1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grimm 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: and Mild from Aaron Manky. Listener discretion advised. Sria s 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: Fundari Baktyari was the last passenger on the plane from 4 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: Rome to disembark. It was October seventh, nineteen fifty and 5 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: the sun was just beginning to set behind the western 6 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: skyline of Tehran. As soon as Soria's feet hit the tarmac, 7 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: she was quickly ushered into a waiting limousine. Soria and 8 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: her father drove through the city to the house that 9 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: they would be staying at for the duration of their 10 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: trip to Iran's capital. Sria gazed out the window and 11 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: tried to imagine what her next day would look like. 12 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: Despite the fatigue she felt from the long travel day, 13 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: she was too excited about being presented to the Iranian 14 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: court and the Sha to quiet her mind. Just a 15 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: few months ago, she was a normal German Iranian girl 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: who had just graduated from finishing school. Now she was 17 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: a contender to be the Shah's wife, the Empress of Iran. 18 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: Once at the house, Sria began to unpack her trunks. 19 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: As she put her clothes away, she admired the dresses 20 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: that she had bought in Paris. Which one should she 21 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: wear tomorrow to be presented to the court. Maybe the 22 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: blue one, but with what shoes? Oh? Certainly the white 23 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: kitten heels, very classy. But would the Sha like this outfit? 24 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the bedroom door. 25 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: Soriah opened the door to a servant delivering a message. 26 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: Would it be possible for miss Esfandiari to visit the 27 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: Dowager Empress this evening? She has arranged a small dinner 28 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: at which only the innermost family will be present. With 29 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 1: that generous invitation, which was more of a summons really 30 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: than an invite, Sriah quickly got ready and left for 31 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: the Dowager Empress's residence. Once there, soria was welcomed into 32 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: the Dowager Empress's drawing room, where the Dowager and the 33 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: Shah's siblings greeted their guests with pleasantries and polite conversation, 34 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: But the room fell silent when it was announced His 35 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 1: Majesty the Shah, the man who had summoned Soriya all 36 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: the way from London, strode into the room. Confidently Mohammed Razashah, 37 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: dressed in his favorite uniform of the General of the 38 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: Iranian Air Force went around the room, greeting his mother 39 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: and his siblings. In her second autobiography, Soriah recalled quote, 40 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: I found him imposing, magnificent, splendid. I was mesmerized. He 41 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: was superb looking, he was handsome and knew how to smile. 42 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: I freely admit that it was love at first sight. 43 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: With the ultimate guest of honor now in attendance, the 44 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: party moved into the dining room. Breaking protocol, the Shah 45 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: beckoned Soriah to sit next to him. Despite their over 46 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: fifteen year age difference, there was an ease to their 47 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: conversation as the pair chatted about their childhoods, both spent 48 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: at boarding schools in Switzerland. Soria later recalled that quote, 49 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: without our having said anything of importance to each other, 50 00:03:55,280 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: a confidence and tenderness had passed between us. There was 51 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: as certainly an unspoken connection between the two. Following after dinner, 52 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: games and tea, Soriah was finally able to retire to 53 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: her lodgings. She longed just to close her eyes and 54 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: finally lay down after an extremely long day, but at 55 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: almost midnight the door bell rang. Soriah saw her father 56 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:29,559 Speaker 1: looking rather frazzled. Soria the Shah liked you very much. 57 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: Are you willing to marry him? Astonished Siriah asked, do 58 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: I have to decide now? Her father affirmed yes, he 59 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: would like to announce your engagement tomorrow. Surprising even herself, 60 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: Soriah quickly replied, tell the Shaw that I accept, I 61 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: will be his wife. The love between soria and the Sha, 62 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: the love that first ignited that October night in nineteen fifty, 63 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: was and blossomed quickly into a marriage and partnership. Their 64 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: romance was like something out of a fairy tale. It 65 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: seemed as though they were destined to be together. Unfortunately, 66 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: the almost divine nature of their love could not overcome 67 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: the harsh reality they would face during their marriage. No 68 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: matter how idyllic their life together seemed, there was always 69 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: something laying in weight that, once revealed, would send it 70 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: all toppling down. In fact, this would be a theme 71 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: of Soriah's life. No matter what happiness she seemed to achieve, 72 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: it would all vanish in a matter of time. Her 73 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: unfortunate turns of fate would be perfectly encompassed by her 74 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: nickname and the title of her second autobiography, Princess with 75 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 1: the Sad Eyes, was the nickname entrapped in her her 76 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: Palace of Loneliness. I'm Danash Schwartz, and this is Noble Blood. 