Shajarehnaameh Project
Zelli-Qajar (Kadjar)
Bibliography and Sources:
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Ancestor: Fath Ali Shah Qajar
10th son of Fath Ali Shah by Assiyeh Khanom, daughter of Fath Ali Khan Davallou, Fath Ali Shah's aghdi wife, Ali Mirza, a.k.a. Ali Khan, Ali Shah, "Zell-e-Soltan," Adel Shah (b. 1210--d. 1271 A.H. in Kerbela) ===> origin of "Zelli" name.* Only full brother of Abbas Mirza Nayeb-Saltaneh.
At the death of his father, Fath Ali Shah, Ali Mirza Zell-e-Soltan was governor of Tehran. He closed the gates of the citadel, declared himself rightful heir, was crowned Shahanshah and reigned in Tehran in 1834/1250 A.H. for a period of 40 days as Adel Shah Qajar. He abdicated at the arrival of Mohammad Mirza (son of Abbas Mirza) from Tabriz who was crowned Mohammad Shah Qajar. Ali Shah had coins struck in his name -- "Soltan Ali Shah" -- at the Tehran mint. In his brief reign, he distributed 700,000 toumans from the treasury to the populace of Tehran to gain their support. he died in Kerbela, in exile in 1855/1271 A.H. at the age of 62.
From wall painting at Soleymanieh Palace, Karadj
Descendants:
This is the genealogy of the members of the Zelli family. They are direct descendants of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (Ghadjar) through his son Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan. They have adopted their name from "Zell-e" and turned it into "Zelli". This genealogy was written by Prince Massoud Mirza Zelli. He can be reached at: massoud.zelli@wanadoo.fr
The following section about the life of Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan, was adopted from a book written about him by my sister Princess Sonia Zelli (Salour), whom I wish to thank. Ali-Shah Zell-e-Soltan was born on 6th Shaban 1210 Hejri (1793) from Princess Assiyeh Khanom, daughter of Fath-Ali Khan Davalou. She was the aghdi wife of Fath-Ali Shah Ghadjar, Shahanshah of Iran. He was the full brother of Crown Prince Abbas Mirza, who died in 1833. Ali Mirza Zell-e-Soltan was governor of Teheran for 25 years. In 1834, after Fath-Ali Shah passed away, Prince Ali Mirza Zell-e-Soltan crowned himself Shahanshah, and minted coins in his name as Ali Shah Ghadjar, Shahanshah of Iran. Meanwhile from Tabriz, Mohammad Mirza, the son of Crown Prince Abbas Mirza, who was then governor of Tabriz and of ill health, marched on the capital Teheran, with the help of Ghaem Magham, the vice-governor, and British and Russian military support. Ghaem Magham bribed the officer in charge of the Ghazvin garrison who handed over the garrison without resistance and accepted to send someone to Teheran to bribe the officer in charge of Teheran's Ghazvin Gate in order to open the gate on the British and Russian army supporting the claim of Mohammad Mirza.
This way, Mohammad Mirza entered Teheran and put Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan under house arrest. His Highness was under house arrest for two years in his palace which still exists in Teheran. It is situated in front of the current Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This palace was later turned into an army garrison by the Ghadjar-hating Reza Khan, mir panj (Reza Pahlavi).
For two years Iran had two shahs during Norooz ceremonies.While Mohammad Shah received dignitaries at the Golestan Palace, Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan also sat in his palace with crown on head and received dignitaries in turn, until 1836 AD (1252 Hejri), when he decided to go on pilgrimage to Mecca. Again the dirty hands of Ghaem Magham started plotting and with the help of the Russian Ghazaghs and the governor of Hamadan, His Royal Highness and his entourage were arrested in Hamadan and after awhile were sent to Maragheh into a castle which was readied as jail for them. We were told by Prince Shodja-e-Dowleh, my great grand-father, son of Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan, that while His Royal Highness was kept prisoner in a farmhouse in Hamadan, His Highness summoned the owner of the house before him and had a heavy iron box dug in the ground before them. His Highness admonished the owner to look after this box and told him that whenever he heard of his new permanent whereabouts, to bring it and hand it over again. Five years from that day, while His Highness and his family were residing in Karbala, the same farmer arrived at the door and asked permission to enter. When permission was granted, he entered and put the heavy iron box in front of His Highness, and said: "This is your box." The box contained His Highness's jewels, which came in very handy. With then Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan, bought a big part of Karbala's bazaar, which contained four caravanserais and many shops, enabled him to keep his family in comfort. This property is under our name to this day, but after the arrival of Saddam Hussein to power, its revenue went into the Iraqi owqaf (religious trusts).
