Pahlavi Farah: photo, biography

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 with Emperor Mohammed Reza Pahlavi on the eve of 1960 became, 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 whole royal family was forced to wander around the world until President Ronald Reagan invited the family of Mohammed Pahlavi to the States where they still live.

Farah Pahlavi: biography. early years

The future Empress of Iran was born in 1938 in the north-west of Iran, in the city of Tabriz. Her father, Sohrab Diba, belonged to a noble aristocratic family. His father in the late nineteenth century was Iran's ambassador to the Russian Empire. He received a brilliant education at the famous University of Sorbonne in Paris. In addition, Sohrab Diba graduated from the prestigious Military Academy of Saint-Cyrus and served as an officer of the highest rank of the Iranian army. His wife, Faride Hutbi, was also from a noble family. She was born on the shore of the Caspian Sea, in the province of Gilan. After the marriage, she and her husband settled in a luxurious villa on the server of Tehran. Farah Pahlavi, the last empress of Iran, was born there. The first 9 years in the life of the girl were just idyllic. Parents loved each other and did not see their souls in their baby. In 1948, when Pahlavi Farah (Diba) was not yet 10 years old, her father died.

Youth

Soon after the death of the breadwinner, the seed began to experience financial difficulties, they had to leave the luxurious villa and settle with relatives. Nevertheless Farida tried to give her daughter a truly aristocratic upbringing and education. The future Empress Pahlavi Farah visited 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 superbly, and also engaged in active social activities. Farriha also was fond of sports and even was the captain of the national basketball school. However, in high school, she decided for herself that she wanted to become an architect. In order to obtain higher education, the young Iran went to Paris, to the Higher School of Architecture. She freely owned her native Farsi, as well as 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 an embassy was organized at the embassy of the country. Farah Pahlavi (photo of her from this reception after it was published in the column "secular chronicle") was invited to the event, and here she, as a notable 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. Soon after that, their engagement was announced, the wedding day was appointed. Since then, Farah Pahlavi has come to the attention of the press all over the world. By the way, some printed editions of that time described another version of the emperor's acquaintance with his future wife. According to these publications, when the shah turned 39 years old, and he did not have an 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 was not able to decide the choice. The next time the procession was organized again, 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 difference in age between the royal wives was 16 years. For a long time the whole world was talking about this wedding. Before marrying Farah, Mohammed had already been married twice, but, since he did not have an heir, he decided to try his luck again. As time showed, 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 a shahban (empress) of Iran. The first two spouses of Mohammed did not receive this title. Farah also was titled as a regent. It was nonsense, because before her no Eastern woman of such a title was awarded.

Farah Pahlavi - the last empress of Iran (1967-1979)

Shortly after his marriage in 1960, Shah Mohammed Riza Pahlavi and Farah had an heir - Reza Cyr. The people of Iran rejoiced. Three years later, they had a beautiful daughter Farangiz, three years later - the son of Ali Riza, well, the last, fourth, was the charming princess Leila. She was born in 1970. Thus, the first ten years of marriage Empress Pahlavi Farah engaged in purely family affairs: gave birth, raised and raised children. However, after the birth of her fourth daughter, she gradually began to delve into the public life of her country. Her husband was a very advanced ruler, oriented to Europe and the West, and he was rapidly upgrading Iran. Many efforts were made to develop the oil industry. His wife, in turn, became a trendsetter and patroness of cultural life.

Revival

Iranian women, being equal to their empress, gradually became involved in secular life. The country began to flourish such types of art as ballet and dance. 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 major cities of the country. She constantly visited the provinces, tried to identify the problems of the rural population and give them a solution. Throughout the country, the quality of medical and educational services has improved.

Her greatest achievement was the cultural development of the country. It facilitated the return to Iran of virtually all historical values and shah relics, which were kept in museums of other countries. After that, Farah founded the largest historical museum not only in Iran, but also throughout Asia. She was also a fighter for women's rights. She dreamed of seeing them more educated and emancipated. Iranians began to drive cars, beautiful and fashionable to dress, engage in science. In addition, thanks to the Iranian empress, the custom of polygamy was abolished in the country. Women have the same rights as men. And this was a great progress for a strict Muslim country, which was Iran. Every year, thanks to its activities, the empress won the sympathy of an increasing number of citizens of her country.

World Recognition

In the West, the married couple Pahlavi also enjoyed great popularity. They were recognized as one of the most beautiful married couples of the Middle East. More and more often, 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 Renier Grimaldi. The former Hollywood movie actress, the beauty Grace, came to the reception in a dress from Christian Dior and a diamond diadem, but Farah Pahlavi was not inferior to her in her elegance and royalty. The whole world press wrote about this. The famous Soviet opera singer Muslim Magomayev, when meeting Farah, was simply struck by her beauty and wrote that she was dazzling, that she had velvet Persian eyes and a pearl smile!

The collapse of the empire

In 1979, an Islamic revolution occurred in Iran, the khan was overthrown from his throne, and the empire came to an end. Mohammed Riza Pahlevi with his wife and four children were forced to flee the country and found refuge in Egypt. Later, they were invited to his palace by King Marroko Hassan II. A few months later, unable to withstand the collapse of his empire, Shah Mohammed Riza died, and two years later the Empress Dowager with children, at the invitation of the US President, Reagan, went to the States where she still lives.

In the States

Once in the US capital, all the children of the royal family received a brilliant education in the best universities in the country. Leyla Pahlevi began to get involved in sculpture and sculpted the bust of her crowned father. Being like her mother, the beautiful Leila became a favorite model of the Italian couturier Valentino. However, this cooperation and involvement in show business led to the fact that the girl got anorexia and depression, was treated for a long time in different clinics, but soon died of an overdose of medications. The Iranian princess Leila was buried in 2001 in the Passy cemetery in Paris, next to her maternal grandmother. The eldest son of Reza Cyrus, whom Iranian emigres continue to call the Shah, now lives in Washington. The younger son, unfortunately, committed suicide. This happened in 2013. The reasons for such an act have not yet been fully clarified.

The first and last empress of Iran

Farah Pahlavi today, living between the 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, and Farah still calls it "Your Majesty." Today she is 78 years old, but she kept her She has a small house in Maryland, DC She lives next to her son and his family Yasmin and Kira Riza Pahlavi had three daughters, and Ali Riza, the youngest prince of Iran, also had a daughter.

Today, the only dream of this great woman is to once again see the country where she was born, where she was so happy with her beloved husband for 20 years.