77 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 1: Before I dive in, I want to mention that for 78 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: today's episode, I relied on an uncommon collection of sources. 79 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: Soriah wrote two separate autobiographies, one in nineteen sixty four 80 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: and one Palace of Loneliness in nineteen ninety two, both 81 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: of which spoke of her experiences married to the Shah, 82 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: but through the lens of very different periods in her life. 83 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: To have one autobiography to use as a Noble Blood 84 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: source is unusual, but not terribly out of the ordinary. 85 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: To have two is incredibly rare. So much of what 86 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: I talk about today comes from Soriah herself, so be 87 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: mindful of any potential biases that obviously come with one's 88 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: telling of this her own story. From the moment she 89 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: was born in the summer of nineteen thirty two, soria 90 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: Esfundari Bakhtiari seemed poised to lead an exceptional life. Child 91 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: of a German mother and Iranian father, Sarria grew up 92 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,119 Speaker 1: with a dual identity shared by very few. Sarria's father 93 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: was a prominent member of the Baktyari tribe of southern Iran, 94 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: so her family spent many years living in her ancestral 95 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: homelands of Isfan. In her tween and teenage years, Sria's 96 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: family moved to her mother's homeland of Germany, and Sara 97 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: herself spent many of her most formative years at boarding 98 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: schools in Switzerland. The duality of her heritage and her 99 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: upbringing was difficult for the young Saraya, as she struggled 100 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: to identify with either aspect of herself, and while she 101 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: certainly identified with her Iranian heritage, she did harbor Eurocentric 102 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: tendencies and frankly racist views about Iran. As empress, she 103 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: would later write quote, the feeling of being both Christian 104 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: and Muslim, but at the same time of being neither 105 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: one nor the other has engraved in my flesh two 106 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: divergent poles between which my existence unfolded. The one is 107 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: methodically European, the other savagely Persian. Ironic that Siah would 108 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: become the Empress of Persia. Soria was an undoubtedly gorgeous woman. 109 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: Her piercing light blue gray eyes were striking against her 110 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: dark black hair and fair skin. Imagine young Sophia Iren 111 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 1: and young Elizabeth Taylor combined and you get Soria. So 112 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:59,119 Speaker 1: it was no wonder that she received many a marriage proposal, 113 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: especially from men from prominent families in Isfan, but her 114 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: parents themselves an unusual love match, protected her from those proposals. 115 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: At this point, Sarah had just completed finishing school in 116 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: Switzerland and desperately wished to become an actress, but her parents, 117 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: like many, chafed at the idea of their daughter becoming 118 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: an artist. As a compromised, sixteen year old Sarah set 119 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: off for London, where she would stay with her cousins 120 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: to better improve her English. It would be these cousins 121 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: in London who would change the trajectory of Soria's life forever. 122 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: One of these cousins, named Guidars, was obsessed with photography 123 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: and asked to take Sarria's picture one afternoon. He had 124 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: Sarah pose all over their flat in front of their 125 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: apartment building in a nearby park, really all over the place. 126 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: A little suspicious, Sarah asked, what's going on, Gwidars. Usually 127 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: you don't waste so much film? Gudars, deciding to tell 128 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: a half truth, replied that their aunt in Tehran had 129 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: asked for some new pictures of Soria. Who that woman was. 130 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: Saya had no idea, but who is she to say 131 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 1: no to getting to act like a model with her 132 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: cousin For an afternoon. Later that week, her other cousin, Malikshah, 133 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: asked her to accompany him to a dinner at the 134 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: Iranian embassy there in London in honor of the Shah's sister, 135 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 1: Princess Shams. Of course, Sarriyah would go, and, no surprise 136 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: to the self important Saraya, Princess Shams took an immediate 137 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: liking to her. At dinner, they chatted all night, and 138 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: before Sarriah took her leave, Princess Shams squeezed her hand 139 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: and asked, do you want to come with me tomorrow 140 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: evening to the theater. From that night on, the two 141 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: women became inseparable. They went out on the town together, 142 