1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of I Heart Radio 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: and Grim and Mild from Aaron Manky. Listener discretion advised. Hey, 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: this is Danish Wartz. Thank you so much for listening 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: to Noble Blood. Just a quick note before we begin. 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 1: If you want to support the show, join the Noble 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: Family over on Patreon, where I do monthly bonus episodes, 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: drop episode scripts, and have an exclusive seasonal sticker club. 8 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: We also have merched available at d F tb A 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: dot com. Both of those are linked in the episode description. 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: But honestly, as always, just thank you so much for listening. 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 1: Let's get started, shall we. All? Throughout Cosbine, the capital 12 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: of the Stuff of It Empire, it was rumored that 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: Shaw Thomas the First was dying. The news came as 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,319 Speaker 1: no real surprise. The Shaw had been ill for more 15 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: than two years, and he had come close to death 16 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: several times. Know what people were talking about now was 17 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: the fact that the Shah, even after those two years 18 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 1: spent on the brink of death, still had not declared 19 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: a successor. Successions are often the most vulnerable time for 20 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: any government and things. In the souf of an empire 21 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: which had a border extending past present day Iran were 22 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: particularly fraught. In the spring of fifteen seventy six. Shah 23 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: Tamas had spent much of his fifty two year reign 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: quelling tribal uprisings. With his death, it seemed likely that 25 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: such fighting could break out again, even worse, in the 26 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: absence of a clear endorsement from the Shah. Tribal leaders 27 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: in the empire had rallied behind two different candidates for 28 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: their next leader, both sons of Tamas. If Tamas did 29 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: not choose but between his sons before his death, if 30 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: the transition didn't run smoothly, if a strong leader didn't 31 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: immediately take the throne, many feared that civil war would 32 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: break out. As whispers over the Shah's condition intensified, the 33 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: two candidates, Prince Haydar and Prince Isma'il rallied their respective troops. 34 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: Haidar was in the palace at Kasvin alongside his dying father, 35 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: while Ismail was some three hundred miles away, imprisoned in 36 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: qua Qua Castle. Despite his distance, many of his Mail's 37 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: supporters were also in Kasveen, and the situation between his 38 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: supporters and Heydair supporters grew tense and tenser throughout April fifteen, 39 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: seventy six. On May the news that everyone had been 40 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: anticipating finally came. Shah Tamasp had died the night before, 41 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: and no successor had been chosen. We don't know why 42 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: Tomas never publicly declared a successor, perhaps, having escaped death 43 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: multiple times before, he mistakenly thought he would do so again. 44 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: But one thing was clear. The Empire now stood on 45 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: a precipice after seventy five years. Was the stuff of 46 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: a dynasty going to descend into chaos? Would a battle 47 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: between two brothers lead to ruin for the empire? Who 48 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: would emerge victorious and take the seat of the Shah? 49 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: With all eyes on Haidar and Ismail, many missed that 50 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: it was not the princes who were pulling the strings 51 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: at the palace. It was their sister, Princess Periannu. It 52 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: was she who held the fate of the empire in 53 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: her hands. Over the next two years, she would emerge 54 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: as a force to be reckoned, with a political mastermind, 55 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: mind whose decisions would shape the suff of a dynasty 56 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: but eventually lead to her own untimely, tragic death. I'm 57 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: Dana Schwartz, and this is noble blood. To understand Princess 58 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: Pari khan Hanum's rise and fall, it's important to understand 59 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: the world she lived in. The Safavi dynasty originated from 60 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,239 Speaker 1: a group of Sufi's or Islamic mystics who came from 61 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: what is now northwestern Iran. The group became known as 62 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: the Sofavides after their founder, a fourteenth century spiritual leader 63 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: named Safi al Din. After Safi al Din's death in 64 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: thirty four, leadership of the movement passed from father to son. 65 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: By the mid fifte century, the group had become more militant, 66 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: intent on spreading Shia Islam through military conquest. Under Shaikhidar, 67 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: who led the Safavids from fourteen sixty through four eight, 68 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: many members of the group adopted a tall, narrow scarlet 69 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: hat with twelve sides to commemorate the twelve and moms, 70 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: who are the cornerstones of Shia Islam. This led their 71 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: Turkish enemies to call them kiss Bash or redheads, a 72 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 1: name the group soon adopted as their own. I know 73 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: it gets just a little complicated here, but Kisobash, who 74 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: were in fact an assortment of different tribes, served as 75 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: the military backbone of the Safavides and their leaders were 76 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: enormously influential. When Haydar was killed in fourteen eighty eight, 77 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: the Safavids retreated somewhat, only to experience a striking resurgence 78 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: under the leadership of Heydar's thirteen year old son Ismail. 