Rereading the subject of the service and betrayal of Haj Ibrahim Khan, the sheriff, in the conflict between Lotf Ali Khan and Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar

hasanvand, rahman; hatami, mohammadreza; alisofi, Alireza; farrokhi, yazdan

Volume 15, Issue 3 (Quarterly Journal of Political Research in the Islamic World, Fall 2025 2025) پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2025, 15(3): 0-0 | Back to browse issues page

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hasanvand R, hatami M, alisofi A, farrokhi Y. Rereading the subject of the service and betrayal of Haj Ibrahim Khan, the sheriff, in the conflict between Lotf Ali Khan and Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar. پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2025; 15 (3)
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-2040-en.html

Rereading the subject of the service and betrayal of Haj Ibrahim Khan, the sheriff, in the conflict between Lotf Ali Khan and Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar

Rahman Hasanvand¹

, Mohammadreza Hatami ^*²

, Alireza Alisofi³

, Yazdan Farrokhi³

1- PhD student in History of Islamic Iran, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2- Professor, Department of Political Science, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran (Responsible author) , m.hatami@pnu.ac.ir
3- Associate Professor, Department of History of Islamic Iran, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (19 Views)

This research undertakes an analysis of the historical paradox surrounding the character of Haj Ebrahim Khan Kalantar, the architect of the transition to the Qajar state, alongside a critique of the ideological narratives imposed by Qajar and Pahlavi historians. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology and drawing upon primary historical sources, the central research question was defined as: Was Kalantar’s agency in the collapse of the Zand dynasty a result of individual treason or a response based on the strategic necessities of the era? The findings indicate that the overthrow of the Zand dynasty was not based on treachery but was the consequence of realistic calculations aimed at centralizing power against colonial threats namely from Russia and Britain and the Zand dynasty’s structural inability to maintain territorial integrity. Monarchy-centric narratives, by constructing the label of “jafa-pisheh” (the treacherous/unjust one), reduced Kalantar’s political agency to moral reductionism. Conversely, secondary documents, such as European diplomatic reports, unveil his role in preventing the fragmentation of Iran. Furthermore, a significant knowledge gap in traditional sources stems from the bias of court historians who overlooked the complex mechanisms of power transition—such as collaboration with local elites and the bureaucracy—as well as the influence of a courtly atmosphere rife with rivalry and intrigue. Ultimately, this study moves beyond the dichotomous paradigm of service/treason to analyze Kalantar’s agency within the framework of the theory of state survival. It emphasizes the proposition that de-ideologizing historical narratives is a prerequisite for unlocking a dynamic understanding of the multi-layered realities of contemporary Iranian history. These findings highlight the necessity of redefining the position of ministers in Iranian political historiography by relying on the dialectical agency of actors, rather than depending on one-sided narratives. The research methodology is predicated on data collection via documentary-library methods, followed by processing using a descriptive-analytical approach.

Keywords: Haj Ebrahim Khan Kalantar, Conflict, Service and Treason, Lotf Ali Khan Zand