Bahram Aryana

The man himself.

Bahram Aryana (1906–1985), born Hossein Manouchehri, is an Iranian general who served during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s reign. He is often described by Iranian scholars as a nationalist and a humanist. Surprisingly for an Iranian during his time, he was a convert to Zoroastrianism. What religion he converted prior to becoming a Zoroastrian from is unknown, though assuming his background he was likely Christian (as many Iranian Armenians are typically Christian).

Aryana was half-Georgian from his mother’s side, who was descended from Heraclius II, a nobleman hailing from Georgia. He is also reported to be descended from Sepahsalar Khalatbari Tonekaboni, an Iranian nobleman and statesman. Aryana changed his name in 1950 to assimilate within Iran.

Prior to joining the Iranian military and becoming a commander, Aryana was educated in the French army, he was educated in the École Supérieur de Guerre, a French military academy. He was also allegedly a supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte and his style of governance and clothing, going as far as to imitate him in both manners by dressing in the French imperial style.

The good

Aryana bravely resisted against Anglo-Soviet occupation during 1941. However, he and his army would later surrender several days later and were arrested by British forces.

In the 1960s, he pacified several tribal conflicts in southern Iran caused Ali Khaminei (who would eventually become the ayatollah in the Iranian revolution) through peaceful means and without any bloodshed. His peaceful tactics and willingness to allow minorities in the country to speak out made him a beloved figure in Iran’s Kurdish community, unlike with his other colleagues.

The bad

Aryana was a collaborator with Nazi Germany during World War II, along with the rest of the Iranian military. Though the reason for allying with Germany was that both countries opposed Russia and Britain (who occupied Iran at the time for strategic reasons). However, the Iranian government (under Aryana, despite he himself not known for holding these views or supporting the movement from the top) indirectly cooperated with the Nazis in spreading antisemitic propaganda throughout Iran with radio broadcasts and newspapers.

Aryana implemented several nationalist policies during his time in power, some of which had ugly results for minority groups such as Arabs and Muslim citizens as well.

Later career

Aryana would serve in the Iranian army after being appointed by the shah himself, form 1965-1969. However, he later left in 1969 under the orders of the shah to keep him safe from Arvand Rud crisis occurring at the time.

Aryana did just that, and left Iran for Paris. He died in exile several years later in 1985 and is buried in the Montparnasse cemetery. In the years that he died, his book that he wrote calling for freedom in Iran and fighting against the tyranny of the current regime have grown popular in Iranian dissident circles.

See also

• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Notes

• Aryana’s biography