21/04/2023
Wow now thats a woman who knew how to play her cards right, from improvished peasant to queen, to taking down a prime minister …go girl
Anis al-Dawla, a wife of the Persian shah Naser Al-Din, and her retinue, circa 1870-1880
ANĪS-AL-DAWLA, the most important wife of Nāṣer-al-dīn Shah Qāǰār. Named Fāṭema-solṭān at birth (probably 1842; she was the daughter of an impoverished peasant from a village in Lavāsān, northeast of Tehran. After her father’s death and her mother’s remarriage, she was adopted by her paternal aunt and uncle and moved with them to Dūlāb, a village outside Tehran She began her career in the royal harem as a maid to Jeyrān Forūḡ-al-salṭana, the favorite wife of Nāṣer-al-dīn; he married her as a ṣīḡa (temporary wife) in 1859, and she became his favorite after Jeyrān’s death a few months later. He soon conferred on her the title of Anīs-al-dawla (Companion of the Sovereign) and on several occasions offered to change her status from that of ṣīḡa to ʿaqdī (permanent wife). She refused, saying that she did not wish to temper with the good fortune that her temporary status had brought her . Despite stiff competition from wives (there were eighty-five at the time of the ruler’s death in 1896), Anīs-al-dawla remained the favorite. Hearing she was critically ill in 1891, an observer wrote, “The shah’s harem is limited to this woman. If she dies, woe on Iran” She was the only wife to take meals with Nāṣer-al-dīn and to join him regularly at bedtime after he received visits from other wives ). She was also the only wife who spoke her mind openly and criticized the ruler publicly . Although she accompanied Nāṣer-al-dīn regularly on his frequent travels within the country, her great desire to visit Europe with him was only partially realized: In his trip of 1873 she was sent back from Moscow after it became apparent that the presence of veiled women in the entourage would create problems of protocol for the host governments. Her disappointment is revealed by the grudge she held against Mīrzā Ḥosayn Khan Mošīr-al-dawla, the prime minister, whom she held responsible for her interrupted journey. On reaching Tehran, she offered support and encouragement to his enemies, and a coalition of powerful notables succeeded in having him removed from his post after the shah’s return http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/anis-al-dawla-d
