Journal of Greater Khorasan

Journal of Greater Khorasan

The role of the Ilkhans of Khorasan in the insecurity of the northeastern borders of Iran during the Qajar period

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Abdullah Rahmat 1
Abbas Sarafrazi 2
1 PhD student, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/jgk.2025.410408.1143
Abstract
Examining the function of border administration and the role of local rulers in northern Khorasan concerning the insecurity of the northeastern borders is of great importance. This research seeks to answer, using a descriptive-analytical method and based on historical sources, the following question: Why was security not established in these regions despite the existence of border administrations in northern Khorasan? The research hypothesis is that the policies of local rulers were effective in creating insecurity. The findings indicate that entrusting border administration to independent rulers created difficulties in the conventional functioning of the border and generated insecurity. This was because putting a stop to raids meant, for the local rulers, cutting off the related income and the privileges that the government had granted them in return for border guarding. The local rulers were one of the instigators of raids and an obstacle to the submission of the Turkmens. The existence of three parallel and rival powers, who tried to weaken each other by inciting the Turkmens, gave more leeway to the raids. The counter-raids by local rulers and their mistreatment of the Turkmens also played an intensifying role in the spread of plundering. The results show that the obstacles and problems on the path to security stemmed from the Qajar government's method of border administration. The feudal structure of the frontier and the independent power of the local rulers prevented the center from exerting power and oversight over their activities. The weakness of the state and the lack of supervision provided the grounds for border violations, disregard for government decisions, abuse of position, collusion, and interaction. Overall, the performance of the border guards had a decisive impact on the permeability of the Turkmen border, and the government's attempts at reform were unsuccessful. It was only with the involvement of Russia that Iran was finally able, after many years, to bring the local rulers under control.

Keywords
local governors
Turkmen
North Khorasan
northeastern borders

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  • Receive Date 06 August 2023
  • Revise Date 04 June 2025
  • Accept Date 13 August 2025