Dariush I of Arzanshahr

Dariush I of Arzanshahr (Parsig: Dariush - داریوش ) (Born Mohamed Dariush Yazdi 21 December 1902 – 12 Semptember 1978) was a Arzani Muslim poet, politician, and anti-colonial activist who first rose to the role of prime minister, then regent of Arzanshahr before his election as hereditary ruler of the country by the Majles-e Šahwār (Arzani Royal Council) in 1949. After leading the fight against the Kiravian occupation of Arzanshahr and its collaborationist monarchy under the Babakids in The Great War, Yazdi hoped to abolish the Arzani monarchy altogether, and become the country's first republican leader. Quickly after victory, however, political infighting over "the institutional question" divided his government and its main organ, the Revive Arzanshahr Society to such an extent that he had to acquiesce to the compromise title of "President of The Regency Council". After 8 years of quasi-republican, quasi-monarchical rule, his election as Padišah was engineered to solve the constitutional question, threatened to undermine his rule, and to pacify the country's militantly traditionalist clergy, which threatened insurrection if a republic was proclaimed.

The first period of Dariush I's rule is known for his ruthless pursuit of modernization of the country's domestic and military infrastructure, the reduction of the influence of the clergy on Arzani politics, and his initial affinity for parliamentary democracy. His series of radical liberal and secular reforms over Arzani Society are known as the Gardišn-Šāhīgān (Palace Revolution). However, the last years of his reign were marked by a political realignment towards the clergy and landowners, as well as increasing reliance on outside capital.