Abbas Amanat

The shah possessed kingly “charisma” (farr or farrah). The royal “charisma” radiating from the king’s countenance (the term charisma in European languages probably is derived from the Persian xoreh, “sun ray”) was divinely bestowed upon the ruler of the right “quality” (Persian gohar), but it could be taken away from him if he lost the art of governing (in Persian honar, a word of the same origin as “honor”). Deprived of charisma, the shah would ultimately be deposed by popular revolt, dynastic contestants, or foreign invaders.