This dissertation examines the emergence of the Qājār monarchy of Iran (1786 – 1925) from the vantage point of the Caspian Sea. It examines the ways in which eighteenth-century autonomous rulers of northern Iran harnessed the resources and wealth of the Caspian littoral to consolidate power by distributing revenues to allies among the military elites of the Iranian north. This study is framed by a central question: what factors specific to the Caspian enabled Āqā Mohammad Khān to put together a coalition capable of building a lasting political order in Iran?

Drawing on a diverse set of sources, including previously underused archival material for this period, this dissertation considers the unification of a single Iranian state from the north, with an emphasis on political economy and a Safavid-Qizilbāsh restorationist ideology that was given focus by contacts with Russian, Armenian, Afghan, Turkmen, and Uzbek neighbors. The position of the Qajars on Iran’s northeastern frontiers was essential for the collection of revenue and its distribution to Kurdish and Turkmen allies, enabling the reunification of the former Safavid lands. This process was facilitated by partnerships with pastoralist and landed elites and merchant networks that connected northern Iran to Russia.