Mirmon Ayesha
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Mirmon Ayesha (also 'Aisha Begum)[1] (fl. 1879), was an Afghan royal consort, married to Sher Ali Khan (r. 1863–1879).
Originally from the district of Lal Pur in Afghanistan, she was a member of the Momand tribe. Her father, Muhammad Shah Khan Babakr Khel of Laghman, was the father-in-law of Wazir Akbar Khan.[1]
She was one of the many wives of the king. It was the custom of the monarch to have four official wives and a large number of unofficial wives as well as slave concubines in the harem of the royal Palace complex in Kabul. Ayesha, however, was known to be Sher Ali Khan's favorite wife,[1] and it was said that he loved her 'more than matrimony'. Sher Ali had provided her with 500 Kabuli rupees a month as allowance.[2]: 23
Ayesha was known for her great influence over her spouse, and has been referred to as the perhaps most politically influential royal wife in Afghanistan royal history prior to Soraya Tarzi. It was known that she had influence not only over the affairs of the royal harem and court but over the appointments of political offices as well, and it was said that after the selection or nomination of a successor, Afghanistan's first cabinet was formed in her presence inside the harem.[3]
After the death of her husband, as well as the death of her crown prince son a year earlier, Abdullah, Ayesha is believed to have led a plot to overthrow the new ruler, Amir Yaqub Khan.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lee, Jonathan L. (2022-03-08). Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present. Reaktion Books. ISBN 978-1-78914-019-4.
- ↑ Kākaŕ, Muḥammad Ḥasan, ed. (2010). A political and diplomatic history of Afghanistan, 1863-1901. Brill's Inner Asian library 1566-7162. Leiden Boston: Brill. ISBN 978-90-474-0983-0.
- ↑ Ismati, Masoma. ( 1987), The position and role of Afghan women ·in Afghan society, from the late 18th to the 19th century; Kabul
- M. Saed: Women in Afghanistan history
- Ismati, Masoma. ( 1987), The position and role of Afghan women ·in Afghan society, from the late 18th to the 19th century; Kabul
