, end of the Qajar dynasty

Oct 31, 1925

Reza Pahlavi becomes the new Shah of Persia

Dec 15, 1925

Reign of Reza Shah

Period: Dec 15, 1925 to Sep 16, 1941

Persia is renamed to Iran

Mar 21, 1935

World War II

Period: Sep 1, 1939 to Sep 2, 1945

Allied forces begin to occupy Iran

Aug 25, 1941

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi succeeds his father as the Shah

Sep 16, 1941

Reign of Reza Pahlavi

Period: Sep 16, 1941 to Feb 11, 1979

Mohammad Mossadegh elected to Parliament in support of Iranian independence

Mar 7, 1944

Azerbaijan declares independence from Iran supported by the Soviet Union

Nov 20, 1945

Fereydun Ebrahimi, Marjane's great uncle, becomes Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan

Nov 20, 1945

Iran Crisis of 1946

Period: Nov 20, 1945 to Dec 12, 1946

Republic of Mahabad formed by Kurds, also supported by Soviet Union

Jan 22, 1946

British troops withdraw from Iran

Mar 2, 1946

Azerbaijan's government is defeated and reabsorbed into Iran

Dec 12, 1946

Iranian forces retake Mahabad

Dec 15, 1946

Officials of Azerbaijan and Mahabad executed, including Ebrahimi

Mar 31, 1947

Iran's parliament votes to reject secret Soviet oil deal

Oct 22, 1947

Nationalization of Iran oil industry,

Mar 17, 1951

Mohammad Mossadegh is elected as Prime Minister of Iran

Jul 21, 1952

Iranian coup d'etat, with the objective to overthrow Mosaddegh and protect Britain's oil rights

Aug 15, 1953

Mosaddegh overthrown, Reza Pahlavi's power increased

Aug 19, 1953