79 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: Those names probably sound familiar, but this is all background, 80 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: happening about a century before our brothers Heydar and Isma'il, 81 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: So let's just do that quick clarifier. Like many royal dynasties, 82 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: the Safavits liked to pass down royal names. The fourteen hundreds. 83 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: Haydar and his son Isma'il are the ancestors of our 84 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: Peri Khan Hanum, who had brothers Haydar and Isma'il living 85 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: during the fifteen hundreds, the siblings with the dying father 86 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: who didn't name a successor. But flashback back to their 87 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: ancestors and background. Ismail is rallying thousands of Kislbash troops 88 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: in the summer of fifteen hundred to avenge his father. 89 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: After defeating the group responsible for his father Heydar's death, 90 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: Ismael continued on acquiring enormous swatches territory, including much of 91 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: the land east of modern day Turkey and west of 92 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: modern India. By fifteen oh one, Ismail had been crowned 93 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: as Shah of Iran and the self of the dynasty 94 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: was born. The royal family was multi ethnic and multi lingual. 95 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: Shaw's normally took multiple consorts, often from different ethnic groups 96 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: such as the Georgians, Circassians and Pontic Greeks. The self 97 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: of each Shaws were patrons of the arts. The dynasty's 98 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: artists created marvels of mosaics and mirror tiles, stunning illustrated manuscripts, 99 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: and beautiful calligraphy. They valued education and religious piety, beauty 100 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: and tradition, military prowess and strategic thinking. So now we 101 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: fast forward. It was in that environment that Perry Num 102 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: was born in August fifteen. She was the second daughter 103 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: of the second ruler of the suff of the dynasty, 104 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: Shah to Moss. The first Pari's mother, Sultan Agaum, was 105 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: the second wife of the Shah. If you're wondering about 106 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: the shared matrilineal last name, it's a little bit misleading. 107 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: Num is a term that can loosely translate as princess, 108 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: and so it was a royal surname shared by many 109 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: royal women. During her earliest years, Perry Chum was raised 110 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: under the guidance of a tutor, Kali Ran, who provided 111 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: her with an excellent education in a court that valued 112 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: artistic skill and intellect. This upbringing served the princess well. 113 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: Her intelligence soon caught the eye of her father, who 114 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,599 Speaker 1: made sure that she was trained in a range of fields, 115 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 1: from poetry to jurisprudence. It became clear that this brilliant, 116 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 1: clear headed princess was her father's favorite daughter. Mahmuda Fuschnatanzi, 117 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,959 Speaker 1: a Safovite historian who lived at the same time as Perry, 118 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: recorded that quote. The Shaw would act according to her 119 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 1: advice and apt probation in affairs minor and major, financial 120 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: and administrative. All the important affairs of the Shah, from 121 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: politics and international relations to the rules and customs of monarchy, 122 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: were carried out according to that wise and just Princess's 123 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: opinion and recommendation, and nothing was done without her knowledge 124 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: and consent end quote. She was also known as a 125 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: talented poet and a passionate patron of the arts who 126 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: commissioned many works. When she was ten, she was betrothed 127 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: to a cousin, Prince Badi al Zaman, but she never 128 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: traveled to his home in Sistan. It was believed that 129 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: her father wanted to keep his beloved daughter close. Despite 130 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: the royal family's willingness to educate its daughters and the 131 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: Shah's willingness to take political advice from them, it was 132 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: still taken for granted that a man would succeed Shah 133 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: Tamas found the throne. By fifteen seventy four, when the 134 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: Shah seriously ill for the first time, two of Parikhanum's brothers, 135 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,959 Speaker 1: Hidar and Ismail, were seen as the front runners, each 136 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: supported by different tribes within the Kisilbash. Shah Tamasp's eldest son, 137 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: Muhammad Koda Banda, was blind by this point due to 138 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: an illness, which in the Safavid culture disqualified him from ruling. 