Gardanne Mission

views updated

GARDANNE MISSION

French military mission to Persia, 18071808.

The Gardanne Mission's purpose was to train the Persian army along European lines. It consisted of seventy officers and sergeants, led by General Claude-Matthew Gardanne. The mission was a result of the Finkenstein Treaty of May 1807, in which Iran sought help from France against Russiawhile France had visions of using Iran as a stepping stone to British India. The Treaty of Tilsit in July 1807 temporarily ended hostilities between France and Russia, so support of Persia against Russia was no longer a French priority. Persia then negotiated with Britain, agreed to dismiss Gardanne, and signed a preliminary treaty in March 1809 that provided British officers to train the Persian army.


Bibliography

Daniel, Norman. Islam, Europe and Empire. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1966.

Daniel E. Spector

More From encyclopedia.com