Muṭāli̒āt-i tārīkh-i farhangī(Cultural History Studies)

Bread and the Civil War in Tabriz during the Minor Tyranny Period

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Gholamali Pashazadeh 1
Fatemeh Orouji 1
Jebreil Eyvazi 2

1 Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 PhD Student in the History of Post-Islamic Iran, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

10.22034/chs.2026.550331.1134
Abstract
During the urban conflicts in Tabriz in 1326 AH (1908 AD), bread was the most essential item in the daily consumption basket of the city's residents. A shortage of bread led to social unrest, making its provision a crucial task for local authorities. Proper management and systematic distribution of bread and grain alleviated public fear and anxiety, granting political legitimacy to the ruling powers. Both sides of the conflict sought to use this necessity against one another. Effective management of government and feudal grain resources, the grain depot located in the Arg (Citadel) of the government, and organized distribution methods were central topics in the Provincial Council's discussions, aimed at lowering bread prices and resolving bread supply issues. The autocratic forces obstructed the delivery of grain to the government Arg and pro-constitutional neighborhoods. This study aims to examine the relationship between the legitimacy (or lack thereof) of the political system and the provision of grain and bread to the people of Tabriz during the urban warfare between the two factions. Using a descriptive and analytical approach, it seeks to answer the fundamental question ‘How did the people and local authorities on both the constitutionalist and autocratic sides perceive the connection between grain and bread supply and the legitimacy of political authority?’ The findings indicate that opponents of constitutionalism attempted to disrupt the procurement and distribution of bread—especially during crises—to create shortages and instill fear among the public. In contrast, the constitutionalists aimed to enhance the grain and bread supply system, reduce public anxiety in their supporting neighborhoods, and cause disruption in the opposing areas to bolster their own legitimacy.

Keywords

Bread
Political System
Legitimacy
War
Neighborhoods
Grain
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Muṭāli̒āt-i tārīkh-i farhangī(Cultural History Studies)
Volume 17, Issue 66 - Serial Number 66
winter 2026
Winter 2026
Pages 57-82

  • Receive Date 30 September 2025
  • Revise Date 27 April 2026
  • Accept Date 19 May 2026
  • Publish Date 20 February 2026

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