A Franco-Persian alliance or Franco-Iranian alliance was formed for a short period between the French Empire of Napoleon I and Fath Ali Shah of Qajar Persia against Russia and Great Britain between 1807 and 1809.

The alliance was part of a plan to gather extra aid against Russia and by Persia's help, having another front on Russia's southern borders, namely the Caucasus region.

The alliance unravelled when France finally allied with Russia and turned its focus to European campaigns.


Jean Guillaume Bruguière (left) (physician, zoologist and diplomat) In 1790 he accompanied the entomologist Olivier (right) (he returned to France in 1798 with a large collection of natural history specimens from his travels) on an expedition to Persia, but his poor health didn't allow him to continue.

He was asked by the French Directoire to try to set up a Franco-Persian alliance, but was unsuccessful, lacking the training of a diplomat.

He died on the voyage back.