November 8. On this date in 1852, an article in The New York Times titled "The Attempted Regicide in Persia" covered the attempted assassination of Nassereddin Shah Qajar by Bábís

November 8. On this date in 1852, an article in The New York Times titled "The Attempted Regicide in Persia" covered the attempted assassination of Nassereddin Shah Qajar by Bábís.

The Attempted Regicide in Persia.
A Mahommedan gentleman, resident in London, furnishes the following elucidation on the latest news from Persia:
["]A person of the name of MOOLAH SADIQUE, dwelling at Sheeraz, made a public declaration in the year of the Hegira, 1255, corresponding with the Christian era 1839, a prophet would make his appearance, and that his name would be BAUB, which signifies that all the knowledge and sanctity of prophecy would be possessed by him; that his mission would nullify all the modes of faith set forth by the ancient prophets, and that the whole world would embrace his religion. He further announced that BAUB would receive a heavenly book, and that all the treasures of the world, both what was already discovered, and what was yet hidden in the bowels of the earth, would be put into his possession.
"Shortly after this announcement, he declared himself to be the prophesied BAUB, provided a book which he called Heavenly, and obtained several followers, chiefly from amongst the ignorant and uneducated class of people. On hearing of this, MAHOMED SHAH, of blessed memory, King of Persia, ordered the most learned men of his time to examine into and decide upon the matter. An investigation accordingly took place, and the result was that MOOLAH SADIQUE, calling himself the BAUB, was found to be an impostor and a false prophet, and, as such, was sentenced by his judges to be beheaded. His Majesty, the late King of Persia, would not, however, consent to the extreme penalty of the law being executed; but spared the life of the offender, on condition of his destroying his pretended ‘Heavenly Book’ and making a public declaration of his repentance.
"On the decease, however, of the late King, and the accession of his present Majesty to the throne of Persia, the old King being now dead, the time for his prophetic mission had arrived. He accordingly sent letters in every direction within the limits of Persia; despatched an agent to the city of Astrabad, to foment disturbances there; and having assembled round his own person a band of between three and four thousand infatuated and desperate followers, he straightway began to enforce his new doctrines by means of fire and sword. Whoever refused to embrace his religion was sentenced to be burnt in his own house, together with his family, and in this manner several thousand persons were barbarously murdered. A body of these fanatics, about the same time, made an attack upon the uncle of the present King of Persia, but he succeeded in effecting his escape — while a younger brother, who was so unfortunate as to fall into their hands, was burnt alive, according to their custom.
"As this fanatic rebellion appeared to be gaining strength, a body of the royal troops were now marched from the frontiers of Mazindran and Astrabad, for the purpose of checking it. Every effort was made, by way of exhortation, by the royal commanders to induce the rebels to return to their duty, but to no purpose. The infatuated men were resolved on enforcing their principle, and regaining power by bloodshed and rapine. A sanguinary encounter took place between them and the royal troops, in which not less than four thousand fell on both sides. Among the few of the rebels, who were made prisoners, was the viceregent or principal agent of the impostor; but even him the King did not put to death, but sentenced him, with eleven other desperate fanatics, to be imprisoned for life.
"Some time after this, in the country of Zunjaun, near Teheran, MOOLAH MAHOMED ULLY, a leader of the fanatics, raised the standard of rebellion, expelled the Governor of that place, took forcible possession of the magazine and artillery, and, for nine months maintained himself in a state of hostility to the royal authority, and did great injury in that part of the country. At length, after about four thousand of the royal troops had fallen, in the endeavor to suppress this this [sic] outbreak, the fanatic leader, MOOLAH MAHOMED ULLY, having been killed, the rebels were worsted and dispersed.
"Upon this a representation was made to the King of Persia on behalf of the great body of the people, showing that as the most learned Mahommedans had proved the Baub to be an impostor and sentenced him to death, it was necessary that the sentence should be enforced seeing that as long as he should be permitted to live, the peaceable inhabitants of the country would be in constant danger from the outbreak of his fanatical followers. On this representation, and by the advice and recommendation of the chief men of the kingdom, his Majesty ordered him to be beheaded. The freedom from seditious fanaticism that the kingdom of Persia enjoyed for upwards of two years, may be fairly cited in proof of the salutary effect of this decision.
"From the private letters of friends, as well as the public intelligence from Persia, I am informed that a person named HANJEE SOOLAIMAN KHAN, who was one of the Baubs [i.e. Baubis (?)], or followers of the Baub, had formed a design to kill his Majesty the king of Persia, persuading his adherents and abetters that he was then to assume the Empire as prophet. This was the man who attempted the life of the King, and who was put to death for the crime."