139 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: Next in line would naturally be the second son, Isma'il, 140 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: but he faced a slight obstacle. He had been imprisoned 141 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: since fifteen fifty four by his father for reasons that 142 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: are not entirely clear, perhaps because his father thought that 143 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: he was disloyal, or perhaps because he was known to 144 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: take male lovers. Nevertheless, Ismail had many supporters, including his 145 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: sister Peri. Ismail's main opponent to the throne was his 146 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,839 Speaker 1: half brother Hydar, about whose early life not much is known. 147 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: Many of had Our supporters did so because of his 148 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: Georgian heritage via his mother. As the Shah grew sicker, 149 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: Haydar and his supporters worked to ingratiate themselves with the Shah. 150 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 1: Haydar attended to his father closely and made sure to 151 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: be at his side on the night of May fourteenth, 152 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 1: comforting the Shah as he slipped away. On the morning 153 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: of May fifteen, once news of the Shah's death had 154 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: spread through Kasbin, Haydar decided he needed to take immediate action. 155 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 1: Though Ismael was still imprisoned hundreds of miles away, Haydar 156 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: needed to consolidate his own power. He did so by 157 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: striking at the center of Ismael's support. He detained Princess 158 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: Perihan Rahnum in the palace. It was a dangerous moment 159 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: for the princess. Haydar could have easily killed or imprisoned 160 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: her for her disloyalty, after all, she had openly supported 161 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: his brother, But perry Chum saw an out. Heydar needed support, 162 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: and she could offer it to him. Alexander Beg Munci, 163 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: another contemporary Sophovite historian, wrote that Perry threw herself on 164 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: the ground before Haydar, saying, quote, women are foolish creatures. 165 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: If in my stupidity and shortsightedness, I have been guilty 166 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: of any misdemeanor, I beg you to pardon me and 167 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: spare my life. In that event, I will follow the 168 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: path of obedience to you, and will not deviate by 169 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: so much as a hair's breadth from the court of conduct, 170 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: which is pleasing to your highness. End quote. Then she 171 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: bent over and kissed her brother's feet, laying it on 172 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: a little thick but effective. Moved by her words and 173 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 1: recognizing the importance of her support, Haydar accepted Perry Rannum's 174 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: apology on the condition that she secured the support of 175 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: her brother Solomon Misra and her uncle some called Sultan. 176 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: Perry Chum agreed and said she needed to leave at 177 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: once to convince her brother and uncle to join Hydarhydar 178 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: granted her permission to go, certain that he was now 179 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: safe to proceed. Heydar placed his father's crown on his 180 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: head and declared himself Shah to back up his claim, 181 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: he presented a document that named him successor. The document 182 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: bore what looked like the royal seal, but opponents noted 183 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: that the handwriting did not quite look like to Mosps. 184 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: It was a dramatic step towards assuming the throne, but 185 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: it was a short sighted one. Every night, the palace 186 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 1: guards were selected from different tribes of the Kiselbash. This 187 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: measure assured that no one tribe would have dominant presents 188 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: within the palace. On May fifteenth, the night that Heydar 189 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: made his immediate move, the guards were all from tribes 190 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: that's hoarded Ismail. Heydar might have been wearing the crown, 191 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: but he was surrounded by enemies. One to then refused 192 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: to open the palace gates to let Hydar's supporters in 193 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: or Haydar himself out. Another dangerous force was gathering outside 194 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: the palace. These men, supporters of Ismail, possessed a secret 195 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: tool that would soon change the balance of power, and 196 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: it had been provided to them by the very woman 197 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: who had just kissed her brother's feet in a show 198 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: of loyalty, unbeknown to Haydar. As soon as Peri Channum 199 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: had gotten outside the palace gates. She had run to 200 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: Ismail's supporters and presented them with a set of keys 201 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: to the palace. Soon the men stormed through the gates, 202 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: calling for Heydar's blood. Heydar, hearing the cries, dressed in 203 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: women's clothing and hid among a group of women leaving 204 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: the palace, but he was quickly found out. Ismail's supporters 205 