Hour 12:29 01 Sep 25

The Qajars were a tribal dynasty who, for centuries before ascending to the throne of Iran, had lived according to the ways of a nomadic lifestyle.
 
 In their traditional way of life, they had developed exceptional skill in archery, and later, when Iranians became familiar with firearms and gunpowder, they adapted their shooting skills to using guns.
 
 During the Safavid era especially, when Iran was frequently engaged in military movements along its borders, commanders and soldiers from the Qajar tribe, known for their marksmanship, often sacrificed their lives in battle. This collaboration with the ruling dynasty continued even after the Safavid period, until fate decided that this old tribe — who had always served others — would take power and rule the country and they would themselves mount the steed of kingship and gallop on horses.
 
"Interestingly, it seems that Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, the founder of this dynasty, bore the hardships meant for all the later kings of the dynasty, and he spent more time on the battlefield than all the rulers who came after him — all of whom were sons and grandsons of his brother. By the time kingship passed on to his nephews, Iran gradually entered a relatively peaceful and stable period; so much so that the skills of archery and horsemanship were no longer of much use. Thus, Qajar kings and courtiers turned to demonstrating their prowess by hunting birds, wild animals in nature — and what better place for this than Shemiran, north of Tehran, with its proximity to the city and pristine nature?
 
This tradition of royal hunting trips began during the reign of Fath-Ali Shah, the second Qajar king after Agha Mohammad Khan (who was his uncle and had been assassinated). 
 
Their nomadic lifestyle had taught the Qajars how to set up the best and sturdiest tents in temporary settlement locations and to gather their needed food, water, and plants from the surrounding nature. However, when temporary stays became more frequent and eventually took on a semi-permanent nature, it was no longer practical to continually erect and dismantle tents for every hunting expedition. It was then that the idea occurred to build modest structures at favorite hunting grounds.
Thus were built the "Modest Palace" of Niavaran and the "Modest Palace" of Kan during Fath-Ali Shah’s reign, followed later by the Shahr-e Rey Palace at the time of Naser al-Din Shah’s, and the Mozaffari Palace (currently the site of Masih Daneshvari Hospital) during Mozaffar al-Din Shah’s reign, and during Ahmad Shah’s era, a hunting lodge.
The Kan Palace, for instance, was built by Fath-Ali Shah so that after hunting sparrows in the nearby mountains, he could rest there. He also ordered the construction of a modest structure near the ruins of Soltaniyeh in Zanjan for his wives who accompanied him, while he and his courtiers would settle in surrounding tents.
 
Perhaps the modest mansion in Niavaran was also built for the accommodation of the ladies who traveled with the king, given the cooler climate of Shemiran, which required that the noble women be accommodated safely and warmly while still enjoying the king's company in the countryside.
 
At the time, the king's permanent residence was the current Golestan Palace. But two other major royal estates existed outside the city walls: the Negarestan Garden and Palace complex and the Qajar Palace (later known as Qasr Prison). 
 
The Negarestan Garden and Palace was closest to the king’s main residence, only 800 meters away. Its purpose was to provide a resting place for the king when he wished to leave the city for hunting or recreation. Astrologers and fortune-tellers would determine the favourable hour for the king's departure, and until the right moment arrived, the king would reside in the Negarestan. Often, the king would end up staying there for a long time, awaiting the right time for departure, and many major political decisions of that era were made during his stays at Negarestan.
 
The Qajar Palace served as a summer retreat, protecting the king from Tehran's heat. Niavaran, at the time, did not hold such prominence. It was a remote village off the main Shemiran road, notable mainly for having three abundant qanats and for being secluded and peaceful.
 
From archaeological excavations and the limited writings left by the Qajars about their lifestyles, we still do not know exactly where the original "modest mansion" in Niavaran was located, what its precise purpose was (whether it was for the king and courtiers or the women and children), what its size and boundaries were, or whether it was tall or low. 
 
We also do not know whether it was a renovation of an older structure or a completely new construction. All we know is that it was the oldest building among the royal residences in Niavaran and the starting point for royal construction in that pleasant village.