#zeynab begum

[247reader]

Day 14: Zeynab Begum!

Zeynab Begum was the daughter of Shah Tahmasp I of Safavid Iran and Huri-Khan Khanum, a Georgian princess. She came of age in a tumultuous era for the Safavids. After her father’s death the empire fell into turmoil, and the neighboring Ottomans took advantage of the chaos to declare war. In a bid to shore up support, Zeynab’s brother married her to a prominent general, Ali-Qoli Khan Shamlu, but the marriage was on paper only - the couple never lived together and may well have never touched. 

Nevertheless, Zeynab Begum and her husband did have one thing in common: determined support for the same claimant, her young nephew Prince Abbas. Ali-Qoli defied orders to have the child executed, instead raising a rebellion, while she rallied support among court officials. When Abbas took the throne, Zeynab Begum (whose husband was soon killed in battle) was not only the matriarch of the harem (home to the Shah’s consorts and his other female relatives) but also one of her nephew’s closest advisors. She governed her own lands, built trading posts, and survived a temporary exile when her faction was ousted from power.  She maintained her influence during the early reign of Abbas’ grandson and heir, Safi; indeed, for a period of time she essential ruled the empire. In adulthood, however, an increasingly autocratic Safi purged the government. Many ministers were executed, and Zeynab Begum was banished from court once more; this time, there would be no return.  Exile, however, treated her more like retirement. She maintained control of her personal fortune, and, for the last decade of her life, settled down in peace away from the court.  She died in 1640, and is buried in the famous Imam Rena shrine. 

[nanshe-of-nina]

Safavid princesses aesthetic, part I

Pari Khan Khanum. Daughter of Tahmasp I and Sultan-Agha Khanum.

Zeynab Begum. Daughter of Tahmasp I and Huri-Khan Khanum.

Maryam Begum. Daughter of Tahmasp I. Mother of Yakhan Begum.

Kandahari Begum. Daughter of Muzaffar Husain Mirza Safavi. Mother of Parhez Banu Begum.

Dilras Banu Begum. Daughter of Shah Nawaz Khan Safavi and Nauras Banu Begum. Mother of Zeb-un-Nissa Begum, Zinat-un-Nissa Begum, and Zubdat-un-Nissa Begum.