Charles Christie (officer) facts for kids
Charles Christie (died 1812) was a British officer. He is best known for his work in Qajar Iran, which was a powerful empire at the time. He was part of the first British military group sent to Iran in 1810. Christie sadly died in battle while fighting for Iran during the Russo-Persian War.
Quick facts for kids
Charles Christie
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| Born |
United Kingdom
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| Died | 1812 Aslanduz
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| Cause of death | War wounds |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Officer, Cartographer & Explorer |
| Known for | Battle of Aslanduz and the 1810 expeditions through to Herat. |
| Parent(s) |
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| Family | The Christies |
Contents
Who Was Charles Christie?
Charles Christie was the son of James Christie. His father founded the famous Christie's Auction House. Charles was a captain in the Bombay Regiment. This was part of the British army in India.
Exploring New Lands
In 1810, Captain Christie and Lieutenant Henry Pottinger were given an important mission. Sir John Malcolm ordered them to explore a route from Bombay (now Mumbai) to areas like Baluchistan, Sistan, and the Makran. These places are in what is now Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.
The British thought an enemy army might try to invade India using this land route. Christie and Pottinger pretended to be horse dealers. They traveled north from the Makran coast. In March 1810, they split up in Nushki.
Christie traveled north through Sistan to Herat (in modern Afghanistan). From there, he crossed the central Iranian desert to Yazd and Isfahan. His travel notes were added to Pottinger's report. This gave the first reliable information about these lands.
Joining the Iranian Army
Later, Harford Jones, the British representative in Iran, asked Christie to join the Iranian army. Several other British officers also joined. This was part of a friendship agreement between Britain and Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, the ruler of Iran.
Christie's job was to train the Iranian infantry, called sarbaz. He became the commander of the Shaqaqi Regiment. This was one of the new regiments in the province of Azerbaijan.
Fighting in the Russo-Persian War
Christie fought alongside the Iranians against the Russians. This was during the Russo-Persian War. However, in 1812, Britain and Russia made peace. This meant Britain stopped supporting Iran.
But Crown Prince Abbas Mirza, the Iranian army commander, asked for Christie and two other British officers to stay. These officers were Henry Lindsay and William Monteith. Thirteen British sergeants also stayed.
Christie and Lindsay fought bravely in the Battle of Sultanabad on February 13, 1812. The Iranians won this battle. Reports say Christie and Lindsay fought fiercely. They even attacked fellow Christians (the Russians). This earned them great respect from the Iranians.
Final Battle and Death
Both officers later fought in the Battle of Aslanduz. This battle took place from October 31 to November 1, 1812. Sadly, the Iranians lost this battle. Charles Christie was killed during the fighting. His remains were found and buried near where he fell.
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