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: captured Haydar and executed him. His severed head was thrown 206 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: out of the palace for his supporters to see. He 207 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: had not even been shah for one full day. With 208 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: Haydar dead, Ismail had an easy path to victory, but 209 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: he was still on the road to Cousvene at this point, 210 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: and in the meantime, the work of the state had 211 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: to continue. The various nobles and government officials needed someone 212 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: to make decisions on administrative and financial issues. In other words, 213 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: they needed someone to rule, and who better than the 214 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: woman who had, in essence, determined the outcome of the 215 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: succession crisis. For the next month and a half. While 216 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: Ismail was working his way toward the capital, Perry Ranum 217 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: served as de facto regent, and to her authority was unquestionable. 218 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: Her position and seemed secure. She was confident that her 219 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: influence and power would only continue once Ismail arrived in Cosbin. 220 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: After all, he owed her, didn't he. Ismail and his 221 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: party came to the edge of Kasvin after twenty days 222 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: of traveling in late spring fifteen seventy six, but he 223 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: did not enter the city immediately. Like many stuff of 224 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: It royals, he was a fervent believer in reading the 225 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: signs of the stars, and he would only enter Cosvein 226 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: once his astrologer told him that the time was right 227 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: for a coronation. While he camped out, Perry continued to 228 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: serve as ruler, giving audiences to nobles who would meet 229 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: first with the princess and then traveled to Ismael's camp 230 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: outside the city for an audience with the prince. Ismael's 231 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: twenty year long imprisonment had left him paranoid and distra RESTful. 232 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: Though Perichnum was responsible for his victory, Ismael did not 233 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: fully believe in her loyalty. After all, she was the 234 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: most beloved daughter of their father, the same father who 235 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: had sent Ismail to prison, and his suspicions only deepened 236 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: in his weeks spent on the outskirts of town as 237 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: he watched his sister's influence grow. After more than a 238 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: month as regent, peri Chanum had set up a court 239 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: of sorts replete with the same regal rituals and customs 240 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: that her father's court had Followed. Nobles and servants alike 241 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: behaved with deference to the princess, accorded her respect, performed 242 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: ceremonies on her behalf, and obeyed her decisions. Ismael, seeing 243 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 1: all of this, was furious. The historian Alexander beg mun. 244 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: She records that Ismael gathered all of the nobles around 245 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 1: and braided them, quote, have you not understood, my friends, 246 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: that interference in matters of state by women is demeaning 247 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: to the King's honor, and that for men to associate 248 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: with women of the Safavide Royal house is an abominable crime? 249 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: End quote. This censure quickly shut down the nobles practice 250 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: of visiting Perichum. In fact, it shut down all practice 251 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: of anyone visiting her. From that point on, she was 252 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: kept in isolation in her home, with only royal guards 253 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: for company. It was not only peri Renum that Ismael 254 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: was suspicious of. Early on in his reign, he became 255 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: convinced that the only way to secure his grasp on 256 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: the throne was to eliminate all competition, and he quickly 257 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: set about doing so mercilessly. On one day alone, he 258 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: had six princes murdered. First was Prince Ibrahim, an artist, poet, 259 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: and musician, who was strangled. His wife was so distraught 260 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: by the death that she destroyed Ibrahim's entire library and 261 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: precious art collection so that the Shah could not have 262 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: his treasures, and she worked herself into such a frenzy 263 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: while destroying her husband's possessions that she herself died later 264 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 1: that month. Then came Prince Mohammed Hossien, who was first 265 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: blinded and then put to death. Next was Prince Mahmud, 266 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: who was thought dead after strangulation, but awoke as whose 267 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: corpse was being prepared for burial, and so then he 268 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: was killed again. Then the Shah had Mahummud's infant son 269 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: killed two Two more princes were brought to the palace 270 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,880 Speaker 1: and put to death later that same day. Ismael's killingsbury 271 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: didn't end there. He ordered the deaths of nearly all 272 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: remaining male members of the immediate royal family. Prince Badi 273 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: al Zaman and his royal son Bahram, and then Prince Hassan, 274 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: son of Ismael's brother. By point, only one prince who 275 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: had been blinded but whose life had been spared, and 276 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: the already blind Mohammed Koda Banda, survived. It's thought that 277 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:13,199 Speaker 1: Ismail was less concerned with Mohammed Koda Banda because he 278 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: had gone blind long ago, and because his remaining sons 279 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: were still very young. Isma'il perhaps also felt a sense 280 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: of loyalty to his blind older brother, since they shared 281 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: the same mother, but neither motivation proved quite strong enough. 