DESCENDANTS of HIS MAJESTY ALI SHAH ZELL-E-SOLTAN GHADJAR:
Ali Shah Zell-e Soltan Ghadjar, from his marriage with Hajieh Khanoum, daughter of Ghahar Gholi Mirza, son of Shahrokh Mirza, son of Reza Gholi Mirza, son of Nader Shah Afshar, had one son named Shoja-ed-Dowleh, who lived in Karbala. During the reign of Naser-ed-Din Shah Ghadjar he was invited to come back to Iran, which he did with all his family.
1-Prince Shoja-ed-Doleh had two sons: 1-1-Prince Amir Arsalan Mirza, titled "Shoja-e-Nezam" and 1-2-Prince Amir Aslan Mirza, titled "Shoja-e-Soltan."
DESCENDANTS of Prince AMIR ARSALAN MIRZA "SHOJA-E-NEZAM"
*1-1-1-son) Prince Mohammad Kazem Mirza "Shahabolmamalek." He had no issue.
*1-1-2-son) Prince Mohammad Hossein Mirza "Ghaed
Nezam." He had three sons as follows:
**1-1-2-1-son) Prince Hossein Mirza Zelli married his
cousin Princess Hamdamelmolouk Zelli, and had two sons: ***1-1-2-1-1- son) Prince
Bahman Mirza Zelli who married a commoner and had two children. He died in 1985:
1-1-2-1-1-1- son) Prince Syrous Mirza Zelli; 1-1-2-1-2-2- daughter) Princess
Soussan Zelli. ***1-1-2-1-2-son) Prince Shahpoor Mirza Zelli. He had no issue
and died in 2002.
**1-1-2-2-son) Prince Majid Mirza Zelli, colonel in the Army. He had no issue.
**1-1-2-3-son) Prince Hamid Mirza Zelli. He had no issue.
*1-1-3-son) Prince Mohammad Ali Mirza Zelli, (colonel
of ghazaghs), married Maryam Khanom Hariri and had two sons and two daughters,
as follows:
**1-1-3-1-son) Prince Asghar Mirza Zelli (chief of customs of South of Iran),
married an Armenian lady and had two daughters and a son: ***1-1-3-1-1-daughter)
Princess Mina Khanom Zelli who is married and lives in America. ***1-1-3-1-2-daughter)
Princess Maryam Khanom Zelli who is married and lives in America. ***1-1-3-1-3-son)
Prince Zaven Mirza Zelli ("Shazdeh Armeni"). He is a musician and
lives in America.
**1-1-3-2-son) Prince Reza Mirza Zelli, (Head of personnel of Iranian Oil Company).
He married Mme. Safavi and had a son and a daughter: ***1-1-3-2-1-daughter)
Princess Soheila Zelli is married to an Englishman and lives in London. ***1-1-3-2-2-son)
Prince Ali Mirza Zelli who lives in Iran.
**1-1-3-3-daughter) Princess Hamdamelmolouk Zelli who married her cousin Prince
Hossein Mirza Zelli and had two sons by him (See under 1-1-2-1).
**1-1-3-4-daughter) Princess Khoram-el-Molouk Zelli, (Taj-e Sar-e author of
this genealogy, my ever loving mother who married her cousin Prince Abdoldjavad
Mirza Zelli, my learned father, scholar, St.Cyrien, astronomer, General of the
Army and Dean of the Military Academy of Iran. They had eight children together.
