The last Empress of the Persian Empire, Farah Pahlavi, was one of the most famous ladies of the 60s and 70s of the last century. Her wedding to Emperor Mohammed Reza Pahlavi on the eve of 1960 was perhaps the most famous event of the outgoing year for the world press. Her reign lasted exactly 20 years and was interrupted by the Islamic Revolution. After that, the entire royal family was forced to wander around the world until President Ronald Reagan invited the family of Mohammed Pahlavi to the States, where they live to this day.
Farah Pahlavi: biography. Early years
The future Empress of Iran was born in 1938 in northwestern Iran, in the city of Tabriz. Her father, Sohrab Diba, belonged to a noble aristocratic family. His father at the end of the nineteenth century was the Iranian ambassador to the Russian Empire. He received an excellent education at the famous Sorbonne University in Paris. In addition, Sohrab Diba graduated from the prestigious Saint-Cyr Military Academy and served as a senior officer in the Iranian army. His wife, Faride Khutbi, was also from a noble family. She was born on the Caspian coast, in the province of Gilan. After marriage, she and her husband settled in a luxurious villa in the server of Tehran. Farah Pahlavi, the last empress of Iran, was born there. First 9 years of lifethe girls were just idyllic. Parents loved each other and doted on their baby. In 1948, when Pahlavi Farah (Diba) was not yet 10 years old, her father died.
Youth
Shortly after the death of the breadwinner, the seed began to experience financial difficulties, they had to leave a luxurious villa and live with relatives. Nevertheless, Faride tried to give her daughter a truly aristocratic upbringing and education. The future Pahlavi Empress Farah attended an Italian school in Tehran, then she continued her studies at the French school named after Joan of Arc, and then entered the Razi Lyceum. In all schools, the girl studied just fine, and was also engaged in active social activities. Farrikha was also fond of sports and was even the captain of the school's basketball team. However, in high school, the girl decided for herself that she wanted to become an architect. In order to receive higher education, the young Iranian went to Paris, to the Higher School of Architecture. The girl was fluent in her native Farsi, as well as in two international languages - English and French.
Meeting with Emperor Mohammed Pahlavi
In 1959, the young Shah of Iran was on an official visit to France, and on this occasion a reception was organized at the country's embassy. Farah Pahlavi (her photo from this reception was later published in the gossip column) was invited to the event, and here she, as a noble Iranian and a student of a prestigious university, was introduced to the Shah himself. From Paris, Mohammed returned to Tehran not alone, but with the beautiful Farah. Shortly thereafter it wasannounced their engagement, the day of the wedding was fixed. Since then, Farah Pahlavi has been in the spotlight of the press around the world. By the way, some printed publications of that time described a different version of the emperor's acquaintance with his future wife. According to these publications, when the Shah was 39 years old and he had no heir, Mohammed ordered to organize a sports parade with the participation of hundreds of young and beautiful girls in order to find a bride. In the first year, he could not make a choice. The next time, a procession was again organized, and then among the crowd he saw a beautiful girl and immediately realized that she was the future Empress of Iran. Farah Pahlavi was happy that the choice fell on her.
Wedding
And in the last decade of 1959, their magnificent wedding took place. The age difference between the royal spouses was 16 years. For a long time the whole world talked about this wedding. Before marrying Farah, Mohammed had already been married twice, but since he had no heir, he decided to try his luck again. As time has shown, the third attempt was the most successful: the couple had four children - two princesses and two princes. Pahlavi Farah, nee Diba, in 1967, that is, 8 years after her marriage, was crowned as Shahban (Empress) of Iran. The first two spouses of Mohammed did not receive this title. Farah was also titled as regent. This was nonsense, since no Eastern woman had ever been awarded such a title before her.
