Is the Little Sultana from Leroux's novel the famous Khanum
described by Susan Kay?
Surely the adjective "little" added by Leroux to this character, was in
relation with her age, so maybe she could be Shah's favourite wife,
Anis al-Dawla. We can't know it with accuracy.
Let's investigate about Kay's character, Khanum (which means
Lady), Shah's mother:
Her official name was H.M The Mahd-i-'Aliua, also spelled Mahd-e
Olia, "Sublime Cradle", and she was one of the strongest women of
the Qajar Dynasty. Wielding her power from the Harem, once her son,
Nasser-ed-Din Shah ascended the throne. With her strong sense of
being a Qajar princess, she ensured the strengthening and survival
of the Qajar nobility against the rivalries by commoners elevated to
positions of prominence as a result of policies of successive Qajar
Shahs.
She is characterized as an accomplished and cunning woman of
some political gifts, strong personality, and characterized the
undercurrent of matriarchy in the Qajar elite.
Please, don't copy this text and photos without my permission.
described by Susan Kay?
Surely the adjective "little" added by Leroux to this character, was in
relation with her age, so maybe she could be Shah's favourite wife,
Anis al-Dawla. We can't know it with accuracy.
Let's investigate about Kay's character, Khanum (which means
Lady), Shah's mother:
Her official name was H.M The Mahd-i-'Aliua, also spelled Mahd-e
Olia, "Sublime Cradle", and she was one of the strongest women of
the Qajar Dynasty. Wielding her power from the Harem, once her son,
Nasser-ed-Din Shah ascended the throne. With her strong sense of
being a Qajar princess, she ensured the strengthening and survival
of the Qajar nobility against the rivalries by commoners elevated to
positions of prominence as a result of policies of successive Qajar
Shahs.
She is characterized as an accomplished and cunning woman of
some political gifts, strong personality, and characterized the
undercurrent of matriarchy in the Qajar elite.
Please, don't copy this text and photos without my permission.
Mahde-Olia sitting on the Peacock
Throne. To the left is her son Nasser
al-din Shah Qajar and to the right the
King's sister Ezzat Doleh.
Throne. To the left is her son Nasser
al-din Shah Qajar and to the right the
King's sister Ezzat Doleh.