Four sons and four daughters as follows: ***1-1-3-4-1-son) Prince Parviz Mirza
Zelli who passed away at the age of eight months. ***1-1-3-4-2-son) Prince Mohammad
Mehdi Mirza Zelli (Joe) is a building contractor. He was married to an American
lady, is divorced and has no children. He lives in Houston, Texas. ***1-1-3-4-3-son)
Prince Massoud Mirza Zelli, screenwriter, film director, married in 1971
Zavoosh Khanom Kalali. He has one son from this marriage: Prince Amir Aslan
Mirza. He was divorced and remarried again in 1983. He has a son from this marriage:
Prince Illyia Mirza. ****1-1-3-4-3-1-son) Prince Amir Aslan Mirza Zelli was
born in 1974 from Zavoosh Khanom Kalali. He has a Master's Degree in Electronic
Engineering from the Grande Ecole EFREI. He is married to Samira Khanom Gharib.
They live in Paris. ****1-1-3-4-3-2-son) Prince Illiya Mirza Zelli was born
in 1986. He is a student of Economic Science and Management and lives in Paris.
***1-1-3-4-4-son) Prince Fariborz Mirza Zelli, is a gynecologist. He was married
to a German lady and has a daughter and a son and lives in California. ****1-1-3-4-4-1-daughter)
Princess Khoram Effi Zelli is married and lives in Dortmund, Germany. ****1-1-3-4-4-2-son)
Prince Fariborz Mirza Zelli, has a Doctoral Degree in Political Science and
works for Global Governance Project and lives in Heidelberg, Germany. ***1-1-3-4-5-daughter)
Princess Shokouh Khanom Zelli who committed suicide at the age of eighteen in
1941, whose death broke my motherÕs heart forever, she did not survive her grief.
***1-1-3-4-6-daughter) Princess Sonia Khanom Zelli, writer journalist, married
Prince Fouroud Mirza Salour and had a daughter: Princess Shahrzad Khanom Salour
who lives in San Francisco. She was married to Kaveh Kamyab and has a son named
Pyavosh Kamyab who lives in San Francisco. ***1-1-3-4-7-daughter) Princess Marmar
Khanom Zelli, who married Parviz Zaeimi and had two sons, Shahin Zaeimi and
Shariyar Zaeimi. They live in Washington D.C ***1-1-3-4-8-daughter) Princess
Papoor Khanom Zelli, who married Dr. Mohammad Ali Khan Sadri, grandson of Prince
Massoud Mirza Zell-e-Soltan, and has two children: a son, Sasan Sadri, business
man, who also has two sons, Ali Reza Sadri and Sina Sadri who live in California,
and a daughter Samila Sadri. She is banker, is married to Syavosh Ardalan and
has three children named Donia, Leila and Ali Ardalan.
*1-1-4-son ) Prince Abbas Mirza Zelli, Colonel of the Army, married his cousin Princess Aziz-el-molouk Zelli (the writer's aunt), daughter of Prince Amir Aslan Mirza Zelli (Shoja-ol-Soltan) (the writer's grandfather), who passed away at the age of eighteen years. Prince Abbas Mirza married a second time and had a son. **1-1-4-1-son) Prince Faramarz Mirza Zelli, who in his youth was the goalkeeper of the Iranian National Football team. He has two daughters. ***1-1-4-1-1- daughter) of Faramarz Mirza. ***1-1-4-1-2-daughter) of Faramarz Mirza.
*1-1-5-son) Prince Ahmad Mirza Zelli, Minister of Finance of Iran, had three sons and a daughter. **1-1-5-1-daughter) Princess Ghamar-el-molouk Khanom Zelli, married Admiral Naghdi, who was treacherously killed in the second world-war in south of Iran by the British army. They had two sons. Daryoush Naghdi who lives in Iran, and Djamshid Naghdi who lives in California. **1-1-5-2-son) Prince Houshang Mirza Zelli, who was Dr. of Medicine and Mayor of Teheran, he was married to Iran Khanom Hatef and had four children. ***1-1-5-2-1-son) Prince Kamran Mirza Zelli, who lives in Iran and is not married. ***1-1-5-2-2-daughter) Princess Nassrin Khanom Zelli, who lives in Teheran, married Pyrnazar and has two sons, Reza Pyrnazar and Alidad Pyrnazar. They both live in Paris. ***1-1-5-2-3-daughter) Princess Naria Khanom Zelli, married Amir Soleimany and has two daughters, Azadeh (Fati) Amir Soleimani who lives in New York, and Leila Amir Soleimani, who lives in Paris. ***1-1-5-2-4-daughter) Princess Shahnaz Khanom Zelli, married Bagher Heyat, has three children, Afsaneh Heyat, Shahrzad Heyat and Alireza Heyat. They all live in Washington, D.C. **1-1-5-3-son) Prince Manouchehr Mirza Zelli, Ambassador of Iran in Kuweit, Argentina, Canada, and India. He was married to a French lady and had a daughter. ***1-1-5-3-1-daughter) Princess Soheila Zelli, is married to a Belgian and lives in Bruxelles. **1-1-5-4-son) Prince Fereydon Mirza Zelli, Construction engineer of Iranian Oil Company. He built many oil refineries around the world, like the one in Madras, in Nigeria, Caracas, etc. etc. He has three sons. ***1-1-5-4-1-son) Prince Bardia Mirza Zelli is married and lives in Paris. ***1-1-5-4-2-son) Prince Nader Zelli who lives in Paris. ***1-1-5-4-3-son) Prince ..... Zelli?
