Back to main page

SATTAR KHAN (SARDARE MILLI)                                                                         

Born at Janali village of Garadag province in 1868 in a merchant family. Sattar khan had become a great general of the Mashruts movement, which took place in 1905-11.

Sattar Khan, who was heading the rebels from Ayirsiz district of Tabriz city in 1907, had become favourite general of all his fighters because of his heroism and courage. After  Board Assembly shooting incident, 40 thousand armed forces of Shah attacked Tabriz city, the cradle of revolution. High Military Council was established under the leadership of Sattar khan in June 1908.

Sattar Khan was appointed the Commander in chief of High Council, Bagir Khan as his deputy, Ali Musyo, Haji Ali and Seyid Hashim Khan as members.

By April 1909, Tabriz rebels lost huge number of their fighters in driving out the armed forces of the enemy from Tabriz. Taking into account Sattar Khan and Bagir Khan's heroism at this fight, Sattar Khan was honoured by the title  "Sardari-milli"(People's General) and Bagir khan "Salari milli" (People’s leader) by the order of the Assembly.

Military council was assigned the task of defending Tabriz. This victory of rebels had greatly influenced other provinces of Azerbaijan and whole Iran.

Committees with the name "Sattar Khan" were established in Tehran, Rasht, Gazvin, Isfahan and other cities.

The ruler of Tabriz described himself as substitute for Council of the Assembly. Most provinces of Azerbaijan were cleared from enemies by October 1908. Being afraid of the strengthening revolutionary movement in the country, Shah (the king) and regime forces gave permission to reopen Council of Assembly in Tehran.

II Council of Assembly held in December 1908. It issued order for making   a plaque of honour on which Sattar Khan and Bagir Khan ‘s photos would be carved with golden colours as a token of appreciation of their services and to hang them on the tribune during the next session of the Assembly.

The strengthening of revolutionary power after Tabriz city's victory had frightened Iran regime forces, especially the Tsar of Russia and imperialist England.

To discredit Sattar Khan and his supporters, they tried to separate Sattar Khan and Bagir Khan from their supporters and from Tabriz. Telegram (dated 16.3.1910) sent by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of England, Mr. Edvard Kari to the Ambassador of England to Iran, Mr. George Birly, reads that Sattar Khan ands Bagir khan had to be sent away from Tabriz immmediately. After that having interrfiered the matter, Iranian Premier, National Council Assembly have forced Sattar khan and Bagir khan to go Tehran. Sattar khan and Bagu\ir khan went to Tehran with their 300 supporters on 6 march 1910.Sattar khan reached Tehran on 3 April 1910; Sheep were sacrificed, Tehran citizens received him as a savoir.

Sattar Khan, together with his supporters was accommodated in Atabey Park. Shah troops and police forces led by Yefrem Davidyans, Head of Tehran Police, a dashnak, suddenly, at night, attacked treacherously on 7 August, 1910, at Atabey Park, surrounding and disarming Sattar's forces.  At that night, Sattar Khan was injured in his leg.    They could not leave Tehran and at last Sattar Khan died at the age of 48, on November 9, 1914 because of the injured leg and was buried in Shah Abdul Azim graveyard in Tehran.  Revolutionaries repaired his grave in 1924. In 1944, Sayeed Jafar Pishevari delivered a speech at the grave of Sattar Khan, where a meeting was organised by the newspaper "Azadlyg Jabhasi" (Liberty front), affiliated with 44 progressive newspapers. Azerbaijan National Government established in 1945 put his and Bagir Khan’s monuments in Tabriz, streets were named after them.  Many poems and verses have been written about Sattar Khan's heroism, and his devotion to people and revolution.