Constitution House of Tabriz

The Constitutional Movement was one of the biggest political events in the recent history of Iran, which was ultimately victorious in 1906 AD when the Qajar king, Mozaffar al-Din Shah, signed the constitution.

As one of the important cities of Iran, Tabriz, which was one of the main centers of the presence of constitutionalists, played a very important role during the Constitutional Revolution. Presently, there are many historical buildings in the city of Tabriz that narrate parts of the events related to the Constitutional Movement in Iran.

The Constitution House of Tabriz is one such building, which was a place of gathering for the personalities of Azarbaijan, to discuss the Constitutional Movement. In addition to its importance in the contemporary history of Iran, this place has unique aesthetic features that caused its name to be inscribed in the list of national heritage of Iran in 1975.

History of the Constitution House of Tabriz

The Constitution House of Tabriz was once the home of one of the famous merchants and marketers of Tabriz named “Mahdi Koozeh Kanani”. He started the construction of this house in 1868 AD, which, years later, i.e. during the Constitutional Movement, came to be known as the "Constitution House".

During the 11-month siege of Tabriz by the government of the time, this house was the headquarters of Tabriz fighters. Despite the pressures exerted on the constitutionalists, they were able finally to push back the government forces and create a forward movement among all the constitutionalists of Iran. In this way, the Constitution House of Tabriz was able to play an important role in fighting authoritarianism in the country. This is the reason why this house is of interest to the people of Tabriz and has gained special importance.

Keeping in view the role of this place in guiding the struggles in the course of the Constitutional Movement and the documents that existed in it, this house was turned into a museum under the name the “Constitution House of Tabriz” in 1996.

Objects displayed at the Constitution House of Tabriz

One of the main parts of this museum is related to the sculptured busts of the leaders of the Constitutional Movement like Hossein Khan Baghban, Haj Ali Davachi, Shiqah Al-Islam Tabrizi, Haj Ali Khataei, Howard Baskerville, Karbalaei Ali Monsieur, Sheikh Ali Asghar Leilavaei, Akhund Khorasani, Ali Akbar Dehkhoda, and Zainab Pasha (the only woman present in the ranks of constitutionalists).

Some of the other objects displayed in this museum include equipment and tools used by the constitutionalists of Tabriz such as Sattar Khan’s sidearm weapon, constitutional carpet, personal belongings of constitutional leaders, and documents related to the activities of constitutionalists.

Architectural Features of the Constitution House of Tabriz

Apart from the objects displayed in the Constitution House of Tabriz, the architectural features of this building are also quite interesting. The house has an area of 1300 square meters and is built on two floors. Stone, brick, and clay are the main materials used in the construction of this house. A lot of woodwork has also been used in the ceiling of some of the rooms.

Sash windows, inlaid doors, a pavilion, and skylight wells are among the elements of this house, which have shaped its structure very eye-catching. Red and green glass panes have been used in the windows, which creates a beautiful view under the sunlight.

At the main entrance of the house, in addition to a cannon, there are statues of Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan, the leaders of the Tabriz Constitutional Movement. There are six rooms on the first and second floors of the Constitution House and there is a large six-by-nine-meter hall in the middle of the second floor, which was the place for holding public meetings. The room facing the courtyard on the second floor is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the building, which is decorated with latticed doors and windows with colored window panes.

The foyer of the Constitution House of Tabriz has four columns the capitals of which have been decorated with plasterworks. Above each of these columns, there are skylight wells covered with colored panes.

The rooms around the foyer have wooden arches decorated with octagonal-shaped reliefs.

Where is the Constitution House of Tabriz located?

This museum is located in one of the historical houses of Tabriz city, in the Rastekoocheh neighborhood and to the west of the Tabriz Bazaar.

The Constitution House of Tabriz was a place of gathering for the personalities of Azarbaijan, to discuss the Constitutional Movement.