The Qajar people represent Iran during the rule of the Qajar dynasty, a Modern Age civilization in Civilization VII. They are available with the Qajar Pack within the Right to Rule Collection, which was released on September 30, 2025.
The Qajars' civilization ability is Kayānī Crown, which increased 
Influence toward supporting 
Diplomatic Actions. Their associated 
Wonder is Eram Garden, and their unique assets are as follows:
Intro[]
The Guarded Domains of Iran are known for the dynasty that rules them - Qajar. Defying the great powers of the world, Qajar Iran remains, building a legacy of art and architecture that places a Persian stamp upon modernity. Rule by beauty or the rifle, but carve for Qajar its place upon the world.
Tips and hints[]
Qajar benefits from being below the Settlement Limit. Use your Sardār unique Army Commander to quickly raze conquered settlements to stay under the limit and keep an eye on how many Settlements you have to make the most of their bonuses!
Strategy[]
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Civilopedia entry[]
The 18th century was a time of violent chaos in Iran. After over two hundred years in power, the Safavid dynasty had decayed, each shah more ineffective than the last until they were finally overthrown by a rebellion. As the old world faded away, a new star rose in the form of the ambitious and ruthless Nader Shah. He reformed the army and invaded India, sacking Delhi and claiming Mughal’s riches for himself. He also expanded Iranian power into the Uzbek and Caucasus regions, and pockets of the Arabian coast. At the height of his reign, his empire was one of the most powerful in the world, and created an army whose size was not matched until the late 20th century.
The aftermath of Nader Shah’s death was a disaster. Nader Shah himself had blinded his most promising heir out of fear of being overthrown, and much of his family was executed after his demise. His former generals warred with one another for power while border provinces seceded to form their own kingdoms. Two families, the Zands and the Qajars, emerged as the most prominent successors of the remnants of Nader Shah’s empire. For a brief two-decade interlude, the Zand ruler Karim Khan held onto the seats of power at Shiraz, Tehran, and Isfahan. Upon his death, the civil war picked up where it had left off until a victor finally emerged in 1796. This time, the Qajars came out on top. They would remain there until 1925.
The Qajar royal family emerged from the Qajar tribe of the Oghuz Turks. Originally from the Armenian region, they had been relocated during the Safavid period to the southeastern shores of the Caspian Sea. Several Qajars had emerged as prominent military commanders during and after Nader Shah’s reign, but after the death of Karim Khan, it was Agha Mohammad Khan who successfully established the clan as Iran’s new shahs.
Agha Mohammad Khan spent his childhood as a hostage, and was castrated at age six. He was a clever and tenacious man, focused at first on unifying the Qajar tribe and establishing himself as the dynasty’s head. He then turned to Iran proper, capturing the major cities held by the Zands and relocating the capital to Tehran, where it has remained ever since. Parts of the Caucasus were also subdued and brought back into the fold.
Through his efforts, Agha Mohammad not only prevented the complete collapse of Iran, but restored its original borders and ushered in a period of stability. But at what cost? Hand in hand with his ambitions, Agha Mohammad had an immense penchant for violence, and thousands died during his campaigns. He blinded 20,000 men upon capturing the city of Kerman; for years afterward, these men could be found begging across Iran, relating the catastrophe that had befallen their home.
Agha Mohammad was assassinated in 1797, but unlike Nader Shah and Karim Khan, he had planned ahead for his succession, appointing his nephew Fath Ali as heir. Fath Ali Shah worked with what he had – although he lost the Caucasus again to Russia, he managed to maintain a status quo of peace across Iran, even achieving a small economic boost. Given the profound chaos of the previous century, this was no small feat. Iran was still a confederation of allied kingdoms and tribes rather than a cohesive state, and the government’s power beyond the major cities was weak. As much as half the population was still nomadic or semi-nomadic, left to their own independent rule beyond paying taxes.
Fath Ali worked to stabilize these internal alliances; but he also transformed the central monarchy, moving away from the tribal khanate model of the Turks towards a more classical concept of kingship. He restored the ancient title of “shahanshah” (King of Kings) and installed his sons as provincial governors to expand his personal power. The revived interest in Iran’s history combined with Fath Ali’s admiration for the arts fostered an artistic and literary renaissance across the country. He was particularly fond of portraiture, and many paintings of his distinctive figure, with his narrow waist and remarkable beard, survive today.
But Fath Ali’s tenure also saw increased contact with Europe, which would define the Qajar period to come. His long reign (1797-1834) overlapped with the Napoleonic Wars, during which European nations sought additional allies to aid them in the cycle of conflict. They eagerly looked east, but the shifting alliances of the anti-Napoleon coalitions often caused Iran to be disregarded when it needed help the most.
