“Sepehr Bariin”: A summer Residence in Sultāniyya Plain

In the XIXth century, Sultāniyya plain became an important region; this importance is due to favorable climate, rich pasturage, strategical location, including proximity to Tehran and Tabriz and the borders of Ottoman Empire and Russia. Thus during this period, a large number of evidences were written that show the various aspects of Sultāniyah plain’s cultural landscape. Political condition was required that Fatḥ Alī-Shāh spent several summers in Sultāniyya, he set up an encampment and a palace near the grass or Čaman Sultāniyya. Now, this monument is destroyed completely and remained two mounds with 25 height that are called “Tepeh qaleʿh”. The analysis of historical and cultural context in which the palace was constructed and the study of its architectural structure, can help us to understand the cultural landscape of Sultāniyah in the XIXth century, and also it can be a great step to preserve the actual site or Tepeh qaleʿh. The aims of this paper are why the Qajar chosen and stayed in Sultāniyah and built such palace here, and also the analysis of architectural aspects of this building. This paper shows that the choice of Sultāniyya as a summer residence was initially linked to the military operations against Russia. Hence Fatḥ Alī Shāh built a palace or a summer residence to train the army in the grass or Čaman and called it “Sepehr Barin”. This building contained several spaces that were related to the interconnected elements such as Garden, Qanat, Hamams, yards, mosque and other small constructions around it. Studying this palace beside the other contemporary buildings show that this building was not specified to the women (Haram), rather than it was constructed for political purpose. The Women’s apartment was only a part of this complex and other parts like Divan khāneh and Khalvat khāne was the places for kings and elites.