PERSIA: King of Kings

Emissaries from the governments headed by Calvin Coolidge, George V, Gaston Doumergue, Paul von Beneckendorf und Hindenburg and many another, sought last week the capital of Persia, Teheran, a city located some 60 miles inland from the southern tip of the Caspian Sea.

There the representatives of the Christian world were accorded a standing place at the left hand of the famed Peacock Throne* of Persia. On the right stood high Persian dignitaries—most of them Moslems, some Christians. All had assembled for the coronation of a man who five years ago was a mere bandit, Reza Pahlavi, marauding in Persia at the head of some Russian Cossacks who would not stop fighting when their original master, the Tsar, was executed.

Successively “Reza Kahn,” as he called himself, terrorized the Persian Majlis (Parliament) into accepting him as Minister of War (1921) and Premier (1923). He then became virtual Dictator and forced the Majlis to entrust him with “the office and rank of Shah.” (TIME, Nov. 9, 1925.) Last week his star stood at its zenith.

As the coronation ceremony began, Shapur (Crown Prince) Mehenien Reza Pahlavi, a stocky child who has been granted a civil list of $2,000,000 a year, entered the throne room and walked with dignity to a stance at the right of the throne.

Two masters of ceremonies followed him, supporting on a cushion the Pahlavi crown, newly fashioned from a monstrous weight of gold and gems to inaugurate the new dynasty. Behind strode other officials, Cabinet members, all bearing other crowns and diadems, which they set beside the throne. Last came a smiling jaunty dare-devil with a light in his eye, striding swiftly in a gorgeous pearl embroidered cape, wearing his habitual military cap adorned with a single aigret. With lithe dignity he seated himself on the Peacock Throne. Quickly he removed his cap. Almost as quickly he placed the Pahlavi crown upon his well groomed head.* Then he stood up and gazed about him, tingling at the feel of his imposing title: Shahinsha Reza Shah Pahlavi: “The King of Kings, Reza, King Pahlavi.”

* So called from the figures of two peacocks standing behind it, their tails expanding as a background and solidly inlaid with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, so as to simulate exactly the plumage of a peacock. Originally it stood at Delhi, now the capital of British India, once the seat of the Mogul Emperors, for whom it was made. In 1739 the invading Nadir Shah of Persia carried off this trinket, valued at 30 million dollars.

*Defying the Persian custom that the Premier shall the crown the Shah.