Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran: Alexander Griboyedov and Imperial Russia's Mission to the Shah of Persia

336 Pages·2006·1.31 MB·English

by  Laurence Kelly

Laurence Kelly F.R.S.L. is the author of a distinguished biography of
Lermontov. He has studied and lived in Russia.
‘My book of the year is Laurence Kelly’s Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran.
Kelly’s description of the literary and social life in St Petersburg and Moscow
in the early 19th century is fascinating in itself and a portrait of a doomed
generation of young, cultured aristocrats.’ Raymond Carr, The Spectator
‘Kelly’s highly readable and enjoyable book is the first biography in English
of this intriguing figure. It is doubly fascinating: as an insight into a golden
age of Russian literature, and for its diplomatic and military history of a
region that still interests us.’ Jan Dalley, Financial Times
‘A vivid, dramatic story...The exotic life of a supremely Russian, a well-told,
informative tale, contemporary relevance – what more could the reader ask?’
George Walden, The Sunday Telegraph
‘Laurence Kelly’s wonderfully thorough life of Griboyedov, Diplomacy and
Murder in Tehran is a first-class work of scholarship and a terrific, sensa-
tional read. Not just a gripping story, but an important book.’
Philip Hensher, Books of the Year, The Spectator
‘In Laurence Kelly, Griboyedov has found a biographer who is at home in the
princely salons of St Petersburg as he is in the souks of the Orient or the vine
covered foothills of the Caucasus. An excellent book that is as impressive in
scholarship as it is easy, indeed addictive, to read... A tour de force.’
Simon Sebag-Montefiore
‘Carefully researched and superbly planned…the book and its narrative are
extremely exciting, telling an unfamiliar and gripping story.’
John Bayley, Times Literary Supplement
‘In this fascinating biography, Laurence Kelly paints and enthralling portrait
not only of the doomed diplomat but also of a critical episode in the often
tormented relationship between Russia and Iran.’
Philip Mansel, Sunday Times
‘Kelly, a prizewinning author, wears his meticulous scholarship lightly and
tells a riveting tale that reads like a Russian novel.’
Shusha Guppy, Times Higher Educational Supplement
‘A fascinating a readable account of the life and death of Alexander
Griboyedov.’ Donald Rayfield, Literary Review
‘Well-researched and finely written. It is a fascinating tale of imperial con-
flict and political intrigue with much contemporary relevance.’
New York Review of Books
‘Laurence Kelly must be congratulated on finding such a dramatic story and
telling it in such a lively style, in a work of true but unobtrusive scholarship.
Anyone with even a casual interest in Russian history will be gripped, and
moved, by this book.’ John Jolliffe, The Tablet
‘Laurence Kelly has produced the first-ever English biography of Griboyedov.
His book admirably reflects the attitudes and sensitivities of the era and
illuminates the roots of many of the conflicts that plague the region to this
day.’ Parviz C. Radji, Former Imperial Persia’s
Ambassador to London, The Moscow Tribune
‘Brilliant and multi-faceted…both his life and death make for an extraordi-
nary tale. In Laurence Kelly Griboyedov has found the biographer he de-
serves. A groundbreaking book... A treasure trove for future historians and
literary scholars on this subject and period.’
Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky, Moscow Times
‘I can think of no more agreeable way of learning about the complicated early
history of Russian interference in Turkey, Iran and the Caucasus than by
reading this account which, if it were fiction, would be unbelievable. Laurence
Kelly deserves congratulation for producing this riveting, fast-paced story.’
Antony Wynn, Cornucopia
‘A lively, thoroughly researched and highly dramatic tale of events. Kelly not
only makes a notable contribution to the study of Russian imperialism and
Russo-Persian relations, but he succeeds in producing a more subtle and
persuasive account of Griboyedov himself.’ Simon Franklin, Rossica
‘An admirable contribution to the study of the least known of the great troika
of Russian literature’s first flowering. A vibrant book.’
East-West Review, Journal of the Great Britain-Russia Society
‘Stunningly researched... This book offers a valuable contribution to the
diplomatic history of Russia, the Caucasus and Iran.’ London Diplomat
To my grandchildren
Edward, Alexander, George, Nadya,
Tara, Katherine, Dyala, Arthur and Charlotte
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and learning.
DIPLOMACY AND
MURDER IN
TEHRAN
Alexander Griboyedov and
Imperial Russia’s Mission to
the Shah of Persia
LAURENCE KELLY
TPP
TAURIS PARKE
PAPERBACKS
Published in 2006 by Tauris Parke Paperbacks
An imprint of I.B.Tauris and Co Ltd
6 Salem Road, London W2 4BU
175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010
www.ibtauris.com
First published in 2002 by I.B.Tauris and Co Ltd
Copyright © 2002, 2006 Laurence Kelly
The right of Laurence Kelly to be identified as the author of this work has
been asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patent Act 1988.
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or any
part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
the publisher.
ISBN 1 84511 196 6
EAN 978 1 84511 196 0
A full CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
A full CIP record is available from the Library of Congress
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available
Printed and bound in India by Replika Press Pvt. Ltd.
Contents
Acknowledgements ix
List of Illustrations xii
Introduction 1
I A Moscow Education 5
II The War of 1812 16
III Literary Beginnings: St Petersburg 24
IV The Duel 32
V Into Exile 40
VI Arrival in Tiflis 47
VII Yermolov and Russian Imperialism 53
VIII Journey to Tehran 58
IX Tabriz and the Deserters 65
X Diplomatic Diversions 73
XI Return to Tiflis 82
XII Theatrical Campaigns, Moscow 88
XIII Woe from Wit 95
XIV Love and Politics, St Petersburg 107
XV Crimea and the Northern Caucasus 116
XVI The Decembrist Débacle 128
XVII The Persian Campaign 138
XVIII Armistice Negotiations 147
XIX The Treaty of Turkmanchai 153
XX A Hero’s Return 162
XXI Courtship and Marriage 170
XXII Tabriz to Tehran 179
XXIII Countdown to the Massacre 187
XXIV Diplomatic Repercussions 195
XXV The Aftermath 201
Appendix I: Griboyedov’s Death and the ‘British Conspiracy’ Theory 205
Appendix II: Table of Russian Ranks 223
Appendix III: Anglo–Russian Rivalry in Persia 224
Notes on the Text 227
Bibliography 288
Index 304