*1-1-6-daughter) Princess Badrolsaltaneh Zelli, married Vasighdoleh Kia and had two sons and one daughter. **1-1-6-1 son) Djahangir Kia, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Iran. He had a son , 1-1-6-1-1 Alireza Kia, and two daughters: 1-1-6-1-2 Ghashangi Kia and 1-1-6-1-3 Golnaz Kia. They all live in California. **1-1-6-2 daughter) Iran Khanom Kia, married Army four star General, Syavoosh Behzadi, and had two sons and one daughter: ***1-1-6-2-1 Kamroz Behzadi ***1-1-6-2-2 Kambiz Behzadi ***1-1-6-2-3 Fatemeh Behzadi **1-1-6-3 son) Noreldin Kia, has two daughters and one son.
*1-1-7-daughter) Princess Robabeh Khanom (Khanom Shazdeh), married Ansari and had many children.
DESCENDANTS of PRINCE AMIR ASLAN MIRZA ZELLI: 1-2-Prince Amir Aslan Mirza Zelli "Shodja-ol-Soltan," was the second son of Ali Shah Zell-e-Soltan. He was married to Ezat-el-Molouk Rostamabadi (her sister was married to Nasser-ed-Din Shah). Prince Amir Aslan Mirza had three sons and three daughters.
*1-2-1-son) Prince Mohsen Mirza Zelli , born in 1879 AD and passed away in 1954. He was one of the most famous tar players in the world. He was also a writer, astronomer and gnostic. He was married to Khanom Khanomha and had two sons and two daughters. **1-2-1-1-son) Prince Syavoosh Mirza Zelli born in 1911 and passed away in 1950. He was married to Lobat Khanom Barzin and had three lovely daughters: ***1-2-1-1-1-daughter) Princess Flora Khanom Zelli who is married to Ali Fouladi and had ÉÉÉchildren and lives in California. ***1-2-1-1-2-daughter) Princess Soudabeh Khanom Zelli, married to Hormoz Farzin and has the most beautiful offspring of a Ghadjar Princess as daughter, Maryam Farzin and a second daughter Massy Farzin. They live in California. ***1-2-1-1-3-daughter) Princess Jaleh Khanom Zelli, beloved cousin of the author who lives in California. **1-2-1-2-son) Prince Abdolali Mirza Zelli, married Sheida Khanom. They have two sons and a daughter and live in Iran. ***1-2-1-2-1-son) Prince Shahin Mirza Zelli. Mechanical engineer and lives in Iran. ***1-2-1-2-2-son) Prince Ramin Mirza Zelli. Student and lives in Iran. ***1-2-1-2-3-daughter) Princess Parinaz Khanom Zelli. Student and lives in Iran. **1-2-1-3-daughter) Princess Akhtar-el-Saltaneh, married to Yavari and had two sons, Manouchehr Yavari and Hossein Yavari and a daughter Aghdas Yavari. **1-2-1-4-daughter) Princess ...... married Prince Ghahremani in Mashhad and had two daughters: Princess Eshrat Khanom Ghahremani, and Princess ...... ? and a son, Prince Mohammad Mirza Ghahremani, the well known poet.
