The Role of the Mohseni Family Endowments in Sustaining Local Power Structures in Arak, 1264–1320 AH

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD student, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Haj Aqa Mohsen Araqi was among the most prominent landowners and benefactors of Markazi Province during the Qajar era, playing a pivotal role in the political and social developments of Arak. Drawing on primary sources from the National Archives of Iran, the detailed proceedings of the National Consultative Assembly, and Qajar administrative records, this study examines the role of Araqi and the Mohseni family in managing an extensive network of estates and endowments, and their impact on local power structures. The central research question investigates the extent to which these endowments influenced the continuity or transformation of local power patterns during and after Haj Aqa Mohsen’s lifetime, and how the Constitutional Revolution affected traditional landlord–peasant relations and the waqf system.

The findings indicate that the Mohseni family, leveraging their substantial assets, were able to maintain their social and political status until the end of the Naseri period and even beyond the Constitutional Revolution, despite peasant protests. Analysis of the parliamentary proceedings also reveals that, although there were criticisms regarding the family’s land management and administration of endowments, there was no effective political will among the representatives to implement structural changes, rendering such protests largely ineffective. Consequently, Haj Aqa Mohsen’s heirs continued to preserve their economic and social influence amidst the political transformations of the Constitutional era.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Eʿtemad al-Saltaneh, M. H. (1891). Al-Maʾather wa al-Athar (Vol. 1). Tehran: Asatir Publishing.
(Original Persian publication: 1374 SH)[in Persian]
Eʿtemad al-Saltaneh, M. H. (1898). The Diary of Eʿtemad al-Saltaneh. Tehran: Amir Kabir Publishing.
(Original Persian publication: 1377 SH) )[in Persian]
Afshar, I. (2007). Letters of the Constitutional Period and Migration (From Political Figures and Local Notables to Seyyed Hasan Taqizadeh, from 1907 onward). Tehran: Qatreh Publishing. )[in Persian]
Bayat, F., & Bayat, Sh. (2023). Comprehensive Commentary on the Iranian Civil Code (pp. 55–91). Tehran: Arshad Publishing. )[in Persian]
Khakbaz, A. A. (1992). The Mohseni Family of Arak: Life and Biography of Grand Ayatollah Hajj Aqa Mohsen ʿAraqi . Tehran: Author-Published. )[in Persian]
Khosrowshahi, H. (2000). Seyyed Jamal al-Din Asadabadi: Political and Historical Documents. Tehran: Center for Islamic Studies. )[in Persian]
Safaʾi, A. (1976). Constitutional Documents of the Qajar Period. Tehran: Babak Publishing. )[in Persian]
Kharabi, F. (2007). Associations during the Constitutional Era. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. )[in Persian]
Fourier, J. (n.d.). Three Years at the Court of Persia. Tehran: Donya-ye Ketab Publishing. )[in Persian] )[in Persian]
Kasakovsky, N. (1976). Memoirs of Colonel Kasakovsky (A. Jali, Trans.). Tehran: Kavian Printing House. )[in Persian]
Kalantari Baghmishehʾi, M. A. Kh. (1998). The Diary of Sharaf al-Dowleh (1906–1909) (Y. Zekaʾ, Ed.). Tehran: Fekr-e Ruz Publishing. )[in Persian]
Kasravi, A. (2002). History of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. Tehran: Amir Kabir Publishing. )[in Persian]
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. (1983). Travelogue of Iraqi Ajami (Central Regions of Iran). Tehran: Tirajeh Publishing. )[in Persian]
Nazem al-Eslam Kermani. (2005). History of the Iranian Awakening (Vol. 3). Tehran: Amir Kabir Publishing. )[in Persian]
Naʿimi, D. (2006). Distinguished Figures of Markazi Province (Vol. 2). Qom: Koumeh Publishing. )[in Persian]
Naʿimi, D., & Shafiʿi, M. S. (n.d.). Exemplars of Endowers: Ayatollah Ḥajj Aqa Moḥsen Araki. Qom: Osveh Publishing. )[in Persian]
Zahir al-Dowleh. (1988). Memoirs and Documents of Zahir al-Dowleh (I. Afshar, Ed.). Tehran: Zarrin Publishing. )[in Persian]
Yazdani, S. (2007). Sur-e Esrafil: The Newspaper of Freedom. Tehran: Ney Publishing. )[in Persian]
Yazdani, S. (2022). Peasants and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. Tehran: Mahi Publishing. )[in Persian]
Yazdani, S. (2023). Political Assassinations in Iran (1907–1917). Tehran: Mad Publishing. )[in Persian]
Archival Documents
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1923, November 25). Division of revenues of the Kazaz endowment between Hajj Seyyed Ahmad and Hajj Seyyed Mahmud (Document No. 2227; Reg. No. 17127-250). )[in Persian]
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1923, August 18). Correspondence of the Mohseni family with the Minister of Education regarding the endowments of Hajj Aqa Mohsen (Reg. No. 17127-250). )[in Persian]
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1908). Petition of Shams al-ʿOlamaʾ to the Ministry of Justice concerning the heirs of Hajj Aqa Mohsen Araqi (Doc. No. 123329-298). )[in Persian]
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1908). Complaint of the inhabitants of Iraq against the Mohseni family and formation of the Notables’ Association (Doc. No. 129013-298). )[in Persian]
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1908). Petition of the inhabitants of Iraq protesting against the heirs of Hajj Aqa Mohsen and threatening sanctuary in the British Embassy (Doc. No. 129013-298). )[in Persian]
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1908). Complaint regarding obstruction of the Provincial Council and falsification of petitions by the heirs of Hajj Aqa Mohsen (Doc. No. 129013-298). )[in Persian]
National Archives and Library of Iran. (1909). Alteration of watercourse by Hajj Seyyed Ahmad from Soltanabad to private property in Marzijran village (Doc. No. 129013-298). )[in Persian]
Majles National Assembly Archives. (1927). Petition of peasants of Malekabad and Kheyrabad against descendants of Hajj Aqa Mohsen (Doc. No. 118045). )[in Persian]
Majles National Assembly Archives. (1928, May 6). Complaint of students of Sepahdar Seminary against mismanagement of endowment revenues (Doc. No. 18785). )[in Persian]
Newspapers and Journals
Habl al-Matin Newspaper. (1907). Various issues. )[in Persian]
Official Gazette of the Imperial State of Iran. (1907). Proceedings of the National Consultative Assembly (pp. 152–159). )[in Persian]
Tajabadi, R., & Farahani, M. (2019). Ethical and scholarly virtues of Ayatollah Hajj Aqa Mohsen Araqi from the perspective of Shiʿi scholars. *Rahyaft-e Farhangi-ye Dini, 2(8). )[in Persian]
Mowlaʾi, M., & Eybakabadi, F. (2021). An analysis of the endowment deed of Hajj Aqa Mohsen Araqi based on Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis. *Mirath-e Javidan, 115. )[in Persian]
Web Sources
Defaʿ Press. (2000, November 14). Arak as the Mother of Seminaries. Retrieved from [https://defapress.ir](https://defapress.ir)
Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam
Volume 19, Issue 37
November 2025
Pages 340-376

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 19 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 22 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 29 October 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics