Newspaper coverage of the Zanjan Upheaval

From the Historical mentions of the Bábí/Bahá'í Faiths comes the coverage of the Zanjan Upheavel - a series of events related to Babis in Zanjan taking over a portion of a town as part of a military conflict extending some nine months with events in, around and after. The main series of events include:
Early March or Mid May 1850 Beginning of the Zanján Upheaval
27 May 1850 Vahíd enters Nayríz. Beginning of the First Nayríz Upheaval.
21 June 1850 End of the First Nayríz Upheaval.
19 June 1850 Arrival of the Báb at Tabríz
9 July 1850 Martydom of the Báb
25 August 1850 Arrival of `Aziz Khán-i-Mukri at Zanján
Jan 1851 End of the Zanján Upheaval

Most of these references don't appear to be in The Bábí and Bahá'í religions 1844-1944: some contemporary western accounts.

Intersecting with the events in Zanjan

The Morning Post of 20 July 1850, p. 6, after the coverage of A new religious sect began, the following appeared:

Persia - We are in possession, through our correspondents at Erzeroom and Constantinople, of dates from the capital of the Schah's(sic) dominions to the commencement of June, which report the country as generally quiet, with the sole exception of Tenjaun, where the Babees hold the town, and have gone the length of forming a Nizam. A military expedition has been dispatched against them from Tabreez, from when the constituted authorities have claimed the delivery up, for public execution, of the prophet Bawb, under confinement in the fortress of Tchehrik; but it would seem that his gailers have become proselytes to Babeeism, for they stoutly refuse to give him up. The Bab-el-Bale, or wise beauty of Kazoeen, is a close prisoner at Teheran, where rumour says, she has all but(ital in original-ed) converted some of the influential officers of state, who have been allowed to visit her dungeon. We have a confirmation of the execution of the salar, and many of his followers, under circumstances of unheard-of barbarous tortures. Bagdad has suffered greatly from an inundation of the Tigris, and though the loss of life is not heavy that of property is very much so. Erzerzoom continuous healthy, though trade is anything but flourishing. The British Consul's lady, of Armenian origin, has presented him with a second pledge of her love and affection.

"Endowed with great eloquence"

First account not identified yet - perhaps 3 Sept 1850, Morning Chronicle, p. 3, as follows:

Persia

We have dates from Tabreez to the 31st July, announcing the important fact that the Sheik ul Islam, of Azerbaidjan (of which extensive district Tabreez is the capital), a very influential personage, as being on of the highest dignitaries of the Church of Persia, has been arrested, and forcibly conveyed to Teheran, by special order of the Emir Nizam, together with his son, under charge of intriguing to secure an extension of power to the clergy, to the manifest detriment of the State.
Babism, notwithstanding the recent execution of its chief and founder Bab, the soi-disant representative of Mahommed Medhi, the twelfth and last Imam, claiming direct succession from Mahommed, continues to increase, and its followers are said to number in Persia alone 50,000. The village of Zeudjan, which is their stronghold, though only containing a population of 8,000, including women and children, continues to hold out against five regiments of well-disciplined troops, which have closely desieged it for the past three months, and in a late sortie, 200 of the latter were massacred. It is said that the inhabitants have put themselves in a position, as regards provisions and warlike stores, to hold out for at least two years, against even a much superior force.

We have received the following letter on this subject:

TABREEZ, July 31.