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: and Shams even brought Sarria along to Paris with her 143 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: for a three week stay. Little did Sria know that 144 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: the Princess Shams had actually been dispatched to London by 145 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: the Shah specifically to meet and vet Sria. The photos 146 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: that Gwidars had taken were indeed for his aunt, but 147 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: she had requested them so that she might show Sria 148 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: to the Shah's mother, the Dowager Empress. The Dowager Empress, 149 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: looking for a wife for the Shah, liked Soria's look 150 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: and showed them to her son, Mohammed Rezashah had been 151 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: divorced from his first wife for three years now, and 152 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: despite having multiple mistresses, he had been lonely and was 153 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: looking for his next wife. Intrigued by the pictures of Saya, 154 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: he sent his younger sister to meet her. Although Shams 155 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: had set out intentionally to evaluate whether or not the 156 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: young woman was suitable marriage material for the Shah, she 157 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: found herself genuinely enjoying Sarria and communicated her approval to 158 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: her brother. Soon after arriving, Princess Shams officially floated the 159 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: idea of marrying the Shah to Sarria. On their trip 160 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: to Paris. While talking about her brother one afternoon, the 161 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: princess casually said, of course, it would be fine if 162 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: some young girls such as yourself were to be willing 163 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: to share Mohammed Reza's life. While Sarria, having been told 164 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: the true motivation behind her cousin's photographs, had inklings that 165 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: that might be a possibility, Schams's comment made it all real. 166 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: Shortly after that Paris trip, Rayah's father called to tell 167 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: her that the Shah had requested that he presents Soria 168 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: at court. Clearly, the Persian royal family was wasting no time. 169 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: It was decided that Princess Shams, Sria, and Soria's father 170 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: would depart for Iran promptly. After stopping over in Rome 171 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 1: for a few days, where her father met them, Sarria 172 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: and Princess Shams boarded their flight for Tehran early on 173 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: October seventh, nineteen fifty. As soon as Sriah stepped off 174 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: the plane, as told in the introduction of this episode, 175 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: she was immediately swept up in the whirlwind of her 176 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 1: new life in the Iranian court. Perhaps like most noble 177 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: arranged marriages, Soria and the Shah used their engagement to 178 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: get to know each other. They would go on picnic 179 00:13:56,400 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: lunches together and steal private moments official functions. But unlike many, 180 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: probably even most arranged royal couples, the two were genuinely 181 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 1: quite enamored with each other. Their love was tested and 182 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 1: ultimately proven when Soria fell ill with samonella poisoning just 183 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: a few weeks before their wedding. The Shah visited his 184 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: bedridden fiance every day, bringing her a gift with each trip. 185 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: Sometimes the gift was just a bouquet of flowers or 186 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: a gramophone record to entertain her, and sometimes it would 187 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:38,239 Speaker 1: be a stunning jewel or an exquisite piece of jewelry, 188 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: like quote, a gold watch with a chiseled bird, set 189 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: with rubies and emeralds. These gifts and the Shaw's consistent 190 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:54,359 Speaker 1: visits represented for Soria the depth of her future husband's dedication, 191 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: and it endeared him to her more and more with 192 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: each day. Fortunately, Soria's illness was proving persistent, and their 193 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: original wedding day came and went with the future Empress 194 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: still unwell. The Shah, hoping to get married as soon 195 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: as possible, sent the nation's best doctors and nurses to 196 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: his betrothed bedside. In January nineteen fifty one, after multiple 197 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: months of bedterist for Soria, the doctors determined that the 198 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: soon to be Empress was well enough to walk down 199 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: the aisle and withstand the demanding ceremonies of a royal wedding. 200 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: So on February twelfth, nineteen fifty one, Soria and the 201 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: Shah were married. That morning, Sria donned her wedding dress, 202 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: which weighed half of Soria's body weight thanks to the 203 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: ten foot long train and a necklace and a diadem 204 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: borrowed from Iran's collection of crown jewels. Doing her best 205 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: to appear regal, the bride glided down a hallway decorated 206 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: with orchids, cherry trees, and lilacs to join her fiance 207 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: for the ceremony. When the officiating a mom asked the 208 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: couple if they would like to take the other in marriage, 209 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: Soriah could barely wait. Yes, she proclaimed, jumping in so 210 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: fast as to almost speak over him. Yes. With the 211 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: Shaw's firm but