The King

4. The Grand Vizier

Having received the shah’s approval, Grand Vizier Mirza Kabir sent a couple of army units to the eastern and southwestern provinces to arrest the shah’s rebellious half-brothers.

When the shah’s father had felt his end was near, he had expressly asked Mirza Kabir to help his son until he was able to assume total control. The father of Mirza Kabir had been the first vizier of the late king, and the young Mirza Kabir had served as his father’s assistant. Later he succeeded his father as vizier to the old king. He was quite aware of what state the country was in. Mirza Kabir was beloved by the people, but he had many enemies in high places, including the corrupt princes and politicians. He followed developments in Russia, England and France, and he knew his own land was lagging far behind the countries of the West. The unemployment, illiteracy, disease and extreme poverty in Persia grieved him deeply, as did his inability to prevent a small elite from enriching themselves and gaining enormous power.

One of his most influential opponents was Mahdolia, the mother of the crown prince. She had formed a shadow cabinet made up of several old, experienced politicians. She also had ties with a number of clerics, who claimed they were in contact with the divine energies.

The vizier had done everything he could to limit Mahdolia’s power. He tried to keep corrupt people away from the old king. His goal had been to centralise power in order to make the land governable, but in this he did not succeed. Now, as grand vizier to Shah Naser, Mirza Kabir saw a new opportunity to realise his plans to modernise the country. He wanted to create businesses, construct roads, build hospitals and introduce a western educational system, and he had educated the future shah to go along with his plans for renewal. But without the shah’s approval his dreams would never come to fruition. He certainly didn’t expect any support from the ruling elite. They backed Mahdolia, the mother of the shah, in an effort to fill their own pockets. They had done well for themselves under the rule of the shah’s father, and now they owned houses, castles and even entire villages.

Mahdolia tried to frustrate the man at every turn. She was determined to limit his influence on her son, whom she constantly belittled with remarks like, ‘You’re not your own man; you’re the slave of your master.’ Or: ‘You’re the king, but you behave like that man’s errand boy. Don’t be so servile.’ And: ‘That vizier is using you to advance his own plans. Don’t forget that he’s supposed to obey you, and not the other way round.’

Mirza Kabir came from a distinguished and independent family whose men had always exercised considerable literary and political influence. For five generations the family had produced viziers to serve the country. Mirza Kabir himself tried to act with only the interests of the country at heart. According to tradition the shah held the reins of power and the vizier was subordinate to him. It was the vizier’s task to inform the shah of the latest events and developments, which always had to be done with the greatest caution.

One day, after the shah had undergone a neat beard trimming, the vizier requested an audience with him to bring him up to date.

‘Your Majesty, we are living in turbulent times. Russia is ready to attack the kingdom from the north. The British army is in the east, waiting to seize upon any pretext to use our country in order to safeguard their presence in India.

‘Being king is a weighty responsibility. I have taught you about the nation’s past and I have openly discussed your predecessors’ strong and weak points. I have spent a great deal of time in Russia and I am aware of the changes taking place in England. Now more than ever a statesman is responsible for the welfare of his subjects. The time when people could get by with a cow, a bit of land and some wool to spin is over. The world is plunging ahead, but we are standing still. We must build factories, just as England and Russia are doing. With factories we could provide jobs for thousands of people. We will have to send our clever young men to France, England and Russia to be educated. Our children must learn to read. That is why we want to set up seven schools in Tehran. The French can help us create a new school system.’

‘Is that all?’ asked the shah with irony.

‘I would like the shah to endorse these plans. Pay no attention to those who don’t understand such things.’

‘And who might the vizier be referring to?’ responded the shah, greatly irritated by this indirect indictment of his mother.

‘The Persian Empire is like a terminally ill patient who has been handed over to you and to me. Rule like a Russian tsar and like a British king, not like your forefathers. I appeal to you to limit the size of your harem. The women you already have are enough for all eternity.’

‘The vizier is not to meddle in our private affairs. The vizier would be wise to understand where his limits are,’ said the shah. Somewhere in the back of his mind he could hear his mother reproaching him.

‘Your Majesty must excuse the vizier. He is only doing his duty. I was told by your father to be tough and honest with you. And to alert you to your responsibilities.’

‘We are the king now and the vizier is no longer under any obligation to instruct us,’ answered the shah.

‘I am not instructing you. The contact between the vizier and the shah must always be straightforward, honest and professional. I only ask Your Majesty not to come to any decisions without first consulting his vizier.’

‘No more insults. The vizier is speaking to the shah. Watch what you say. We will decide what must be decided.’

‘The vizier would never presume to insult the king. On the contrary, I value your discernment. Your reading knowledge of French is excellent, so we have ordered French books for Your Majesty. They concern the astonishing changes that are taking place in Europe. Your Majesty must keep himself informed.’

‘There is nothing we must do,’ said the shah.

‘Of course, there is nothing the shah must do, but the shah might like to know that millions of his subjects in the countryside are working like slaves for the large landowners. They have nothing, while their masters live in resplendent castles. There is nothing the shah must do, but the shah might like to know that beyond the walls of his palace thousands of poor people are fighting for their existence while the princes lead blissful lives in Tehran. There is nothing the shah must do, but the shah might like to know that he cannot rule the land as it was ruled in his father’s and grandfather’s day. Should you decide to do so, I am afraid it could mean the end of your dynasty. You know I am serious. The shah must distance himself from the forces that are working against us. I need your help to modernise the country. I believe that in the near future you will have to undertake a journey to England or France.’

The shah was silent. He loved to travel. He travelled through his own land a great deal and had already been to Russia twice. But as king he did not dare leave the country. He knew its history and he knew what could happen if the shah were absent.

‘The shah may want to think this over,’ the vizier added.

Shah Naser rang his little bell. The chamberlain came in and the shah motioned to him to lead the vizier out.