The world’s most expensive royal party held in the middle of a desert – 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire
A very large and luxurious party held in the middle of a desert in Iran in October 1971 has a special place in world history. It was a royal party organized by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled Iran at the time, to celebrate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. The party was held near the ruins of the ancient Persian Empire, the city of Persepolis, which represents the history and glory of the ancient Persian Empire. The Shah’s idea was to show the whole world that Iran was not just an oil-producing country, but also the heir to one of the oldest and most magnificent civilizations in the world. To do this, he recalled the legacy of King Cyrus the Great, who founded the Persian Empire.
The dry desert area around Persepolis was completely transformed for this party. A luxurious “tent city” was built in the middle of a desert with no facilities. This special city was designed by Maison Jansen, a famous interior design firm in France. Spread over hundreds of acres, this tent city had more facilities than a five-star hotel. The tents were decorated with Persian carpets, French silks, gold-plated furniture, and even modern air conditioning systems. Despite the intense heat of the desert, the place appeared to be a completely luxurious royal city.
The catering for this event is also considered a special occasion in the world. The Shah entrusted the task to Maxim’s de Paris, a famous restaurant in Paris. Hundreds of its chefs and employees were flown to Iran. Among the food served to the guests were the world’s most expensive caviar, special French dishes, peacock meat, and decades-old wines. It is reported that even the ice needed for the event was flown in from Europe. This is considered one of the most luxurious royal banquets in world history.
The event was attended by over 60 heads of state, including kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers from around the world. The British royal family was represented by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne. Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia also attended the event. The then Vice President Spiro Agnew also attended the event, representing the United States. Hundreds of luxury Mercedes-Benz 600 cars were prepared for these distinguished guests.
Thousands of trees were brought from Europe to decorate the desert area for the event. It is also said that thousands of birds were brought from Europe and released to enhance the atmosphere of the event. However, it was reported that many of the birds later died due to the intense heat of the desert.
The cost of the event is still a matter of debate. Although official records state that it cost about US$17 million at the time, many historians say that the actual cost could have been between US$100 million and US$500 million. It is estimated to cost billions of dollars in today’s money.
Although it was known as one of the most lavish celebrations in the world, it was met with widespread criticism among the Iranian people. Many were outraged by the fact that so much money was being spent on foreign guests while many of the country’s people were living in poverty. The exiled religious leader Ruhollah Khomeini strongly criticized the event, calling it “the devil’s festival.” Many historians believe that this public discontent was one of the factors that led to the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979.
