The Iranian Diaspora in North Caucasus: A Study on the Records of the Iranian Consulate in Vladikavkaz (1897-1919)

The city of Vladikavkaz, founded during the expansion of the Russian Empire to the Caucasus in the late eighteenth century, gradually attracted immigrants from inside and outside the empire. This city, especially since the second half of the nineteenth century, became one of the destinations for permanent and temporary migrations from Persia. With the increase of the Iranian population in Vladikavkaz and the surrounding areas, the Iranian consulate was established there in 1897. The aim of this study is to provide a general overview of the activities of Iranian officials and immigrants in Vladikavkaz since the establishment of the Iranian consulate in 1897 until the collapse of the Tsarist Empire and the outbreak of civil war in Russia based on the consular records in the archive of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through its efforts to establish and maintain a Shia mosque, Nowruz School, and Hemmat Association, the Iranian consulate played an important role in supporting solidarity among the Iranian diaspora in the city and protecting the rights of the Iranian citizens. However, the affairs with the Russian Empire, hostility and rivalry inside the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and financial problems were the main challenges faced by the Persian consul in Vladikavkaz.