Fath-Ali Khan Qajar (Persian: فتحعلیخان قاجار) was the chieftain of the Ashaqa-bash branch of the Qajar tribe at Astarabad during the collapse of the Safavid dynasty of Iran.
Born in 1685/86, Fath-Ali Khan was the son of Shahqoli Khan and a member of the Ashaqa-bash branch of the TurkomanQajar tribe at Astarabad.[1] The Ashaqa-bash was one of the two main branches of the Qajar tribe in Astarabad (the other being the Yukhari-bash), and was composed of the subtribes of Qoyunlu (or Qovanlu), Izz al-dinlu, Sham Bayati, Qara Musanlu (Musalu?), Washlu (Ashlu?) and Ziyadlu. During the reign of Shah Abbas I (r.1588–1629), some Qajar tribes were relocated to Astarabad to defend against incursions by the Yaka Turkmen.[2] By the late 17th century, the vast majority of the Qajar seemingly lived in Astarabad.[3]
According to the Iranologist Abd al-Hosayn Nava'i, "Much of the information about Fath-Ali Khan's early career must be used cautiously as it is based mainly on chronicles from the Qajar period intent on presenting the career of the immediate forefathers of the dynasty in a flatteringly heroic manner." During the reign of Soltan Hoseyn (r.1694–1722), Fath-Ali Khan and his brothers Fazl-Ali Khan and Mehr Ali Beyg were attacked at their fortress of Mobarakabad by the governor of Astarabad, Rostam Mohammad Khan Sa'dlu. This was done to attempt to thwart the rising authority of the Ashaqa-bash. Fath-Ali Khan's two brothers were killed, but he managed to flee and seek safety among the Yomut Turkmen.[1][3] They assisted Fath-Ali Khan in overthrowing Rostam Mohammad Khan Sa'dlu so that Fath-Ali Khan could assume governorship over Astarabad in 1717.[1][4]
ファトフ・アリー・ハーンが、1722年のアフガン軍によるイスファハーン包囲を含むサファヴィー朝の崩壊において果たした役割は依然として不明である。ある話によれば、彼と2,000人から3,000人の兵士がイスファハーンに潜入し、「純粋な勇気」によって状況をサファヴィー朝に有利に変えることに成功した。しかし、嫉妬深い廷臣たちがソルタン・ホセインに、ファトフ・アリー・ハーンは野心がありすぎて味方にしておくべきではないと説得したため、ファトフ・アリー・ハーンは投獄を避けるためにすぐに撤退を余儀なくされた。後のカジャール朝の史料も概ね同じ話を伝えている。しかし、この話はユダシュ・タデウシュ・クルシンスキ、モハマド・モフセン、ハジン・ラヒジなどの同時代の人物によって言及されていないため、その信憑性は不明である。[ 1 ]
1726年10月11日、シャー・タフマースプ2世はファトフ・アリー・ハーンを反逆罪で処刑した。[ 1 ]