tribal confederation · Mesopotamia and Iran
Qashqai confederation
Origins
The Qashqai are Turkic tribes who migrate seasonally between winter pastures near the Gulf and summer pastures in the Zagros north of Shiraz. They coalesced as a confederation in the 18th century, and under Karim Khan of the Zand Empire their chief Jani Agha rose to prominence. Fath Ali Shah of Qajar Iran recognised his son Jani Khan as ilkhan in 1818.
Rule and society
The ilkhans ruled through tribal khans and kalantars, controlling migration routes, taxes and armed horsemen. Qashqai women are known for weaving gabbeh rugs and kilims. In the First World War Ismail Khan Solat al-Dowleh fought the British-led South Persia Rifles. Reza Shah forced the tribes to settle and Solat al-Dowleh died in prison in 1933.
Decline and legacy
After 1941 his sons Naser Khan and Khosrow Khan revived Qashqai power and supported Mohammad Mosaddegh. After the 1953 coup they were exiled in 1954, ending the confederation's political autonomy; the Qashqai people remain a distinct community.
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (2)
- Qashqai confederation was a vassal of Qajar Iran1819 CE – 1925 CE
- Qashqai confederation was a vassal of Pahlavi Iran1925 CE – 1954 CE
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Qashqai confederation. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/qashqai-confederation
- MLA
- “Qashqai confederation.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/qashqai-confederation. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Qashqai confederation.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/qashqai-confederation.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Qashqai confederation’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/qashqai-confederation (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