The number of Babis is daily increasing in an alarming manner, so as to occasion the greatest alarm on the part of the Government. The town of endian, which contains about 8,000 inhabitants, is altogether perverted to Babism, and it has been now more than three months in a state of full revolt. The five regiments which were sent to put down the seditious movement, have been unable to do anything, and it is more than probable they will not succeed at all, inasmuch as the town possess provision amply sufficient to enable it to stand a siege of two years. It is asserted that the Emir has threatened to degrade all the superior officers of the besieging army, if within a limited space of time they do not succeed in reducing it.
In conformity with his orders, Bab was publicly shot at Tabreez, and underwent his punishment with a courage and coolness not at all common with persons in his class. Two of his disciples were chosen on death of the Bab to proceed instantly to the spot to endeavor to obtain his body; they made three attempts, and in the third they were met with imprecations, and were told they should meet with the reward of their leader, when one of them instantly placed himself before the soldiers ready to receive their fire, when he received their balls, and fell, imploring the intercession of Bab. Without stopping to examine the propriety of the step taken by the Emir, we shall restrict ourselves to stating, that they news of the death of Bab has redoubled the excitement, and the fanatic ardor of the Babis at Zendjan, and in an action which took place since that event, two hundred soldiers of the besieging army remained on the field of battle.
Endowed with great eloquence, Bab appeared for the first time before the public at Bagdad, where he declared himself simply the representative of Mahommed Mehdi, twelfth and last Emir in succession to Mahommed, who disappeared suddenly in the 196th year of the Hegira. Many person believed that he was not dead, nor that he had been carried up to heaven, but that he was in some unknown place in the universe, from whence, at the proper time, God would allow him to return among the human species. Seduced by the force of his addresses, a great number of disciples appeared, and offered their homage to Bab, who soon drew upon himself the attention of the Government. The Pacha of Bagdad felt called upon to restrain this proselytism within the narrowest bounds, and for that purpose he condemned Bab to death as a public disturber. Nothing - not even the Emir - would have been able to have saved him from death, had not the agent of one of the European powers, who was touched with his unhappy situation, interceded in his favour with the Pacha, who commuted the capital punishment into that of banishment. It was then that Bab returned to Persia, his native country, where he undertook the task of converting his fellow-countrymen. Nesreddin Shah, who was then governor-general of the province of Azerbaidjan, ordered him to be bastinadoed, during which he avowed himself to be an impostor, and he was then sent, under a strong escort, to the fortress of Techehrik, from when he was taken to be shot. During the time he was confined there he was employed in the composition of different works, which the Government state they have destroyed. It is a remarkable thing, however that though Bab was not able to communicate with any person during the lapse of time which he passed in this fortress, his doctrines continued not the less to be propagated. It is true that a powerful auxiliary came to his assistance. While he was detained as a miserable convict, a young lady of surpassing beauty earnestly embraced his cause and opinions, and began to preach in his name. Possessing, in a striking degree, the gift of speech, and marvellously(sic) seconded by the charms which nature had concentrated in her person, she soon found herself surrounded by numerous neophytes, among whom might be distinguished members of the church, literary men, persons who had been elevated to places of dignity. This lady, born at Cascin, is the niece of Mushteid, of that town, Despairing of the conversion of her uncle, she killed him with the blow of a scimitar through his heart, and animated with the same zeal she quitted Casvin, and set out to spread her peculiar doctrines through the rest of Persia, of which she has visited the principal towns. The Government who hitherto, either through negligence or contempt, had not thought it necessary to moderate the pious ardor of this heroine, at length felt that they must place this female preacher in such a situation that her preaching could not be heard by others, but must be confined to her own ears. This step was taken. It is estimated that the actual number of Babis in Persia amounts of 50,000 persons.
…

Versions, sometimes much briefer, of this account were repeated -
5 Sept, Caledonian Mercury, Midlothian, Scotland, p. 1
6 Sept, Newcastle Courant, Tyne and Wear, England, p. 8
7 Sept, Leamington Spa Courier, Warwickshire, England, p. 4
11 Sept, Guardian, London, pages 646-647 12 Sept, Gazzetta Uffiziale di Venezia is referred to in Momen "Contemporary Accounts". Julio Savi also refers to it as does Amín Egea, who suggests that the incident actually does not refer to Bábí activities at all but another dispute seemingly related to the issue of "Sheik ul Islam"'s arrest.
13 Sept, Hull Packet, p. 7

"soi disant" Prophet

Fragments of related accounts appear later....

In Spanish newspapers in 24 October 1850, three Madrid newspapers — El Católico, La Esperanza, and La Nación. In all 6 stories in Spanish newspapers are noted between October and December 1850. Julio Savi also mentions "many" newspaper reports in the 1850s.

6 November 1850, El Barcelonés ?

12 December, Stirling Observer, p. 2.

In Brisbane The Moreton Bay Courier, 4 January 1851, page 1s.