*1-2-2-son) Prince Abdolah Mirza Zelli, born in 1898 AD. Admiral of the Navy, Commander of Iranian Navy and Military Governor of the Khuzestan area. Was married to Mme Afkhami and had two daughters. He passed away in 1983. **1-2-2-1-daughter) Princess Khajol Zelli, married to Afkhami. Passed away without offspring. **1-2-2-2-daughter) Princess Sorour Khanom Zelli, editorial writer of the New York Times.
*1-2-3-son) Prince Abdoldjavad Mirza Zelli, born in 1900. Father of the author of this genealogy. St. Cyrien, astronomer, mathematician, General of the Army, Dean of the Military Academy of Iran. Passed away in 1983. He was married to his cousin Princess Khoram-el-Molouk Khanom Zelli, mother, taj-e sar and grand amour of the author of this genealogy. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters. (See also above under 1-1-3-4 Princess Khoram-el-Molouk.): **1-2-3-1-son) Prince Parviz Mirza Zelli who passed away at the age of eight months. **1-2-3-2-son) Prince Mohammad Mehdi Mirza Zelli (Joe) is a building contractor. He was married to an American lady, is divorced and has no children. He lives in Houston, Texas. **1-2-3-3-son) Prince Massoud Mirza Zelli, screenwriter, film director, married in 1971 Zavoosh Khanom Kalali. He has one son from this marriage: Prince Amir Aslan Mirza. He was divorced and remarried again in 1983. He has a son from this second marriage: Prince Illyia Mirza. ***1-2-3-3-1-son) Prince Amir Aslan Mirza Zelli was born in 1974 from Zavoosh Khanom Kalali. He has a Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering from the Grande Ecole EFREI. He is married to Samira Khanom Gharib. They live in Paris. ***1-2-3-3-2-son) Prince Illiya Mirza Zelli was born in 1986. He is a student of Economic Science and Management and lives in Paris. **1-2-3-4-son) Prince Fariborz Mirza Zelli, is a gynecologist. He was married to a German lady and has a daughter and a son and lives in California. ***1-2-3-4-1-daughter) Princess Khoram Effi Zelli is married and lives in Dortmund, Germany. ***1-2-3-4-2-son) Prince Fariborz Mirza Zelli, has a Doctoral Degree in Political Science and works for Global Governance Project and lives in Heidelberg, Germany. **1-2-3-5-daughter) Princess Shokouh Khanom Zelli who committed suicide at the age of eighteen in 1941, whose death broke my mother's heart forever, she did not survive her grief. **1-2-3-6-daughter) Princess Sonia Khanom Zelli, writer journalist, married Prince Fouroud Mirza Salour and had a daughter: Princess Shahrzad Khanom Salour who lives in San Francisco. She was married to Kaveh Kamyab and has a son named Pyavosh Kamyab who lives in San Francisco. **1-2-3-7-daughter) Princess Marmar Khanom Zelli, who married Parviz Zaeimi and had two sons, Shahin Zaeimi and Shariyar Zaeimi. They live in Washington D.C **1-2-3-8-daughter) Princess Papoor Khanom Zelli, who married Dr. Mohammad Ali Khan Sadri, grandson of Prince Massoud Mirza Zell-e-Soltan, and has two children: a son, Sasan Sadri, business man, who also has two sons, Ali Reza Sadri and Sina Sadri who live in California, and a daughter Samila Sadri. She is banker, is married to Syavosh Ardalan and has three children named Donia, Leila and Ali Ardalan.
*1-2-4-daughter) Princess Azizelmolouk Zelli. She was married to her cousin, Prince Abbas Mirza Zelli. She passed away at the age of eighteen.
*1-2-5-daughter) Princess Monazah el Saltaneh Zelli.
*1-2-6-daughter) Princess Tajelmolouk Zelli, married Afkhami.
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Notes:
* Prince Ali Mirza Zell-e-Soltan is the first prince to bear the title of Shadow of the Ruler, later made famous again by Massoud Mirza Zell-e-Soltan, son of Nasser-ed-Din Shah. The Zelli family are not descendants of Massoud Mirza Zell-e Soltan. His descendants took the name Mass'oud.
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