delighted confirmation, the lovebirds were officially wed, 212 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: and the rest of their life together could begin. Soria 213 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: and the Shaw's courtship and wedding had been almost storybook perfect, 214 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: but the air of perfection and atmosphere of love had 215 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: obscured for Soria the tense political landscape that was developing 216 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: in Iran at that very moment, as briefly discussed in 217 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: our earlier episode entitled The Dinner Party. At the end 218 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 1: of the Iranian monarchy, oil was a precious resource for Iran, 219 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: worth quite a bit of money, but from its discovery 220 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 1: in the country up through the nineteen forties, the Anglo 221 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: Iranian Oil Company essentially had a monopoly on the oil 222 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: in the country. Because of how profitable oil was, many 223 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 1: Iranians were upset that the British and not they were 224 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 1: benefiting from their country's natural resource. The popular figurehead leading 225 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: this movement to keep those profits in Iran and to 226 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: nationalize Iran's oil was then parliament member Mohammed Mosdae, who 227 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: also wanted to bring democracy to Iran. Masada's push for 228 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: democracy threatened the Shah's grip on the country, as did 229 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 1: the communist Tuda Party and the extremist Shia sects pushing 230 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,400 Speaker 1: for a theocracy, and the Shah did and to have 231 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: the strongest argument for his own rule at that moment. 232 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: In the late nineteen forties early nineteen fifties, as the 233 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: country was facing an economic downturn because of the let's 234 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: say uncertain political situation at home, Soraya and the Shah 235 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: had to forego their European honeymoon, spending only two weeks 236 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: at one of the Shah's villas north of Tehran on 237 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: the Caspian Sea. Even then, the Shah was receiving memos 238 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: and updates from his aids every day while they were 239 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: on their honeymoon. It wouldn't even be a full week 240 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 1: after they returned from the sea for that honeymoon bubble 241 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:45,719 Speaker 1: to officially burst. Just three days after they returned, the 242 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: prime minister was assassinated by assailants connected to conservative Muslim militants. 243 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: On top of throwing the country into disarray, the prime 244 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: Minister's assassination made way for mass to rise to the 245 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: seat of prime minister. Capitalizing on the moment, Masides set 246 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: about initiating the nationalization of Iranian oil, which would eventually 247 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: become one of the most consequential events in modern Iranian history. Understandably, 248 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: the British and American governments were not thrilled with the 249 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:26,679 Speaker 1: nationalization of Iranian oil. That move not only would result 250 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: in a Western company losing out on profit, but was 251 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: also too close to communist ideology for comfort. Fearing that 252 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: the nationalization of oil would facilitate the encroachment of the 253 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: USSR on Iran. The UK and US tried to bargain 254 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: with Masidae and the Iranian people, but Masiday wouldn't budge. 255 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: It was nationalization or nothing. Simultaneously, the new Prime Minister 256 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: moved to consolidate his power and maneuver the Shah out 257 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: of any real role within the government. After months of 258 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: political back and forth and major opposition from unsurprisingly the Shah, 259 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: Massidas succeeded in nineteen fifty three in assuming powers that 260 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: were once held by the ruler. The Shah had been 261 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: relinquished to essentially a figurehead monarch. His advisers no longer 262 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 1: visited him, and no one asked for his opinion on 263 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: matters of state. The Shah, who had been raised and 264 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: trained his whole life to be a head of state, 265 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: only to have that taken away, sank into a deep depression. 266 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:45,160 Speaker 1: While navigating her new role as empress, learning to manage 267 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: personalities within the palla Vi family, and trying to master 268 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: the Farsi language, Soriah did her best to be a 269 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: steadfast support to the Shah. During this time. She saw 270 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 1: her ultimate duty as her husband's well being, so she 271 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: made it her mission to bring him some relief, but 272 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: there was little she could do to assuage the Shaw's 273 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: paranoia and sense of hopelessness. She was stuck sleeping next 274 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:17,239 Speaker 1: to a man who barely smiled during the day and 275 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: was always keeping a gun under his pillow at night. 276 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: The Shah had warned Sria during their engagement that being 277 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: empress was not all glitz and glamour. On a walk 278 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: before their wedding, the Shah had said to his fiance, quote, 279 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,360 Speaker 1: don't imagine that I'm offering you an easy life, Sria. 280 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 1: The duties that you must accept will be hard and wearisome. 