Shahqoli Khan Zanganeh

Shahqoli Khan Zanganeh (Persian: شاه قلی خان زنگنه, died 1716), was a Kurdish nobleman, who served as the vizier of the Safavid king (shah) Sultan Husayn (r. 1694–1722) from 1707 to 1716.

Shahqoli Khan Zanganeh
Portrait of Shahqoli Khan Zanganeh made by Muhammad Zaman in circa 1694/5.
Grand Vizier of Iran
In office
1707–1716
MonarchSoltan Hoseyn (r. 1694–1722)
Preceded byMohammad Mo'men Khan Shamlu
Succeeded byFath-Ali Khan Daghestani
Head of the Royal Bodyguard
In office
1691–1699
Preceded bySaru Khan Sahandlu
Succeeded byUnknown
Personal details
Born17th century
Safavid Iran
Died1716
Safavid Iran
ReligionIslam

Family edit

Shahqoli was the third son of Shaykh Ali Khan Zanganeh, who also served as vizier from 1669 to 1689, whose other sons were: Hossein Ali Khan Zanganeh, Suleiman Khan Zanganeh, Ismail Beg Zanganeh, Abbas Beg Zanganeh, and Abbas Qoli Beg Zanganeh.[1] The family belonged to the Zanganeh tribe, a Sunni Kurdish tribe native to the Kermanshah Province.[2][3]

Biography edit

Shahqoli is first mentioned in 1680s, as being appointed the governor of Kermanshah Province.[3] In 1689, his father died due to illness. One year later, a powerful and high-ranking aristocrat of the Turkoman Sahandlu tribe named Saru Khan Sahandlu, had 40 members of the Kurdish Zanganeh tribe killed, which made Shahqoli protest to shah Suleiman I, stating that Saru Khan had humiliated the name of his deceased father by doing so. Suleiman forgave Saru Khan, due to the good relation they had. However, this was soon to end: in 1691, Suleiman had Saru Khan Sahandlu beheaded due to him having a love relationship with Maryam Begum, the aunt of Suleiman.

The shah then appointed Shahqoli as the head of the royal bodyguard (qurchi-bashi), thus succeeding Saru Khan.[4] After having been appointed to such as high-ranking office, a rivalry with the recently appointed vizier Mohammad Taher Vahid Qazvini followed.[4] In 1694, Suleiman died and was succeeded by his son Sultan Husayn, who later in 1699, appointed a Turkoman member of the Shamlu tribe named Mohammad Mo'men Khan Shamlu, as the new vizier.

In 1707, Shahqoli Khan was appointed as the new vizier of the empire. Shahqoli Khan died in 1716, and was succeeded by his son-in-law Fath-Ali Khan Daghestani.[5] Shahqoli had a son, also named Shaykh Ali Khan, who although did not reach the same height of power as his father and grandfather, still served in high-office under the Safavids.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Matthee 2011, pp. 71–72.
  2. ^ Newman 2008, p. 94.
  3. ^ a b Matthee 2011, p. 71.
  4. ^ a b Matthee 2011, p. 74.
  5. ^ Newman 2008, p. 107.
  6. ^ Matthee 2011, p. 214.

Sources edit

  • Newman, Andrew J. (2008). Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire. I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–281. ISBN 9780857716613.
  • Matthee, Rudi (2011). Persia in Crisis: Safavid Decline and the Fall of Isfahan. I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–371. ISBN 978-0857731814.
  • Lambton, A.K.S. (1954). "Kirmānshāh". The Encyclopaedia of Islam. BRILL. pp. 167–171. ISBN 9789004060562.
  • Matthee, Rudi (1999). The Politics of Trade in Safavid Iran: Silk for Silver, 1600-1730. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–290. ISBN 0521641314.
  • Yamaguchi, Akihiko (2023). "Mediating between the Royal Court and the Periphery: The Zangana Family's Brokerage in Safavid Iran (1501–1722)". Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies. doi:10.1080/05786967.2023.2170814.
Preceded by Head of the royal bodyguard
(Qurchi-bashi)

1691-1699
Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by Vizier of the Safavid Empire
1707 - 1716
Succeeded by