282 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: Soon the Shah ordered Mohammed and his sons to be 283 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: placed under house arrest, and it was rumored that Ismael 284 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: was planning on having them put to death. But before 285 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: that could happen, Ismail died suddenly on November five, fifteen 286 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 1: seventy seven. The Shah had been in good health. He 287 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: had spent the night before in the company of his 288 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: close confident Hassan Beg, wandering the streets of Kasmin together, 289 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: smoking opium and eating sweets. The two men returned to 290 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: Hassan Beg's room sometime in the early hours in the morning. 291 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: These Shaw's attendants gathered outside the room, waiting for his 292 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: moil to awaken and begin his day, but by late 293 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: morning there was still no sign of him. Too frightened 294 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: to disturb the Shaw, the servants hovered nervously around the 295 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: door until noon, at which point a physician was summoned. 296 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: When the physician called through the door, Hassan Beg replied, 297 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: as MUNCHI tells it, quote, I cannot move to open 298 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: the door. Open the door from the outside in whatever 299 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: way you can, and come in for an astonishing event 300 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: has occurred. Unquote. What was found when the door was 301 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 1: finally opened was indeed astonishing. Hassan Beg was immobilized, with 302 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 1: no sensation in his lower half, and he had a 303 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: stuttering voice. The Shah himself was motionless. He was already dead. 304 00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: Hassan Beg haltingly recounted the events of the night. Returning 305 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: from their walk, the Shah requested that his box of 306 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: herbal medicines be brought to him. When the box arrived, 307 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 1: Hassan Beg noticed that it was not sealed as it 308 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 1: usually was, and he pointed it out to a Smail, 309 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: who shook off his concerns. The Shaw took some medicine 310 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: and convinced Hassan to as well, though his companion took 311 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: less than he had. In the morning, when Hassan woke, 312 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: he found himself unable to move his legs. Ismael was 313 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 1: unable to speak. He stopped moving his arms. Hassan recounted, 314 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: but after a while he ceased to move and his 315 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,360 Speaker 1: breathing stopped. As soon as the news of the strange 316 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: circumstances of Ismael's death emerged, everyone seemed to have a theory. 317 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: Some thought it was a simple matter of over consumption. 318 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: Ismail was known to use excessive amounts of opium and 319 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: eat until he was ill. Others thought it was a 320 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: severe recurrence of an occasional stomach problem that the Shah suffered. 321 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: But more cynical observers pointed to poison, and when court 322 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 1: physicians examined the Shah's body, they found symptoms that seemed 323 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:18,959 Speaker 1: to be signs of poisoning. Given Ismael's wholesale execution of 324 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: nearly all of his close male relatives, he had no 325 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: shortage of enemies. But there was one name that seemed 326 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: to come up most often in the discussions of suspects, 327 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: the name of a family member who had been betrayed 328 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: by Ismael, who had given him the throne and been 329 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: rewarded with banishment the princess, Perry Num contemporaries and some 330 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 1: historians alike, have contended that Perry Chum, furious at Ismael's 331 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,919 Speaker 1: treatment of her, had indeed conspired with maid servants in 332 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: Ismael's household to poison him. We'll never know for sure 333 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: exactly who or what caused the death of Shah Ismael 334 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: the Second in November of fifty seven, but we do 335 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: know what happened next whether or not Perry was responsible 336 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: for the death of Ismael. She played the circumstances to 337 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: her advantage. When a group of nobles approached her asking 338 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: her to take the throne, she demurred, saying that it 339 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: would be improper given that her older brother Mohammed still lived, 340 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: a statement no doubt influenced by her understanding that society 341 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: at large at the time would be hesitant about a 342 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 1: woman in power, But even nobles who were uncomfortable with 343 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: the idea of a woman formally taking the throne recognized 344 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: the princess's power. After the leaders of the various tribes 345 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: and political alliances met to discuss the next shot, they 346 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: went to pery Chum's house to get her final approval 347 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: on their proposal. Their proposal was to put Mohammed Cotabanda 348 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 1: on the It was a proposal that suited per well. 349 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: Mohammed Koubanda was known to pursue pleasure more than political power. 