Tabriz history

Tabriz is one of the most ancient and historically significant cities in Iran, with a history spanning millennia. Its strategic location at the crossroads of trade routes and its eventful biography have made it a key regional center for many centuries.

Founding and First Mentions

The exact date of the founding of Tabriz is hidden in the depths of time, but the first written mentions of a settlement at this location date back to the 8th century BC. The Assyrian annals of King Sargon II mention a fortress named Tarui or Tury, which historians associate with modern Tabriz. By the Sassanid era (3rd–7th centuries AD), the city already existed, although it did not play a significant role. Despite destructive earthquakes that repeatedly wiped it off the face of the earth, the city was reborn every time.

Key Factors of Development

Tabriz owes its growth and prosperity to several key factors:

• Geographical Location: Located on the Great Silk Road, the city became a natural bridge between East and West, facilitating its transformation into a major trading hub.
• Political Power: Throughout its history, Tabriz has repeatedly served as the capital of powerful states. It was the center of the Eldiguzid state (12th–13th centuries), the capital of the vast Ilkhanate-Hulaguid empire (13th–14th centuries), as well as the Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu states. The city reached its peak in the 16th century when it became the first capital of the Safavid Empire.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Its status as a major trading center fostered a unique multicultural environment in Tabriz. As early as the 13th century, the traveler Marco Polo noted that people of various nations and religions lived in the city. Economic prosperity was reflected in the development of crafts and arts. In the 14th century, the famous Tabriz school of miniature painting was founded here. The heart of the city's economic life was and remains the grand Tabriz Bazaar, one of the oldest in the Middle East, which is today included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This complex was not just a market, but the center of the city's social, religious, and even political life.

Key Dates in the History of Tabriz

The history of Tabriz is a kaleidoscope of rises and falls, metropolitan brilliance, and devastating tragedies. The city has repeatedly become the center of great empires and a key arena for historical events in Iran and across the entire Middle East.

• 714 BC — The first written mention of the fortress of Tarui or Tury (identified with Tabriz) in the annals of the Assyrian King Sargon II.
• 1041 — A powerful earthquake destroys the city, but it is quickly rebuilt thanks to its strategic position.
• 12th–13th Centuries — Tabriz becomes the capital of the influential state of the Eldiguzids (Atabegs of Azerbaijan).
• 1265–1306 — The city is proclaimed the capital of the vast Hulaguid Empire (Ilkhanate), turning into one of the main political and cultural centers of Asia.
• 1392 — The troops of Tamerlane (Timur) conquer and ravage the flourishing city.
• 1469 — Tabriz becomes the capital of the Aq Qoyunlu state, regaining its former grandeur.
• 1501 — Shah Ismail I makes Tabriz the first capital of the mighty Safavid Empire, marking the beginning of a new cultural flowering.
• 1548 — Due to constant threats from the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid capital is moved to Qazvin.
• 1780 — A catastrophic earthquake almost completely destroys the city and claims the lives of tens of thousands of residents.
• 19th Century — During the Qajar dynasty era, Tabriz becomes the traditional residence of the Crown Princes and effectively the second capital of Persia.
• 1908–1909 — The city becomes the heart of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran, and its defenders, led by Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan, heroically defend it.
• 2010 — The historic bazaar complex of Tabriz is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, confirming its global significance.

Key Stages of Tabriz's Development

The history of Tabriz is a succession of golden ages when the city became the capital of powerful empires and a center for cultural and economic innovation. Key milestones in its development have left a deep imprint on the city's appearance and significance.

• Capital of the Hulaguid State (13th–14th Centuries): After the Mongol conquests, Tabriz became the capital of the vast Ilkhanate empire. This status turned it into one of Asia's main political, scientific, and commercial centers. The city attracted scholars, architects, and artisans from all over the world, which contributed to its urban and cultural development.
• First Capital of the Safavid Empire (1501–1555): During this period, Tabriz experienced a true cultural renaissance. The city became the center of the famous Tabriz school of miniature painting, where unsurpassed illustrated manuscripts were created in royal workshops. Its status as the capital facilitated the construction of magnificent buildings, such as the Blue Mosque.
• "Second Capital" under the Qajar Dynasty (19th Century): Tabriz served as the official residence of the Crown Princes, giving it special political weight. Thanks to its location on trade routes to Europe, the city became a gateway for Western ideas and technologies entering Iran. It was here that the country's first printing press, railway, and other innovations appeared.
• Center of the Constitutional Revolution (1908–1909): Tabriz became the heart of the struggle for the introduction of constitutional rule in Iran. The urban uprising led by Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan became a decisive event of the revolution, demonstrating the high level of political activity of its residents and cementing Tabriz's reputation as the "City of Firsts."
• Industrial and Cultural Hub (20th–21st Centuries): In the modern era, Tabriz has established itself as one of Iran's leading industrial centers, specializing in engineering, petrochemicals, and textiles. At the same time, the city carefully preserves its heritage: in 2010, its historic bazaar complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, confirming its global cultural importance.