281 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: I hope you have no illusions on that score. Soria 282 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 1: didn't realize just how hard and wearisome it actually would be. 283 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: In early August nineteen fifty three, the Shah tried to 284 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: make one last move to reclaim his power, and, with 285 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: the support of the US in the UK, issued a 286 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: proclamation calling for Masides resignation that he sent loyal army 287 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: officers to execute. The attempted coup backfired, and the Shah 288 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: had to flee the country immediately to avoid being arrested. 289 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: At four in the morning, the Shah shook his wife 290 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,439 Speaker 1: awake and told her to pack up. They had to 291 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: leave right now, Sayah. The Shah and two other close 292 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: courtiers scrambled onto a small plane and quickly took off, 293 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: fleeing Ran with no idea of when they would return. 294 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: After stopping in Baghdad for a few days, the couple 295 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: arrived in Rome, where from the seclusion of their hotel suite, 296 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: they grappled with the fact that they were no longer royalty. 297 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: In the afternoons, over their tea, they started putting together 298 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 1: some sort of plan for a normal life. Maybe they 299 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,679 Speaker 1: could buy a bit of land in the US and 300 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: lived there. Soria was starting to accept their fate as 301 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: normal everyday people when the tide in Iran turned in 302 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: late August nineteen fifty three, just a few weeks after 303 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: the royal couple fled, the Iranian military, supported by the CIA, 304 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: overthrew the prime Minister and called the Shah to return 305 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: to Iran and his throne. With that dramatic reversal of fortune, 306 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: the royal couple returned to Iran more powerful than ever 307 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 1: and finally began living the luxurious courtly life that Sarria 308 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: had once imagined for herself when she first became engaged. 309 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: Siria threw masquerade balls and finally redid the Imperial residence 310 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: with the help of a famed Parisian designer. She bought 311 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: an all new wardrobe of the hottest styles and became 312 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: the most important woman into Irand's social scene. They were 313 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: living the life she had dreamed of. They had weathered 314 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: the storm and now they were home free. But the 315 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: thing that would really deprive Soria of her dreams had 316 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 1: yet to rear its head. The chaos that had been 317 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: Iran for the past three years had diverted attention from 318 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: an important aspect of the royal couple's marriage children. It 319 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: hadn't been clear that the Shah would ultimately remain in power, 320 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: so why bother worrying about producing an air But since 321 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 1: the monarchy had emerged in nineteen fifty three, not only 322 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: intact but stronger than ever, it was time to get serious. 323 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: And get serious the Shah and Soria did. When not 324 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: working towards a child, the couple would fantasize about their baby, 325 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: whom the Shah was certain would be a boy. Soria 326 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: wished the same, but she was growing worried as she 327 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: remained without child month after month, it soon became clear 328 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 1: to Soria that the Shah was also becoming worried and 329 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: a bit frustrated. The couple was scheduled to set off 330 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: on a long overdue vacation across America and Europe that 331 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: included Hollywood parties, waterskiing in Miami, and a dinner with 332 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: Queen Elizabeth. But the trip was not just for pleasure. 333 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: Right before the trip, the sha had made plans for 334 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: Soria to see specialists about her fertility. They would stop 335 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: in both New York and Boston to meet with doctors 336 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 1: for a quote checkup. As Soria was eager to become 337 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: a mother, she was more than ready to receive answers 338 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: and hopefully reassurance that a baby was not far off. 339 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 1: The issue of producing an air became that much more important. 340 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: In Okat'burd nineteen fifty four, just days before they left 341 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 1: for their trip, the Shah's younger brother, Alireza, the only 342 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: person who could inherit the throne by Iranian law, died 343 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: in a plane crash. Now it was imperative that Sriah 344 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 1: produced not just a child, but a son. The survival 345 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: of the Pahlavi dynasty depended on it. In her autobiographies, 346 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: Soriah reflected on her trip to the US and Europe fondly. 