...In an upper chamber of the same pavilion, Mírzá
Abu’l-Qásim, the Qá’im-Maqám, or Grand Vazír, of Muhammad Sháh (the father of
the present monarch [Násiri’d-Dín Sháhs]), was strangled in 1835, by order of
his royal master, who therein followed an example set him by his predecessor,
and set one himself that was duly followed by his son. It must be rare in
history to find three successive sovereigns who have put to death, from jealous
motives only, the three ministers who have either raised them to the throne or
were at the time of their fall filling the highest office in the State. Such is
the triple distinction of Fath-‘Alí, Muhammad, and Násiri’d-Dín Sháhs.
- Lord
Curzon (Extract from “Persia and the Persian Question”, quoted by Shoghi
Effendi in the Introduction to the Dawn-Breakers)
