In the Time of Five Kings

In the Time of Five Kings is a work by Hassan Arfa, considered one of the most significant and reliable memoir-based accounts of contemporary Iranian history. The book narrates the memoirs of Hassan Arfa, the son of the renowned Prince Arfa, starting from his childhood and documenting various stages of his life. It details his early years in France, education in Turkey’s military academy, his return to Iran and subsequent military career, as well as his involvement in major events and key positions in the country. Due to the unique status of Hassan Arfa’s family and his military rank, the book is considered a special historical document that encompasses nearly seventy years of Iran’s contemporary history. In the Time of Five Kings consists of four parts and twenty-two chapters, each covering significant periods of Arfa’s life and notable historical events. The first part discusses the era before World War I and the reign of the last Qajar kings, focusing on Arfa’s childhood and his first visit to Iran. The second part highlights events during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi and Iran’s modernization, the third addresses Iran in World War II and Arfa’s role as Chief of the General Staff, and the fourth part examines Iran’s development and progress under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. The book concludes with an annex covering the state of tribal regions in the country alongside photographs of the author and key political figures.