Friday Nostalgia for Rouhani's Visit: Nasser al-Din Shah's European Tours

As a new Iranian President comes to the United Nations, it may be worth remembering the foreign travels of an earlier Iranian leader, the Qajar ruler Nasser al-Din Shah (1831-1896; Shah 1848-1896). Something of a Westernizer (but by no means a liberal), the Shah visited Europe in 1873, when Queen Victoria gave him the Order of the Garter,  and he presented her with the Order of Aftab. He visited Europe again in 1878, when he attended a Royal Navy Fleet Review, and again in 1889. (He was assassinated in 1896.)

His diary of his 1873 tour was even published, and you can find it online here.

Shahanshah Meets Queen-Empress

At Royal Albert Hall with Prince & Princess of Wales

Victoria wearing Order of Aftab, as Empress of India