350 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: With a weak willed and not particularly politically minded man 351 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: on the throne, thought she could rule in the shadows. 352 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: But what she hadn't counted on was another player in 353 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: the equation, someone who, like Perry, had been overlooked on 354 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: account of her sex, but who was keenly ambitious, and 355 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: perhaps just as clever as the princess herself. It was 356 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:43,199 Speaker 1: Mohammed kuld Banda's wife, Hira al Nissa Begum. Hira al 357 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 1: Nissa Begum was born in Mazandaran, a province in the 358 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 1: north of the Empire on the southern shores of the 359 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: Caspian Sea. Born to a ruler of the province, her 360 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: childhood was likely a luxurious one, but the privilege didn't last. 361 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 1: In fifteen sixty, her cousin killed her father and hire 362 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: on the Sabagoon was forced to flee. She took refuge 363 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,360 Speaker 1: with the Safavid court, and though she was quickly swept 364 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: up in the activities of the court. Her desire for 365 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: revenge against her cousin never left her. She was eventually 366 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: married to Mohammed Koda Banda, the son of the shah 367 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:25,959 Speaker 1: Tamas the first. Given Mohammed Kodabanda's blindness, the family had 368 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,919 Speaker 1: determined that he would never take the throne, and so 369 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: their family ended up living a relatively low profile life 370 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: in the city of Sharaz, where Mohammed nominally served as governor, 371 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: spending most of his time with a group of artists 372 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 1: and poets. But with his brother Ismail's death, their family 373 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: status rose meteorically. As the court awaited the arrival of 374 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 1: their new Shah, Perry Khannum assumed the same role of 375 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 1: unofficial regent that she had between the death of Hadar 376 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 1: and the coronation of Ismae. This period of control would last, 377 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: this time for nearly three months. Her most notable accomplishment 378 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: during this time was the liberation of a large number 379 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: of political prisoners, including those jailed for supporting Hidar. But 380 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: even as Peri ch Kanum maintained order in the empire, 381 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: trouble was brewing within the royal family. It began when 382 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: Ismail's former vizier or political advisor, rode out to Sharaz 383 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: to warn Mohammed Kodabanda and his wife of Peri Chan 384 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: Khanum's ambitions quote as long as peich Kanum was mistress 385 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: in the palace and controlled affairs of the state. When 386 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: she records the Vizier saying the Shah would possess nothing 387 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: but the title of king and his wife would not 388 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: be admitted to the heron, the royal couple made it 389 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: clear that they would not tolerate any usurpation. When news 390 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: of this declaration and made it back to Peri chan Khanum, 391 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: she and her supporters began to take actions to solidify 392 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: her power. Guards patrolled the palace ready to take on 393 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: any threat to the princess. In response, the Vizier sent 394 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: guards of his own to the state treasury, which was 395 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: under Perry Khanum's control at that point. Tensions mounted and 396 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: several skirmishes ensued between the supporters of Peri and those 397 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 1: of Mohammed Codebanda and Chira al Nissa begun. Perry Chum's 398 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: treatment of the couple upon their arrival in Kasvine did 399 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 1: nothing to help matters, as Mohammed and his wife rode 400 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: up to the city on February ninth, seventy eight. Peri 401 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: Chan Khanum came out to greet them in an opulent 402 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: litter surrounded by a huge crowd of supporters. It was 403 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: a bold statement of authority and one that certainly rankled 404 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: the already insecure royal incomers. One story recounted by Munchi 405 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: alleges that Perry k snubbed the future empress. The higher 406 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: Al Nissa Begum kissed Perry Kanum's hand, the princess refused 407 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: to reciprocate with any gesture of respect. Despite this tension, 408 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: Perry Khan Khanum and her brother Mohammed were able to 409 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: