Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran, reigning from 1941 until the Iranian Revolution of 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah after the Anglo-Soviet invasion, was restored to power by the 1953 coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, and launched the White Revolution land and social reform programme in 1963. He left Iran in January 1979 and died in exile in Egypt.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Life events

Born in Tehran
26 October 1919

Born in Tehran to Reza Khan, then an army officer, and Tadj ol-Molouk.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Educated at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland
1931 – 1936

Spent several years at the Swiss boarding school before returning to Iran to attend a military academy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Marries Princess Fawzia of Egypt
1939 – 1948

His first marriage, to a sister of King Farouk; it produced a daughter and ended in divorce in 1948.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Becomes Shah of Iran
September 1941 – February 1979

Took the throne after the Anglo-Soviet invasion forced his father Reza Shah to abdicate.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Restored to power by the 1953 coup
August 1953

Returned from a brief departure to Rome after the coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Marries Farah Diba
1959

His third marriage, following his marriage to Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari; she was later crowned as empress.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Launches the White Revolution
1963

Introduced a programme of land redistribution, literacy campaigns and votes for women, approved by referendum.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Holds his coronation in Tehran
26 October 1967

Crowned himself on his forty-eighth birthday, twenty-six years after taking the throne, and crowned Farah as empress.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Leaves Iran during the revolution
16 January 1979

Departed Tehran amid mass protests and never returned, travelling between Egypt, Morocco, Mexico, the United States and Panama.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Dies in Cairo
27 July 1980

Died of complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and was buried at the Al-Rifa'i Mosque.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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