A Comparative Study of Historical Accounts of the Cannonading of the Sacred Shrine of Imam Reza (P.B.U.H) (Including the Introduction of a Newly Discovered Manuscript on the Incident)
Volume 14, Issue 53, Spring 2026, Pages 65-103
https://doi.org/10.22034/farzv.2024.469116.2022
Abolfazl Hassanabady
Abstract The bombing of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (P.B.U.H) by the Russians on the 10th of Rabi’ al-Thani, 1912, is considered a significant historical event in Mashhad. Known as the “Second Ashura,” the event was commemorated for a long time and poems were composed in its memory. In this regard, the current study sought to introduce and analyze the content of a newly discovered treatise concerning the bombing of Imam Reza’s shrine. To this end, the most reliable sources on this subject were identified and categorized into official sources, including documents, and unofficial sources, such as books and newspapers. Subsequently, to facilitate a comparative analysis of their content with the information in the treatise under discussion, the main topics were divided into several themes, including the types of financial and human damages, the method of attacking the shrine and the positioning of the cannons, the number of shells that hit the shrine and their locations. For each theme, the significance of the manuscript’s information was clarified in comparison to other sources. The codicological structure of the treatise and its informational value were also presented separately to further emphasize the importance of its content. The analysis of the research findings reveals that this manuscript has remained unknown until now, and its information has not been utilized elsewhere. Based on the style and manner of the information presented, the author was closely involved in the event and endeavored to provide an accurate depiction while fairly addressing its various dimensions based on personal observation and available evidence and documents. Some of the manuscript’s information, such as the way the event commenced and the incidents leading to the shrine being shelled, is consistent with other sources. In specific cases, such as the individuals involved, financial and human losses, the arrangement of military forces, and the method of bombardment, the treatise possesses informational value, and the sections concerning figures like Yusef Khan Herati’s fate are unique.