Farah Pahlavi - the last Empress of Iran (1967-1979)
Shortly after their marriage in 1960, Shah Mohammed Riza Pahlavi and Farah had an heir, Reza Kir. The people of Iran rejoiced. Three years later, their beautiful daughter Farangiz was born, three years later - the son of Ali Riza, and the last, fourth, was the charming princess Leila. She was born in 1970. Thus, for the first ten years of her marriage, Pahlavi Empress Farah was engaged in purely family affairs: she gave birth, raised and raised children. However, after the birth of her last fourth daughter, she gradually began to delve into the social life of her country. Her husband was a very advanced ruler, oriented towards Europe and the West, and he was rapidly modernizing Iran. Much effort has been put into the development of the oil industry. His wife, in turn, became a trendsetter and patroness of cultural life.
Rebirth
Iranian women, looking up to their empress, gradually became involved in secular life. Art forms such as ballet and dance began to flourish in the country. It became fashionable to send not only boys, but also girls to study abroad. In-depth study of foreign languages was introduced in schools. The young empress was not limited to reforms only in the capital and other large cities of the country. She constantly visited the provinces, tried to identify the problems of the rural population and give them a solution. The quality of medical and educational services has improved throughout the country.
Her greatest merit was the cultural development of the country. It contributed to the return to Iran of almost all the historical values and relics of the Shah, which were kept in the museums of other countries. After that, Farah founded the largest historical museum not only in Iran, but throughout Asia. She was also a women's rights activist. She dreamed of seeing them more educated and liberated. Iranian women began to drive cars, dress beautifully and fashionably, and engage in science. In addition, thanks to the Iranian empress, the custom of polygamy was abolished in the country. Women received the same rights as men. And this was great progress for a strict Muslim country, which was Iran. Every year, thanks to her activities, the empress won the sympathy of an increasing number of citizens of her country.
Global recognition
In the West, the Pahlavi couple was also very popular. They have been recognized as one of the most beautiful couples in the Middle East. Increasingly, European monarchs and rulers made official visits to Iran. A significant event for the country was the visit of the Princess and Prince of Monaco - Grace and Rainier Grimaldi. Former Hollywood film actress beauty Grace came to the reception in a Christian Dior dress and a diamond tiara, but Farah Pahlavi was not inferior to her in her elegance and regality. The entire world press wrote about it. The famous Soviet opera singer Muslim Magomayev, when meeting with Farah, was simply struck by her beauty and wrote,that she is dazzling, that she has velvet Persian eyes and a pearly smile!
The collapse of the empire
In 1979, the Islamic revolution took place in Iran, the khan was overthrown from his throne, and the empire came to an end. Mohammed Riza Pahlavi with his wife and four children were forced to flee the country and took refuge in Egypt. Later they were invited to his palace by King Hassan II of Morocco. A few months later, unable to withstand the collapse of his empire, Shah Mohammed Riza died, and 2 years later, the Empress Dowager with her children, at the invitation of US President Reagan, went to the States, where she lives to this day.
In the States
Once in the American capital, all the children of the royal family received an excellent education at the best universities in the country. Leyla Pahlavi became interested in sculpture and carved a bust of her crowned father. Being like her mother, the beautiful Leila became the favorite model of the Italian couturier Valentino. However, this cooperation and involvement in show business led to the fact that the girl fell ill with anorexia and depression, was treated for a long time in various clinics, but soon died from an overdose of drugs. Iranian Princess Leila was buried in 2001 in Passy Cemetery in Paris, next to her maternal grandmother. The eldest son of Reza Kir, whom Iranian emigrants continue to call Shah, today lives in Washington. The youngest son, unfortunately, committed suicide. This happened in 2013. The reasons for this act have not yet been fully clarified.
The first and last Empress of Iran
Farah Pahlavi today, living between two countries, France and the United States, continues to be considered the patroness of art. In 2013, she published her autobiographical book "Life with the Shah". The book was a great success and became a real bestseller all over the world. To this day, everyone calls Farah "Your Majesty". Today she is already 78 years old, but she has retained her She has a small house in Maryland, D. C. She lives next to her son and his family. Yasmine and Kira Riza Pahlavi have three daughters. Ali Riza, Iran's youngest prince, also has a daughter.
Today, this great woman's only dream is to once again see the country where she was born, where she was so happy with her beloved husband for 20 years.
