Rackum addressed by Abbas Meerza to the Chairmen of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, and a Translation of the Rackum

Content

Translation of a rackum [ raqm Royal grants confirming specific trading privileges from the Shah of Persia. and raqim, a letter or an order] from Abbas Meerza [Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. Qājār] to the Chairmen of the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. of the East India Company (IOR/L/PS/9/70/224 (1)), accompanied by the original rackum in Persian (IOR/L/PS/9/70/224 (2)). In the rackum, Abbas Meerza indicates that Persia [Iran] was ‘obliged to have recourse to arms’ against Russia following repeated Russian encroachments into Persian territory and the failure of the mission of Prince Menchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] to resolve Persian grievances in the face of fresh Russian encroachments. He thus argues that Persia is not at fault for the outbreak of war between Russia and Persia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828]. Abbas Meerza also appeals to the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. for assistance, requesting British mediation between Russia and Persia, and for British assistance in the war at the current moment of crisis.

This document was originally enclosed, numbered 2, in the letter of the East India Company Envoy to Persia, Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, to the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. of the East India Company of 8 May 1827 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/222).

Extent and format

1 item (5 folios)

Written in

Persian and English in Arabic and Latin script

Type

Letter

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/9/70/224

History of this record

Date(s)

1827 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

DiplomacyRusso-Persian War (1826-1828)

People & organisations

Crown Prince of Persia, Qajar dynastyCourt of Directors

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Rackum addressed by Abbas Meerza to the Chairmen of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, and a Translation of the Rackum, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/9/70/224, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038378586.0x00036f> [accessed 16 July 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100038378586.0x00036f

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