347 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: She spoke of the dresses she purchased, the amazing venues 348 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 1: they stayed at, the celebrities they met, and the gifts 349 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: they received. She made only scant mention of the doctor's 350 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: appointments in New York and no mention of her time 351 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: in Boston. But it was these appointments that marked an 352 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: inflection point in her marriage to the Shah, as it 353 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: was in Boston that they learned she would never be 354 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 1: able to carry a child. This would be the thing 355 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: that would ultimately keep Soriah from her happiness, that which 356 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: would prevent soria from living with her true love in 357 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 1: the royal court of her homeland. It had finally reared 358 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:19,239 Speaker 1: its head. Even if the two remained in love, the 359 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: next three years of their marriage would always be tainted 360 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: by the fact that soria could not produce an air. 361 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: One day, while out on a walk together, Soriah had 362 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 1: had enough, and she beseeched the Shah to change the 363 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: constitution so that one of his half brothers could become 364 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: his heir, something that was previously outlawed. Her husband responded 365 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: by saying that this change would have to go through 366 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 1: the Council of Wise Men, who might not accept it. 367 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: But what if he offered he took another wife solely 368 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: for the purpose of producing an air That way, Soria 369 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: would still get to remain empress. Soria was beyond offended 370 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: and rejected that offer outright. Instead, she offered to leave 371 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 1: for Europe so that Mohammed Reza might convene the Counsel 372 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 1: of Wise Men and they might avoid any awkwardness that 373 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: would arise from their decision. The Shah thought that was 374 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 1: a smart idea. It was then that they both knew, 375 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: whether or not they would admit it, that their marriage 376 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: was over. The Shah would sacrifice his love for his dynasty, 377 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: which in the end he wouldn't even keep. Seven years 378 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 1: and one day after they first got married, Soriah left 379 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: Iran for the last time. One month later, on March fourteenth, 380 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty eight, the Shah would speak over the radio 381 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: announcing the couple's divorce, and Soria, even though she understood 382 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: why the Shah had to do this, would never quite 383 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: forgive him for it, perhaps letting the worst of her 384 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 1: racist beliefs surface in her first autobiography, she called the 385 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: Shah fundamentally and oriental. She believed that he wasn't Western 386 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: enough to give up his throne for love, like the 387 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: Duke of Windsor had done for Wallace Simpson. Even though 388 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: she knew how dedicated he was to his throne and 389 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: knew that he expected her to know that, she still 390 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: thought he would choose her over ruling Iran. But ultimately 391 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: soria and the Shah both had lost the loves of 392 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: their lives. The love that had burned so bright had 393 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: flamed out through no fault of their own. Their circumstances 394 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: and the reality that they lived in prevented them from 395 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: living out there happily. Ever after. Soriah's life after her 396 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: divorce was difficult. She described this period as a quote 397 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: free fall, where she had to learn how to be 398 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: a normal adult without the trappings of royal status. Forget 399 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: living without your beloved. Imagine trying to learn from scratch 400 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: how to tip waiters or follow road signs when you drive, 401 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: or pull in an electrical chord into the wall, all 402 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: while being hounded by European paparazzi who dubbed her Soria 403 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: Princess with the sad eyes. In fact, her divorce and 404 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: the publicity over her sadness was so moving to the 405 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: public that French songwriter Francois Malegerie was inspired to write 406 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 1: the song jevou pleure coma Soria, sorry for the pronunciation, 407 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: I want to cry like Soria. Once she had regained 408 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: some semblance of self, Soria decided to finally pursue her 409 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: dream of acting. She starred in the nineteen sixty five 410 00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: movie Ittre Volti The Three Faces, and like many great performers, 411 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: was credited with just her first name. It was actually 412 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 1: on the set of that movie that Sria met the 413 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: second love of her life, Franco Indivina. She and the 414 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: Italian film director began a love affair a few years 415 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 1: later and would live together just outside of Rome for 416 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: almost five years. But just like her first love, her 417 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: second love, too was destined for heartbreak. In nineteen seventy two, 418 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: Franco died tragically in a plane crash. This loss sent 419 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: Soria into a tailspin from which she would never recover. Two. 420 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: Devastated to return to their home in Rome, she moved 421 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: to Paris. As part of her divorce. The Sha had 422 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 