Persian Cossack Brigade

Cossack Brigade
Persian: تیپ قزاق
Persian Cossack Brigade in Tabriz in 1909
Active1879–1921
Disbanded6 December 1921
Country Persia
Allegiance Russian Empire (1879–1917)
Russian Empire White movement (1917–1920)
 British Empire (1921)
BranchPersian Army[1]
TypeCavalry[1]
RoleSpecial operations
Garrison/HQTehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Ardabil, Hamadan , Urmia, Mazandaran and Gilan
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Col. Vladimir Liakhov
BG Reza Khan
BG Martiros Khan Davidkhanian
BG Alexander Khan Setkhanian

The Persian Cossack Brigade, also known as the Iranian Cossack Brigade[2] (Persian: بریگاد قزاق, romanizedBerīgād-e qazzāq), was a Cossack-style cavalry unit formed in 1879 in Persia (modern Iran). It was modelled after the Caucasian Cossack regiments of the Imperial Russian Army. Until 1920, it was commanded by Russian officers, while its rank and file were composed of ethnic Caucasians and later on Persians as well. During much of the brigade's history it was the most functional and effective military unit of the Qajar dynasty. Acting on occasion as kingmakers, this force played a pivotal role in modern Iranian history during the Persian Constitutional Revolution, the rise of Reza Shah, and the foundation of the Pahlavi dynasty.

  1. ^ a b Atkin, Muriel (October 31, 2011) [December 15, 1993]. "COSSACK BRIGADE". Encyclopædia Iranica. Fasc. 3. Vol. VI. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 329–333. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  2. ^
    • Although according to Domantovich, the first commandant of the Iranian Cossack Brigade, this initiative came from the Shah himself, Field-Marshal Ahmad (...) – Cronin, Stephanie. (1997). "The Army and Creation of the Pahlavi State in Iran, 1921–1926". I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1860641053 p. 54
    • (...) (later Riza Shah Pahlavi), and indeed within four years he rose from the rank of colonel in the Iranian Cossack Brigade to the Iranian throne. – Shahvar, Soli. (2009). "Forgotten Schools: The Baha'Is and Modern Education in Iran, 1899–1934". I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-0857712714 p. 5
    • Reza Khan, who had been a brigadier general in the Iranian Cossack Brigade before ousting Iran's last Qajar king in 1925. – Wawro, Geoffrey. (2010). Penguin (chapter 10 – Reza Khan). ISBN 978-1101197684
    • One of the principal components of Riza Khan's new army in the nineteen-twenties was the Iranian Cossack Brigade. – (1998) "Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies". The Institute. (original from the University of Michigan). pp 178, 183.

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