Tabriz (in Persian تبریز) is a city in Iran, with a population of over 1 million people. Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of a Mt. Eynali. It is the capital of the province of East Azarbaijan.

Tabriz is one of the main cultural centers of the Iranian Azerbaijan and Iranian Azaris. Historically, the founding of the city is shrouded in mystery. Some sources mention the Sassanid era, while others claim that it had been built by one of the wives of Harun al-Rashid. The name Tabriz conserves the ancient Tomrus, the Queen of Saka turks who killed cyrus the great (Achamenian king) in a war. Tabriz was the capital of the Ilkhanate empire of Iran from about 1270 to about 1305, of the Aq Quyunlu from about 1469 to about 1502, and of the Safavids from 1502 to 1548.

Violent earthquakes have wiped out most of the historic monuments of Tabriz. The chief survival is the Tabriz Citadel (Ark-e Tabriz or Ark-e Alishah), a ruin of vertical book-shaped elements. The Blue Mosque of Tabriz (Masjed-e Kabud), is another important monument in the city.

Tabriz is where the constitutionalists of Iran where centered at during the early 20th century. It is also where Iran's first American martyr, Howard Baskerville is buried.

Universities

1. Sahand University of Technology
2. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
3. Tabriz University of Tarbiat Moallem
4. University of Tabriz (website)
5. Islamic Azad University of Tabriz
6. Tabriz Islamic Arts University

Source

North, S.J.R., Guide to Biblical Iran, Rome 1956, p. 50 www.azerb.com

External links

• Tabriz from Encyclopaedia of the Orient