Accounts from Tabreez, in Persia, to the 30th of June, announce the removal thither on that morning, from his place of captivity, of the soí disant (ed - "supposedly") Prophet Bale, whose followers have become so numerous as to threaten the overthrow of the established religion. The Government had condemned him to be publicaly executed, by discharging him from a mortar, on the 1st July. He is represented as a very handsome young man, but decidedly non compos mentis. (ed - "not of sound mind")

Le Journal de Contantantinople

Jan 9, 1851

ERZEROUM, 21 décembre. Kiamil pacha caïmacam de la province d'Akkiari, arrivé ici de Constantiople, est parti hier pour Van. …

La secte des Babis, qui professait un matérialisme scandaleux, niant hautement l'existence de Dieu, et ne reconnaissant d'autres lois que celles promulguées par leurs propres chefs, a été entièrement détruite.

Depuis deux ans ces matérialistes insubordonnés étaient poursuivis par le gouvernement persan. Les babis qui restaient ouvertement en Perse après l'exécution, à Tuaris, du chef de celle nouvelle secte religieuse, le nommé Bàb de Chiraf, s'étaient barricadés dans un quartier de la petite ville de Linguian, sous la conduite de leur cheik, un nommé Mollah Méhemmet Ali.

Le général persan (Sertip) Méhemmet-khan (descendant de Pancienne famille princière du Guilan, fils de Fath-Ali khan) pour éviter l'effusion du sang, cherchait à les réduire par la faminé; mais ayant appris que son gouvernement, fatigué de tant de lenteur avaïl résolu de le remplacer, il ordonna aussitot de prendre de vive force ce quartier. En effet, les troupes sous ses ordres, dans l'espace de deux beures, après un combat charné, détruisirent tout ce quartier, qui fut incendié; un hon nombre de Babis périrent, en combattant bravement dans l'assul donné; et le reste lomba au pouvoir des troupes victorieuses de S. M. le Chah, qui ont rendu une service signalé à la société Asiatique, en exterminant les derniers des Babis.

Nous jouissons de la tranquillité la plus parfaite dans tout le pachalik d"Erzeronm, grace à la vigilante et sǘère administration de Vàle Hamdi pachà.

which google translates to:

Erzerum , December 21. Kiamil Pasha caimacam the province Akkiari arrived here Constantiople , left yesterday for Van . ...

The sect of the Babis , who professed an outrageous materialism , denying the existence of God highly , and recognizing no laws other than those issued by their own leaders , was completely destroyed .

For two years these insubordinate materialists were pursued by the Persian government. Babis who remained openly in Persia after the execution, Tuaris , the head of the new religious sect, called the Bab of Chiraf , barricaded themselves in a district of the town of Linguian , led by their sheikh , a man named Mullah Ali Méhemmet .

Persian General ( Sertip ) Méhemmet Khan ( descendant of the former royal family of Guilan , son of Fath Ali Khan ) to avoid bloodshed , sought to reduce by famine , but having learned that his government, tired of so slowly Avail resolved to replace it soon ordered to take by force the district. Indeed the troops under his command, in the space of two o'clock in after a Charné combat, destroyed everything neighborhood, which was burned , a Hon number of Babis were killed , fighting bravely in assul given , and the rest lomba the power of the victorious troops of His Majesty the Shah, who made a signal service to the Asian society, by exterminating the last of the Babis .

We enjoy the most perfect tranquility throughout the pachalik d " Erzeronm , thanks to the vigilant and sǘère administration Vale Hamdi Pasha.

An Army of women

A report through Paris newspapers (as yet unidentified) echoed in the Baltimore Sun, of 1 January 1851 speaks of "An Army of women". and repeated in:
- The Adams Sentinel, (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), 6 January 1851, p. 4
- The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), Sat, Jan 11, 1851, p. 1
- again on the 12th - The Times-Picayune, (New Orleans, Louisiana), Sun, Jan 12, 1851, p. 6
- the Civilian and Galveston Gazette, Jan 24, 1851, p. 2 (Now available for free viewing at newspaperarchive.com)

Paris papers contain accounts from Teheran, Persia, giving an account of the execution of the chief of the sect of the Babias at that capital. One of the dogmas of this sect as the social equality of man and woman, and its followers having taken up arms in defense of their creed, were aided by a regiment of about one thousand women, who are represented to have used their muskets with very considerable effect in the engagements which took place with the royal troops, although ultimately overpowered.

Stryker account from 1851

Stryker’s American Register and Magazine by James Stryker summarized accounts published in January 1851 in an article entitled "Persia".

See also

Historical mentions of the Bábí/Bahá'í Faiths