The architecture of Tabriz is a multi-layered history in which every conqueror, dynasty, and trade caravan has left its mark. As the capital of powerful states and a key node on the Great Silk Road, the city absorbed various styles, from the monumental structures of the Ilkhanate era to the elegant buildings of the Qajar period with European influences.

The Ilkhanate Era (13th–14th Centuries): Monumentalism and Grandeur

During the period when Tabriz was the capital of the Hulaguid state (Ilkhanate), the Azeri style dominated architecture, characterized by grandeur and scale. The brightest example of this era is the ruins of the Citadel of Ali Shah (Arg-e Alishah). Originally conceived as a congregational mosque, it was intended to surpass the legendary Arch of Ctesiphon in size. Although the structure was never completed and suffered greatly from earthquakes and wars, its surviving walls, tens of meters high, still capture the imagination and serve as a symbol of the city's former power.

Period of Turkmen Dynasties (15th Century): Flourishing of Decorative Arts

The reign of the Qara Qoyunlu dynasty became a golden age for decorative arts in Tabriz. It was during this time, in 1465, that the famous Blue Mosque (Masjid-e Kabud) was built. This building, nicknamed the "Turquoise of Islam," is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture thanks to its unique ceramic decoration. The facades and interiors of the mosque were covered with exquisite mosaics of dark blue and turquoise tiles with complex geometric patterns and calligraphy, demonstrating the highest level of craftsmanship of the artisans of that time.

Safavid Era and Bazaar Development (16th–18th Centuries)

When Tabriz became the first capital of the Safavid Empire, the city underwent a new stage of urban development. During this period, the historic Tabriz Bazaar complex was actively expanded and improved. Although the bazaar existed earlier, it was under the Safavids that it turned into that vast covered labyrinth of vaulted galleries, caravanserais, and mosques, which is today included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The architecture of the bazaar is a model of functional and thoughtful urban space, perfectly adapted for trade and public life.

Qajar Period (19th Century): Synthesis of Traditions and European Influence

In the 19th century, Tabriz, as the residence of the Crown Princes of the Qajar dynasty, became a conduit for Western ideas and technologies. This was also reflected in architecture, where traditional Persian motifs began to combine with elements of European neoclassicism. Iconic buildings of this period include the Constitution House and numerous historical mansions. These two-story buildings with courtyards, elegant stained-glass windows, mirror halls, and carved wooden doors demonstrate the architectural style of the Qajar era. The Municipality Building (Clock Tower), built in 1934, also bears the clear influence of early 20th-century German architecture, standing out against the backdrop of traditional buildings.

Notable Figures of Tabriz

Tabriz, having been one of Iran's main cultural, political, and economic centers for centuries, has given the world many outstanding figures. Their contributions span poetry, mysticism, art, and political history, leaving a deep imprint on the heritage of the region and the entire world.

Figures of the Middle Ages and Renaissance Era

• Shams Tabrizi (c. 1185–1248) — A Persian poet, Sufi mystic, and philosopher. His historical significance lies in the fact that he was the spiritual mentor and closest friend of the great poet Jalal al-Din Rumi. The meeting with Shams radically changed Rumi's life and inspired him to create one of the greatest works of Sufi poetry — the "Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi".
• Qatran Tabrizi (1009/1014 – after 1072) — A Persian poet considered one of the first great poets to write in the Western Persian dialect. He served at the court of the Shaddadid dynasty and left behind a rich poetic legacy, influencing the development of classical Persian poetry.
• Kamal ud-Din Behzad (c. 1455–1535/36) — A legendary miniature painter who headed the royal workshop in Tabriz under Shah Ismail I. Although born in Herat, his name is inextricably linked with the flourishing of the Tabriz school of miniature painting during the Safavid period. His innovative style, attention to detail, and harmony of composition had a tremendous influence on the entire art of Islamic miniature.

Heroes of the Constitutional Revolution

• Sattar Khan (1866–1914) — A key leader and national hero of Iran who led the uprising in Tabriz during the Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911). For his role in defending the city against the Shah's troops, he received the honorary title "Sardar-e Melli" (National Commander). His courage made Tabriz the main stronghold of the revolution.
• Bagher Khan (died 1915) — The closest associate of Sattar Khan and one of the leaders of the Tabriz uprising. He was a stonemason by profession but proved himself to be an outstanding military organizer. For his services in defending constitutionalism, he was awarded the title "Salar-e Melli" (National Leader).

Figures of Modern and Contemporary History

• Parvin Etesami (1907–1941) — One of the most famous Iranian poetesses of the 20th century, born in Tabriz. She wrote in a classical style but raised acute social and moral issues in her works, exposing injustice and defending the rights of the oppressed. Her work took women's poetry in Iran to a new level.
• Mohammad-Hossein Shahriar (1906–1988) — An outstanding Iranian poet who was equally virtuous in the Persian and Azerbaijani languages. His poem "Greetings to Heydar Baba" (Heydər Babaya Salam) is considered a masterpiece of Azerbaijani literature and has been translated into dozens of languages around the world.