Acknowledgements
There is no full-length biography of Griboyedov in English; considering
his importance as a literary figure in Russia, there has also been com-
paratively little written about him in the West. In part this may be due
to the shortage of the necessary literature about him in university or
academic libraries. I should exemplify this by explaining how much
biographical material relating to Griboyedov and his contemporaries is
to be found in those two repositories of 19th century Russian history,
Russky Arkiv and Russkaya Starina: even the London Library, with its
first-class Russian collection, does not possess these series in full. Of
necessity, this book has been something of a pioneering work, involving
a decade of research, and including journeys to Russia, Georgia and the
Crimea. I am enormously grateful for the help and generosity I have
received on the way.
Among Western academics, my greatest debt is to Professor Evelyn
Harden, late of Fraser University, Vancouver. I have been able to draw
extensively from her PhD thesis for Harvard University in 1966,
analysing Yuri Tynianov’s historical work The Death of the Vazir
Mukhtar (i.e. Griboyedov). This exhaustive piece of scholarship has
provided me with many illuminating insights into Griboyedov’s diplomatic
role, and the history of Georgia, Persia and Armenia in the 1820s. I am
also grateful for her patience in reading a number of draft chapters, and
pointing out errors and omissions.
The search for rare books and studies of Griboyedov’s activities in
Georgia has led me to have recourse to the kindness of many inhabitants
of that most ancient corner of the world, notably Tamila Mgaloblishvili
and Irakli and Gela Charkviani; I am also very grateful to Liya Kiknadze
and Tamara Dragadze for checking the archives at their disposal for
details of Griboyedov’s role in repatriating Russian deserters to Tiflis.
Regrettably their researches have proved fruitless, perhaps because files
have been removed; the thorny problem of the deserters’ fate, and the
numbers involved, is still unsolved. My friend Gyorgy Putnikov, in
Moscow, has been equally unsuccessful in finding the answer.
On Persian questions, which involved a language I regret I cannot
speak or read, I owe a special mention to Sir Claus Moser for introducing
me to Dr John Gurney of the Oriental Institute in Oxford; thanks to Dr
Gurney Iwas able to enlist the help of the distinguished Persian historian
ix