As the throne passed from Fath Ali Shah to his son Muhammad Shah, European interference grew more direct. The Russian victory in the Caucasus had resulted in a treaty that allowed Russian merchants free access to Iranian markets, and soon the country was flooded with cheap European goods, undermining the profits of local craftsmen and damaging the economy. The Great Game, the war of influence between Britain and Russia in Central Asia, was in full swing, and both nations began meddling in Iranian affairs. In doing so, they hindered Iran’s modernization – for instance, they long delayed the construction of railroads in the region because they feared that trains could transport armies to their borders. But the lack of railroads also blocked the development of transportation and communication infrastructure that were rapidly reforming other nations around the globe.
But change was on the horizon. Naser al-Din Shah came to power in 1848, destined to become the most prominent Qajar ruler over his 51-year reign. He toured Europe several times (the first modern Iranian monarch to do so), keeping scrupulous notes on the wonders and technology he saw there. Following his own interests, Western arts began to catch on in Iran, particularly painting styles and photography.
Naser al-Din instituted a number of reforms across Iran inspired by his experience in, and contact with, the West. He opened Iran’s first newspaper, overhauled the tax system, expanded the military, and established postal and telegraph systems. He also made deals with Western investors. His reforms changed the face of Qajar Iran, but were not popular with his people; moreover, these developments further encouraged the integration of Britain and Russia into Iranian society.
Public discontent did not stop with Naser al-Din’s assassination. Suffering financially, Iran began borrowing heavily from Russia, and sold off concessions to other European powers. The population grew increasingly concerned about the involvement of foreign nations in their affairs, losing trust in the Qajar dynasty. In 1906, Mozaffar ad-Din Shah signed a constitution that divided his power with that of a Majles (elected parliament) but died shortly thereafter. His son, Mohammad Ali Shah, attempted to disband the Majles, going so far as to bomb the parliament building with the support of Russia and Britain. But this act only motivated the constitutional movement further, and revolutionaries sprang up across Iran. They ousted Mohammad Ali Shah in favor of his young son Ahmad and reestablished the Majles in Tehran.
But although the Constitutional Revolution marked a major milestone in modern Iranian history, it was short-lived. In 1907, Britain and Russia divided Iran between them and disbanded the Second Majles. The last Qajar shah was now a mere figurehead. In the following years, Iran became an unwilling battleground during WWI between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and in 1921, Ahmad Shah Qajar was overthrown in a coup by Reza Shah Pahlavi; he was officially removed from power in 1925. The Qajar era was over – the Pahlavi era was about to begin.
Cities[]
Citizens[]
| Males | Females |
|---|---|
| Abbas | Zeynab |
| Hamzeh | Farah |
| Mahmoud | Afsar |
| Aziz | Maryam |
| Rostam | Zahra |
| Parviz | Shokouh |
| Hossein | Khadijeh |
| Jafar | Ezzat |
| Asadollah | Fatimah |
| Yahya | Azadeh |
Age Transition Quotes[]
When age progress reaches 100% or player gets eliminated/retires, one of these quotes will be read depending on the last legacy path completed:
- Culture: "A mosaic creates a pattern from disparate parts. So, too, did Qajar's museums."
- Economic: "Qajar would never know darkness. Who needed the sun, when gold was brighter?"
- Military: "The smell of iron, the barking of commands. Among the chaos, a white flag. Qajar's army accepted the enemy's surrender."
- Science: "A satellite, weaving through the night sky, marks Qajar's final stitch in their tapestry of stars."
- Defeat: "Qajar is like a broken mosaic - its form disrupted, but its pieces remain."
Trivia[]
- The Qajar civilization's symbol is based on the coat of arms of the Qajar Dynasty, which includes a lion with a sword and a sun behind it.
- The Qajar civilization ability is the name of the crown worn by their kings, which is part of the Iranian National Jewels.
- The Qajar background art depicts Golestan Palace.
- The first national anthem of Iran/Persia was composed during the reign of the Qajars and is used heavily in their soundtrack in the game.
Soundtrack[]
| Original Track | № | Based on | Credits | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Qajar (Modern Age)" | Salām-e Shāh Tasnif–e Ta Be Zolf–e Khish |
Composed by Geoff Knorr
FILMHarmonic Orchestra, Prague Produced by Geoff Knorr |
5:17 |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Qajar city in-game (Civ7).jpg (2.88 MB)")
.png "Bāq in-game (Civ7).png (1.06 MB)")
.png "Eram Garden in-game (Civ7).png (7.3 MB)")
.png "Gholām in-game (Civ7).png (917 KB)")
.png "Sardār in-game (Civ7).png (742 KB)")
Videos[]
See also[]
- Qajar (Independent Power) (Civ7)
- Qajar in other games
External links[]
| Civilization VII Civilizations [edit] | |
|---|---|
| Antiquity | |
| Exploration | |
| Modern | |
| 1 Requires DLC | |