Shah Bigum (Ziya al-Sultana)

Ziya’ al-Saltana Qajar, Shah Beygum (b. 1848), daughter of the Qajar Fath’ali Shah. A poet and calligrapher bearing the title Ziya’ al-Saltana. She was a sister of the Qajar Mahmud Mirza, the author of the biographical works, e.g.  Naql al-Majalis and Safinat al-Mahmud. Her mother, Maryam Khanum, was a Jew who converted to Islam after her marriage to the Shah. She was raised under the supervision of Mahd ‘Ulya, the Shah’s mother, and was accorded particular attention by the Shah. She learned the techniques of poetry and belles-lettres under her brother. She wrote Shikasta and Kitabat hands elegantly and was a master of dress-making and painting as well. She was awarded the title of Ziya’ al-Saltana (‘Light of Monarchy’) for her artistic talents. She assumed important responsibilities, e.g. reading and writing confidential letters. She was married at the age of 37 to Mirza Mas’ud Khan Garmrudi Ansari, the then Foreign Minister. A talented poet, she made elegant poetical compositions and it was at her suggestion that Mahmud Mirza compiled the biographical work, Naql-i Majlis. A collection of her poetry is available.

Asar-afarinan (4, 74-75); Ahval va Asar-i Khushnivisan (4, 1086).