Persian Cossack Brigade

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The Persian Cossack Brigade was the imperial guard of the royal family of Persia (Iran). It was formed by Nasir al-Din Shah in 1882. Until 1917, its commanders were Russian officers who were also employed in the Russian army, such as V. Liakhov. After the October Revolution in 1917, many Russian officers joined the "White" forces. The command of the Persian Cossack Division was transferred to Iranian officers. Most notable among these officers was General Reza Khan, who started his military career as a private soldier in the Division and rose through its ranks to become a Brigadier General. Over the years, it became an army of 10,000, and played a significant role in the Constitutional Revolution, the turmoil of World War I, and the 1921 coup d'etat, which saw the overthrow of the Qajar dynasty. After the coup, it was merged with smaller military forces by Reza Shah to form Iran's national army.