Following on from his award-winning book on the history of ancient Persia, Kaveh Farrokh goes on to examine Iran's wartime history from the Safavid dynasty of the 16th and 17th century through to the 1979 Revolution and beyond. He shows how the early military successes were followed by centuries of defeat as the external influences of nations like Russia and Britain began to shape the internal history of Iran, before unraveling the complex, violent 20th century military history of the country, which encompasses two world wars, regional movements, foreign intervention, anti-government revolts, conflicts on the Soviet border, a revolution and an eight-year war with Iraq. Illustrated with contemporary illustrations and photographs this book provides an unparalleled investigation into the bloody martial history of Iran.

Table of Contents:
Preface INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 QAJAR REUNIFICATION The Eunuch King and reunification of Iran Aqa Muhammad Shah Defeat of the Zand Conquest of the Caucasus Chapter 2 IRAN: STATE AND SOCIETY IN THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY Fath Ali Shah Qavanllu-Qajar Early Qajar state Social classes and land tenure Ulama–state relations Early nineteenth-century society The Qajar military Chapter 3 DIPLOMACY AND WAR: THE FIRST RUSSO- IRANIAN WAR, 1804–1813 Prelude to war, 1801–1803 Abbas Mirza Qavanllu-Qajar Fall of Ganjeh, 1804 First siege of Iravan, summer 1804 The Battle of Qarabagh and the siege of Ganjeh and Badkubeh, 1805 Diplomacy and intrigue Battles of 1806 The Peaceful 1807 The Gardane mission, 1807–1809 Second siege of Iravan and the Battle of Nakhjavan, October–December 1808 The Jones Brydges mission, 1809–1810 Chapter 4 INTERWAR YEARS AND THE SECOND RUSSO-IRANIAN WAR The interwar years Prelude to war Russian policy toward the southeastern Caucasus Council of Sultanieh The Battlefield Causes of the Second Russo-Iranian War The aftermath CONCLUSION: SEVEN POINTS Chronology Appendix Biographies Notes Bibliography Index