Arg of Tabriz

Coordinates: 38°04′20.63″N 46°17′18.05″E / 38.0723972°N 46.2883472°E / 38.0723972; 46.2883472

The Arg before the revolution, when it was used as Mellat park.

Arg of Tabriz (Persian: ارگ تبريز‎‎, also known as Arg Alishah, Arch of Alishah, Arg Citadel, and Masjid Ali-Shāh), is the remnants of a big unfinished 14th-century mausoleum and a 19th-century military castle and barrack in city center of Tabriz, Iran.

History

The original construction was made between 1318 and 1339, during the Ilkhanate. Within the construction, the roof of the mausoleum collapsed and the construction was stopped afterwards. Centuries later, by the eruption of the Russo-Persian War, 1804-1813, and the Russo-Persian War (1826-1828), the compound was quickly reconstructed as a military compound. During the reconstruction of the Arg compound, a foundry factory for the manufacturing of cannons for the Iranian Army was built, as well as a military headquarter, a barrack for the troops, and a small palace was added as well to the original plan of the Arg.[1] Samson Makintsev, better known as Samson Khan, a Qajar Iranian general of Russian origin, lived inside the citadel for years together with his wife, the daughter of Prince Aleksandre of Georgia.[2]

Shelling of Arg by Russian troops, 1911

During the Russian invasion of Tabriz in 1911 they shelled the Arg in initial attacks. Once they captured the city, they used the Arg as a central command center. During their occupation, because of careless handling, the artillery pieces they used set fire on parts of Arg.

Destruction During Pahlavi era

During the Pahlavi era, parts of the Arg which had been constructed in the 19th century by the Qajar dynasty, were destroyed. This destruction was with the aim of purifying the original Arg construction from later developments. The southern part of the Arg was turned to a park, the "Mellat Garden" (lit. park of the people), before the Iranian revolution in 1979.[1]

Destruction by revolutionaries, early 1980s

In early 1980s after suppression of uprising of supporters of Muslim People's Republic Party against the new establishment of mixing religion and state and neglecting of Azerbaijani minorities, Moslem Malakuti selected as new Imam Juma of Tabriz by revolutionary government. During his tenure in Tabriz the destruction of Ark's Qajar era addendum wall and cultural institutes surrounding it accomplished and a new mosque for Friday prayers. Some people believe this destruction of local heritage was a systematic destruction of local Azerbaijani identity.[3]

Renovation in recent years, 1990s till present days

In 1990s and 2000s a rehabilitation and renovation project was executed by the Iranian Organization for Cultural Heritages. During this rehabilitation however all of the remaining Qajar era development from Arg castle were removed. At the same period a new big mosque was built next to the Arg castle. The superstructure of the new mosque undermine the architecture of Arg castle.[1] Despite the regulations of the Iranian Organization for Cultural Heritages and several court hearing the construction of the new structure continued and accomplished.

Construction of a new mosque in frontage of Arg castle, 2013.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 B. Ajorloo and A.N. Babaylou, The Alienation of Qajarid Identity at the Arch of Alishah in Tabriz as the Result of Stylistic Restoration Methods, 2015
  2. ↑ Cronin 2013, p. 150.
  3. ↑ http://gamesabz.com/1392/12/3423/

Sources

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