Golbadan Baji

Golbadan Baji (fl. 19th-century) was a concubine (and later, wife) of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, King (Shah) of Qajar Iran from 1797 to 1834. Of Georgian origin, she was originally a slave girl of Fath-Ali Shah's mother, Mahd-e Olya, after whose death, she rose to prominence.[1][2]

Biography

Fath-Ali Shah's mother Mahd-e Olya had been responsible for running the household until her death.[3] When she died, Fath-Ali Shah's wives were unable to choose a new head of the royal harem, and therefore requested Fath-Ali Shah to leave Golbadan Baji in charge of the household as she was reportedly familiar with the ways of her mistress.[3] By choosing a concubine, Fath-Ali Shah's wives protected themselves from the perception of favouring one wife over another.[3] Golbadan Baji therefore became head of the household pursestrings.[4] According to contemporaneous sources, she fulfilled this task efficiently and with fidelity.[1] Fath-Ali Shah was very impressed by Golbadan Baji's performance, and therefore married her as a sigheh, and gave her the honorific title (laqab) Khazen-ol-Dowleh.[4][2]

Even after marrying and giving birth to two sons (Fath-Ali Shah's 37th son Bahman Mirza Baha-ol-Dowleh; and his 42nd son Seyfollah Mirza) she still managed the harem's affairs and expenditures efficiently.[3][2] According to contemporaneous sources, at Nowruz (the Iranian New Year), she chose gifts for the harem's residents, princes and notables including the governors of Iran's provinces.[3] Golbadan Baji kept a detailed list of all expenditures and presents.[3] She was well trusted by many inside and outside the harem.[3] At the height of her influence, Golbadan Baji presided over the private treasury, the harem finances and the Shah's private funds whilst heading a host of women secretaries and accountants.[5]

References
  1. Navāʾī 1988, pp. 491-492.
  2. Eskandari-Qajar 2018, p. 21 (note 25).
  3. Nashat 2004, p. 52.
  4. Navāʾī 1988, pp. 491–492.
  5. Amanat 1999, pp. 407–421.

Sources
  • Amanat, Abbas (1999). "FATḤ-ʿALĪ SHAH QĀJĀR". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. IX, Fasc. 4. pp. 407–421.
  • Eskandari-Qajar, Manoutchehr (2018). "Temporary and Permanent Marriages at the Court of Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar: Taking a Second Look at the "Established Facts."". Paper given at the 4th Annual Conference of the Iranian Studies Initiative at UCSB.
  • Navāʾī, ʿA. (1988). "BAHMAN MĪRZĀ BAHĀʾ-AL-DAWLA". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 5. pp. 491–492.
  • Nashat, Guity (2004). "Marriage in the Qajar Period". In Beck, Lois; Nashat, Guity (eds.). Women in Iran from 1800 to the Islamic Republic. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0252071898.
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