Mirza Mohammad Monshi
Mirza Hedayatollah | |
|---|---|
| Grand vizier of Safavid Iran | |
| In office 1586–1588 | |
| Monarch | Mohammad Khodabanda |
| Preceded by | Mirza Hedayatollah |
| Succeeded by | Mirza Shah Vali |
| In office 1588 – 29 January 1589 | |
| Monarch | Abbas I |
| Preceded by | Mirza Lotfi |
| Succeeded by | Mirza Lotfollah Shirazi |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 29 January 1589 |
| Relations | Khvajeh Mirak Monshi (grandfather) |
Family | Kujuji family (maternal side) |
Mirza Mohammad Monshi (Persian: میرزا محمد منشی), or Kermani, was a bureaucrat in Safavid Iran, who held high-ranking positions under Ismail II (r. 1576–1577), Mohammad Khodabanda (r. 1578–1587) and Abbas I (r. 1587–1629).
Biography
Mirza Mohammad Monshi's mother was from the Kujuji family of Tabriz.[1] His father was Ali Beg Sorkh,[2] and he was the grandson of Khvajeh Mirak Monshi, a bureaucrat and calligrapher during the reign of Tahmasp I (r. 1524–1576).[3] It was under the latter that Mirza Mohammad Monshi started his career as a scribe in the chancellery. During the reign of Ismail II (r. 1576–1577),[2] Mirza Mohammad Monshi served as the majles-nevis (official record keeper) from 1576 to 1577.[4] In 1583, he was promoted to mostowfi ol-mamalek (comptroller general).[2]
In 1586, after the death of the crown prince Hamza Mirza, Mohammad Khodabanda (r. 1578–1587) appointed Mirza Mohammad Monshi as the grand vizier,[5] thus succeeding Mirza Hedayatollah.[6] Mirza Mohammad Monshi and Ali Qoli Khan Ustajlu were the main political allies of Mohammad Khodabanda.[5]
Mirza Mohammad Monshi was arrested in 1588 during the transition of power involving Morshed Qoli Khan and Abbas I (r. 1587–1629). He managed to survive the extensive political purge that occurred shortly thereafter, instead being demoted as the vizier of Mohammad Khodabanda's son Abu Talib Mirza.[2] Meanwhile, Morshed Qoli Khan had his own vizier Mirza Shah Vali installed as grand vizier.[7]
Mirza Mohammad Monshi was one of the key figures in the coup against Morshed Qoli Khan,[7] which he secretively coordinated with Shah Abbas I, who in return promised him to reappoint him as grand vizier.[1] After Morshed Qoli Khan was killed, Shah Abbas I reappointed Mirza Mohammad Monshi as grand vizier[1] in 1588.[2]
Mirza Mohammad Monshi's inability to limit his political goals resulted in his downfall.[2] On 29 January 1589,[8] he was executed for being "overbearing and seditious."[2] He was succeeded by Mirza Lotfollah Shirazi.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 Monshi 1629, p. 1319.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mitchell 2009, p. 165.
- ↑ Mitchell 2009, p. 152.
- ↑ Floor 2001, p. 56.
- 1 2 Mitchell 2009, p. 163.
- ↑ Floor 2001, p. 37.
- 1 2 Mitchell 2009, p. 177.
- 1 2 Mitchell 2009, p. 178.
Sources
- Floor, Willem (2001). Safavid Government Institutions. Mazda Publishers. ISBN 978-1568591353.
- Mitchell, Colin P. (2009). The Practice of Politics in Safavid Iran: Power, Religion and Rhetoric. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-0857715883.
- Monshi, Eskandar Beg (1629). History of Shah 'Abbas the Great (Tārīkh-e 'Ālamārā-ye 'Abbāsī) / Roger M. Savory, translator.