Forugh od-Dowleh
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| Tuman Agha | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Spouse | Ali Khan Zahir od-Dowleh |
| Dynasty | Qajar |
| Father | Naser al-Din Shah Qajar |
| Mother | Khazen al-Dawlah |
Tuman Agha (Persian: تومان آغا), also known as Forugh od-Dowleh (فروغالدوله) and Malakeh-ye Iran (ملکه ایران, 'Queen of Iran'), was a daughter of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and Khazen al-Dawlah. She was one of the freedom-seeking women of the Qajar era during the Constitutional Revolution. She and her husband, Ali Khan Zahir od-Dowleh, were members of the Anjoman-e Okhovat (Society of Brotherhood). Forugh od-Dowleh supported constitutionalism and openly expressed her opposition to her brother Mozaffar al-Din Shah and her nephew Mohammad Ali Shah.[1]Zahir od-Dowleh, the husband of Forugh od-Dowleh, was the head of the Anjoman-e Okhovat (Brotherhood Society). Forugh od-Dowleh attended the meetings of the society without a veil and gave speeches there.[2]
Forugh od-Dowleh married Ali Khan Zahir od-Dowleh in 1297 AH, when she was 18 years old. Her husband held the positions of Ishik Aghasi Bashi (chief of court ushers) and Minister of Ceremonies in the court of Naser al-Din Shah.[3] Tuman Agha was the full sister of Fakhr al-Dowleh. In her youth, at her father's request, she married Ali Khan Qajar Zahir od-Dowleh, who served as Minister of Ceremonies at the royal court. After her marriage, she received the title “Malekeh-ye Iran” (Queen of Iran). They had three sons and four daughters, including Valiyeh Safa (Forugh al-Molk).[4]
Regarding her character, Doust Ali Khan Mo’eyr al-Mamalek recounts that the Queen of Iran was a woman of distinction, like Fakhr al-Dowleh. Forugh od-Dowleh, taking her pen name “Safa” in honor of her husband, was a spirited, talented poet, eloquent, and witty, whose poems were several times more abundant than those of her sister, and whose words reflected purity and sincerity.[5]
Turan Agha, who was one year younger than her sister Fakhr al-Dowleh (born in 1279 AH), married Mirza Ali Khan Zahir od-Dowleh in 1297 AH, before her elder sister. Zahir od-Dowleh followed the Nematollahi Sufi order, and although Forugh od-Dowleh did not initially approve of her husband's Sufi path, it is said that later she became attached and devoted to the same path.[6] Like Fakhr al-Dowleh, Forugh od-Dowleh was placed under the guardianship of Taj al-Dawlah, one of Naser al-Din Shah's consorts, after her mother's death. Under her guidance, she was educated in knowledge, arts, literature, and other disciplines. Many of her poems and handwritten works have been preserved.
The life of the queen of Iran, despite being a daughter of Naser al-Din Shah, was not satisfactory compared to other members of the court. This may have been partly because Zahir od-Dowleh accepted governorships of various provinces to secure a better income. In this regard, Mozaffar al-Din Shah wrote a note in Shaban 1318 AH to the prime minister regarding the queen of Iran's expressed distress and ordered attention and relief for her.[7] It may have been this promise that led to Zahir od-Dowleh's governorship of Mazandaran.
Another reason for Zahir od-Dowleh's difficult situation was that his house had been mortgaged for a period to Haji Hossein Agha Amin al-Zarb. Another notable point is the granting of the Arbāb Jamshid Garden to him by Ahmad Shah. Previously, the Eshrat Abad Garden had been designated as the residence of the Queen of Iran, but Ahmad Shah later reserved it for himself. Therefore, a letter from the Prime Minister at the time, Mohammad Vali Khan Sepahsalar, dated the 9 Hut 1334 AH, was written to the Queen of Iran, stating that: “Since the august procession of Her Excellency, A’la Dām-e Saltaneh, will move from Farah Abad Palace to Eshrat Abad Garden, His Majesty has decreed that Arbāb Jamshid Garden, which is in every way more suitable for Her Highness and her noble family than Eshrat Abad, be granted to her ownership. Additionally, 5,000 Tomans are bestowed as a gift so that she may quickly prepare her furnishings and relocate there.”[8]
