The first Persian printing press in Iran was established in 1816 in Tabriz, and the first book published by the press was Jihādīyyah (Treatise on holy war), written by Abu al-Qasim ibn 'Isá Qa'im'maqam Farahani (circa 1779–1835), the prime minister of Persia at that time. During the reign of King Fath Ali Shah (1772–1834, reigned 1797–1834), while the Qajar government was absorbed with managing domestic turmoil, rival European colonial powers sought to establish themselves in the region. The British competed for influence in the south and southeast of Persia in the Persian Gulf, while in the north the Russian Empire, in the Russo-Persian War of 1804–13, established dominance over Persia's northern territories. The first Persian book was published in response to these events. It covers all the fatwas (decrees) that the religious leaders had issued about the necessity of performing jihad (holy war) against the Russians who had invaded Iranian territory during the reign of Fath Ali Shah.