Persian Cossack Brigade

Common card · No. 319002

The Persian Cossack Brigade, also known as the Iranian Cossack Brigade (Persian: بریگاد قزاق, romanized: Berīgād-e qazzāq), was a Cossack-style cavalry unit formed in 1879 in Iran. It was modelled after the Caucasian Cossack regiments of the Imperial Russian Army. Until 1920, it was commanded by Russian officers, while its rank and file were composed of ethnic Caucasians and later on Iranians as well. During much of the brigade's history it was the most functional and effective military unit of the Qajar dynasty. Acting on occasion as kingmakers, this force played a pivotal role in modern Iranian history during the Persian Constitutional Revolution, the rise of Reza Shah, and the foundation of the Pahlavi dynasty.

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