Reza Shah reigned over Persia/Iran from 1925-1941. He was the first Shah of the House of Pahlavi. An intensely polarizing figure, he helped lead many reforms during his reign, but critics also say he was despotic. During World War II, he abdicated in favor of his son, Mohammad Pahlavi, and lived in exile. He died from heart complications at the age of 66 in South Africa.