In our ongoing series #WomenThatDid, ENTITY profiles inspirational and famous women in history whose impact on our world can still be felt today. If you have a suggestion for a historical powerhouse you would like to see featured, tweet us with the hashtag #WomenThatDid.
Name: Pari Khan Khanum
Lifetime: August 1548 – February 12, 1578
What she’s known for: Pari Khan Khanum was a Safavid princess (present-day Iran) and an influential figure in the empire. She was the second daughter of the king and a favorite of his. She was strangled to death when she was 30 years old.
Why we love her: When Pari’s uncle died, her father adopted his orphaned sons so that he would have a male heir. One of them proposed marriage between himself and Pari and the king accepted. However, as his favorite daughter, she was not allowed to go and live with her husband.
Twice the king came closer to death, but he hadn’t chosen a successor. Pari’s name came up in the discussion and she garnered a lot of popular support. However the king recovered and lived two more years. The second adopted son declared himself king. When he found out that no one wanted to support him, he took Pari into his custody as a “precautionary measure.”
She urged him to release her, saying she would be the first to support his claim. He accepted and gave her permission to leave the palace. However she broke her oath as soon as she left the palace gates. He was captured and beheaded. Two years after the struggle ended, the new king suddenly died and Pari once again found herself at the center of Safavid politics.
The new king and his wife disapproved of her and they agreed to dispose of her. During the coronation ceremony of the king, Pari Khan Khanum was captured and strangled to death.
Fun fact: During the struggle between the two brothers, Pari became the de facto ruler of the state. She ordered the princes and top-ranking officials to attend service at the mosque, where her brother would be confirmed as king of the Safavid Empire.
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