conduct a cordial meeting in which they mourned the loss 410 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: of their father, Shah Tamas and the deaths of their 411 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: male relatives at the hands of Shah Ismail. But this 412 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: conversation was not enough to fix the rupture growing in 413 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: the family. Perry kan Kanum was too powerful and her 414 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: very existence was a threat to the power of Mohammed 415 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 1: Kudabanda and his wife Higher Al Nissabagum. Two days later, 416 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: Mohammed Kulda Banda entered the palace in Kasmen and officially 417 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: took the throne, becoming Shah of the Safavid Empire. All 418 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 1: of the nobles were in the tendants to watch his ascension, 419 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: including Perry. When the ceremony ended, Perry Chum boarded her 420 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 1: litter and set off for her home, surrounded by attendants. 421 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 1: The roads of Kasvine were crowded with the city's citizens 422 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: out in droves to celebrate the new Shah, and so 423 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: the princess's attendants turned to re enter the palace grounds, 424 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: planning to cut through the harem gardens to reach Pari 425 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: Chum's house more quickly. But as the party neared her home, 426 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: they were intercepted by a group of men who attempted 427 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: to seize the litter. Paris attendants fought back inside the litter, 428 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: the princess was thrown back and forth as the two 429 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 1: groups battled for control. Peace only came when the attackers 430 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: revealed that they were acting on the orders of the Shah, 431 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: and Perry Chum, realizing what was happening, surrendered herself. In 432 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: a particular pcularly cruel twist, she saw that the leader 433 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: of the group was none other than her old tutor 434 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: and guardian Kalichhan. He had been promised perry Channum's entire 435 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: estate in exchange for orchestrating her death. Perry Chum was 436 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: taken to Khaliochhan's house and kept as a prisoner. Later 437 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: that evening, a group of Calliochhan's men entered the room 438 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: and strangled the princess to death. She was twenty nine 439 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: years old. In the centuries since her death, perry Chum's 440 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 1: legacy has been debated by historians. Some see her as 441 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: a powerful leader, others as a conniving backstabber. The truth, 442 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: as always, is somewhere, probably in the middle and definitely 443 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: more complicated. But her influence and power between fifteen seventy 444 00:31:56,520 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 1: six and fifteen seventy eight are undeniable. As the historian 445 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: sharek O Shorki put it in her definitive work on 446 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: the Princess, quote, it is time to grant recognition to 447 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: such sophovid women as Peri chan Ranum, who took leadership 448 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: roles and entered at the forbidden and formidable realm of 449 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 1: power and intrigue at the court. That's the story of 450 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: Pari ran Ranum. To learn more about the fate of 451 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: the woman who helped organize her downfall. Higher Al Nissa 452 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 1: Begum listen after a quick commercial break. Once Peri Chanranum 453 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: was dead, higher on Ni Sabagum, the new empress became 454 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 1: the real power behind the throne. Like other Safavid empresses, 455 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:01,480 Speaker 1: she would eventually become known as mad Julia, which translates 456 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: as sublime cradle or the highest ranking cradle. It's as 457 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:11,480 Speaker 1: Madiulia that she's most commonly referred to today. As Empress, 458 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 1: Madiola built out her network of influence, appointing family members 459 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 1: and friends to important positions, gathering information, and dictating political 460 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: and military strategy. Even as she worked to strengthen the 461 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 1: Sapphovit Empire, she thought constantly of her home province of Mazadran, 462 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:33,080 Speaker 1: which was now ruled by the son of the man 463 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: who had killed her father. This man, Major Khan, had 464 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 1: come to court when Madiulia and Mohammed Codebanda first ascended 465 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: to the throne to seek forgiveness for his father's actions 466 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 1: and get confirmation of his position as governor. Madiulia grudgingly 467 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: granted both, but her forgiveness was only a facade. Sometime later, 468 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 1: she appointed a new governor an uncle of hers and 469 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 1: declared Mirzakhan's authority to be illegitimate. Mirzakhan, understanding the potentially 470 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: deadly implications of this move, hold up in the fortress 471 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 1: of Furjah to try to protect himself, but even a 472 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: fortress was no match for Madiolia's power. She sent a 473 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 1: number of troops to the fort determined to starve Mirza 474 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 1: Khan out, But when the troops arrived at the fortress, 475 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:31,280 Speaker 1: they realized that the siege would be a costly one, 476 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: and so their commanding officer decided to try to negotiate. 