'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎409] (464/714)

THE Sir AH RO Y AL FAMILY—MINISTERS 409
Sultan eh (Glory of the Empire), is the mother of the Heir Apparent
and consequently the first lady of the harem. In Oriental and
Mussulman countries it is absurd to speak of any individual wife
as queen. The third akdi, and the favourite wife of the Shah is
known as the Anis-ed-Dowleh (Companion of the King). She was
originally a sigheh, being a miller's daughter, of the Shimran
district who lifted her veil to the Shah while out riding, and so
fascinated the monarch that she was removed next day to the
royal harem. She has had no children, but her influence over
^ jT 1 ha f P rocured her elevation to the rank of a lawful wife
and of first favourite, and has secured lucrative positions at court
or a her relations. ^ European ladies have on several occasions
een courteous y received by her, and a description of one of these
visits is contained in the pages of Madame Carla Serena She
was the wife who was chosen to accompany the Shah on his first
European journey, but who was sent back in high dudgeon from
Moscow. In earlier life the Shah made another girl of hnmble
origm an ahh,she having given birth to a son whom he named
v ali-Ahd. But mother and child both died.
Among the dc/heU, all of whom bear high-sounding titles
o very sumlar import, I need only mention the Iffat-ed-Dowleh
(Chastity of the Kingdom), who is the mother of the Zil-es-Snltan
eldest surviving son, but not the heir, of the Shah. I owe an
apology to His Royal Highness for having described his mother in
a letter to the ' Times,' which the prince saw, and at which he was
very furious, as ' a poor village girl—a carpenter's daughter, who
accidentally attracted the notice and won the affections of the
^ 0t tlus parentage 1 had been informed on high authority
and It was, moreover, confirmed by Dr. Wills, who lived fourteen
years in Persia, and was on intimate terms with the Zil-es-Sultan
and who, in his books, described the prince's mother, no doubt
confusing her with the Anis-ed-Dowleh, as 'a poor Kurdish
girl the daughter of a miller, who caught the Shah's eye while
washing clothes at the brookside.' 1 1 hasten to make" the re
paration that is due—even at this distance of time—by informing
ughsh readers that the mother of the prince was the daughter,
neither of a carpenter nor a miller, but of Musi Keza Beg, who
was ffholam i.e. mounted attendant or outrider, of Bahman Mirza,
of Abbas Mirza, and uncle of the Shah. Next among the
1 Vide Zand cf the Lion and the Svn, p. 18; and p. 65.