1: bought Sria a penthouse in the eighth Arundismont, and that 423 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 1: became her home for the rest of her life. While 424 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: she did have friends there and did socialize in Paris, 425 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: she never found another significant other. She had lost two 426 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 1: great loves of her life and still held a candle 427 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: for them both, even though she knew for different reasons, 428 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: she could never have either of them. While she could 429 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: never see Franco again, Soriah did keep in touch with 430 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 1: the Shah. They would write letters to each other, and 431 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: in accordance with their divorce agreement, he supported her financially 432 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: until the Iranian Revolution. Soriah would see the Shah in 433 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:39,719 Speaker 1: person on multiple occasions after their divorce, but neither party 434 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: ever publicly admitted it. Before the Shaw's exile and death 435 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: in the late nineteen seventies, which you can hear more 436 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 1: about in the earlier episode of Noble Blood. I mentioned 437 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: whenever he would visit Europe, he would make secret trips 438 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: to see her. Although there were happy moments and joyful 439 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: aspects of her life, soria remained alone and lonely until 440 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: she died in Paris in two thousand and one. She 441 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: had relied on her few close friends and immediate family 442 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: members for company, but the reality of her circumstance was 443 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:21,600 Speaker 1: captured perfectly by the title of her second autobiography, Palace 444 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: of Solitude. That's the story of Soria, Empress of Iran. 445 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: But stay tuned after a brief sponsor break to hear 446 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 1: about how the Soria and Shah's relationship mirrors very specifically 447 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 1: that of another royal couple covered on this podcast. While 448 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 1: Soria had wished that the Shah would give up his 449 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: throne for love, like the Duke of Windsor had for 450 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: Wallace Simpson, the couple would in actuality come to resemble 451 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: a different famous noble couple that we've covered on this podcast, 452 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 1: Napoleon and Josephine. Not only were they an unconventional love 453 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,040 Speaker 1: match forced apart due to his need for an air, 454 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: but their stories of their connections at the end of 455 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:28,720 Speaker 1: each respective monarch's life is astoundingly similar. Josephine had tried 456 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: to visit her ex husband Napoleon when he was in exile, 457 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,840 Speaker 1: but never got the chance to see him one final 458 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,319 Speaker 1: time before she died, but in the same way he 459 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: had been on her mind. Napoleon's last word years later 460 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 1: was Josephine's name true love tragically kept apart. Just like Napoleon, 461 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: the Sha was in exile when he died. After the 462 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: Shah had been overthrown and exiled from Iran in nineteen 463 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 1: seventy nine, were of the Shah's quick deteriorating health spread 464 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 1: all over the world. When Soriah heard the news, she 465 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 1: reached out through secret channels to the Shah and expressed 466 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:14,399 Speaker 1: that she wished to visit him and see him one 467 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: final time. Having kept a spot in his heart for 468 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,640 Speaker 1: his second wife, The Shah agreed to a visit, although 469 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: he stipulated that it would have to be kept secret 470 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: from his third and then current wife, Fara, So the 471 00:35:29,719 --> 00:35:35,320 Speaker 1: Shas entourage coordinated with the Egyptian government, the then hosts 472 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:41,360 Speaker 1: of the sickly exiled Shah, to facilitate Soriah's inconspicuous visit 473 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: to the country. Unfortunately, though, just before she was set 474 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: to head out for Egypt, her trip was postponed. The 475 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: Shah's health had taken a dramatic turn for the worse 476 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:57,720 Speaker 1: and he was in no state to accept visitors. Alas 477 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: the postponed trip would now her come and the Shaw 478 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:06,720 Speaker 1: passed away shortly thereafter. Soriah had been denied her last 479 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 1: opportunity to say goodbye to the husband. She had been 480 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:14,359 Speaker 1: forced to give up so that he might produce an air, 481 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:27,320 Speaker 1: just as Josephine and Napoleon never truly got to say goodbye. 482 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:31,600 Speaker 1: Noble Blood is a production of iHeartRadio and Grimm and 483 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 1: Mild from Aaron Mankey. Noble Blood is hosted by me 484 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: Danish Forts, with additional writing and researching by Hannah Johnston, 485 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:46,480 Speaker 1: Hannah Zwick, Courtney Sender, Julia Milani, and Armand Cassam. The 486 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:50,720 Speaker 1: show is edited and produced by Noemy Griffin and rima 487 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 1: Ill Kaali, with supervising producer Josh Thain and executive producers 488 00:36:56,600 --> 00:37:02,280 Speaker 1: Aaron Mankey, Alex Williams and Matt Frederick. More podcasts from iHeartRadio, 489 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:07,240 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 490 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.