477 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: After prolonged negotiations, Mirzakhan agreed to leave the fort on 478 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,560 Speaker 1: the condition that the officers present, all of whom held 479 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,840 Speaker 1: prominent positions at court, would help him plead his case 480 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: to Madiolia. When Madiulia learned of the deal, she was furious, 481 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 1: since she certainly intended to harm Mirza Khan and now 482 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 1: she would have to work against her own men to 483 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 1: do it. As the group transporting Merzokhan made their way 484 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 1: to Kasvin, Madiulia sent out another group of warriors with 485 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: orders to capture Mirzakhan and to kill him. When this 486 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: second group met up with the first The officers, who 487 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: had sworn to protect Mirzakhan on the terms of the surrender, 488 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:24,319 Speaker 1: were reluctant to hand him over, but eventually they did so, 489 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:28,960 Speaker 1: fearful of disobeying a royal order and also believing that 490 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,720 Speaker 1: the men wouldn't actually kill the prisoner. They were wrong. 491 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: Later that night, the second group killed Mirzakhan. The officers 492 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 1: present were furious, and though they had been loyal to Madiula, 493 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 1: their loyalty began to waver after what they saw as 494 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:49,879 Speaker 1: a betrayal. The assassination was the beginning of the end 495 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:54,080 Speaker 1: for Madiula. It was not the only factor, of course. 496 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:56,800 Speaker 1: She made a number of bold moves, some of which 497 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: were politically imprudent, and it additionally cannot be denied that 498 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 1: there were some deep resentment among tribal leaders towards taking 499 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:07,840 Speaker 1: orders from a woman. In mid fifteen seventy nine, a 500 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: group of Kislbash leaders issued a shocking threat against the 501 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:15,720 Speaker 1: Empress to the Emperor, revealing the extent of their anger. 502 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:20,399 Speaker 1: It read, in part, quote, your Majesty knows well that 503 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:24,920 Speaker 1: women are notoriously lacking in intelligence, weak in judgment, and 504 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 1: extremely obstinate. Maniolia's power and influence in the government of 505 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 1: the realm is objectionable to all the Kisabash tribes. If 506 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 1: she is not removed from power, in all probability, revolts 507 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,359 Speaker 1: will occur that will be to the detriment of both 508 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: religion and the state. Removed from power in this case 509 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 1: meant killed. Shah Mohammad Kodabanda had no interest in revolt, 510 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,800 Speaker 1: but he also had no interest in executing his wife. 511 00:36:56,640 --> 00:37:00,319 Speaker 1: He offered two solutions. Either he would say and his 512 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 1: wife away from cous been, exiling her from the workings 513 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:07,360 Speaker 1: of court, or he himself would abdicate and allow the 514 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:11,799 Speaker 1: Kiselbash to choose a new shop. Madelola provided a more 515 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:16,400 Speaker 1: fiery rebuke, declaring that she would never back down, even 516 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 1: if it would cost her her life. Ultimately it did. 517 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: On July fifteen seventy nine, only eighteen months after the 518 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:29,520 Speaker 1: death of Perich, Madiola was strangled to death in the 519 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: palace ground by a number of Kiselbash warriors, who also 520 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:38,800 Speaker 1: killed her elderly mother, who was present. Without Madiolia's guiding hand, 521 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 1: Mohammed could have Banda's reign quickly fell into disarray. Four 522 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,879 Speaker 1: years later, Kiselbash leaders executed his vizier, the man who 523 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: had warned Mohammed and his wife about Perichnus power rise 524 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:57,880 Speaker 1: five years earlier. In fifteen eighty seven, several kiss Abash 525 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 1: tribes initiated full fledged coups, which ultimately succeeded in October 526 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:08,560 Speaker 1: of that year. Eventually, Mohammed Codabanda was replaced by one 527 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:12,680 Speaker 1: of his sons, a man who, breaking the family bad 528 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: luck streak, would go down in history as the most 529 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:20,919 Speaker 1: successful Sophavid ruler, the Shaw, who would become known as 530 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:38,360 Speaker 1: Avas the Great. Noble Blood is a production of I 531 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:42,160 Speaker 1: Heart Radio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Manky. Noble 532 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:46,120 Speaker 1: Blood is hosted by me Danis Shportz. Additional writing and 533 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:50,800 Speaker 1: researching done by Hannah Johnston, hannah's Wick, Mira Hayward, Courtney 534 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:54,520 Speaker 1: Sunder and Laurie Goodman. The show is produced by rema 535 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 1: Il Kali, with supervising producer Josh Thane and executive producers 536 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 1: Earn Manky, Alex Williams, and Matt Frederick. For more podcasts 537 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:07,240 Speaker 1: from I Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, 538 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 539 00:39:13,719 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 1: H