Mahinbanu Sultan

Mahinbanu Sultan (Persian: مهین‌بانو سلطان; 1519–1562) was the little daughter of Shah Ismail I of Persia (r. 1524–1576) and Tajlu Khanum. She was the youngest sister of Shah Tahmasb. She had a big influence during the reign of her brother, and acted as his political adviser.

Mahinbanu Sultan
Born	1519
Died	1562 (aged 43)
Dynasty	Safavid dynasty
Father	Ismail I
Mother	Tajlu Khanum
Religion	Shia Islam

Biography

Mahinbanu was born in 1519 in Tabriz. She lost her father at the age of five and was given a higher education in the court. She was very interested in politics and Tajlu Khanum introduced her well to it. After her mother's death in 1540, Mahinbanu was chosen as the only advisor to her brother, Shah Tahmasb. During her brother's reign, Mahinbanu was known as the greatest lady of the Safavid Empire. She never married and dedicated his whole life to the government of her father and brother, but after the death of Bahram Mirza, she took care of his three children named Sultan Hossein Mirza, Ibrahim Mirza and Badi-al Zaman Mirza Safavi took charge and brought them up, then at his request the two younger sons of Bahram Mirza married the two older daughters of Shah Tahmasb and Mahinbanu. After that she was given the title of "Sultana". Mahinbanu Sultan finally died in 1562 at the age of 43 in Qazvin and was buried in her father's tomb in Ardabil according to her will.

Policy

Mahinbanu Sultan was in politics for 22 years from the time of her mother's death until her death. She always corresponded with Hurrem Sultan and the reason for them was the many Ottoman attacks on Azerbaijan and Prince Bayezid becoming a refugee in Qazvin, and after Hurrem's death, these correspondences continued with Hurrem's daughter Mihrima Sultan, mutual gifts were always exchanged among these correspondences, the most famous of which is the Iranian carpet that was given to Hurrem Sultan. She also corresponded with Hamida Banu Begum, the queen of the Gurkanian court.

Beliefs

Like other family members, she believed in shia beliefs and was a person of repentance, religion and practice of Sharia affairs. During her pilgrimage to Mashhad, she arranged the golden window and once again took the furniture and lamps with him and inspected all the Sadats and scholars and the atmosphere there. Also, every year, she dedicated a total amount to the fourteen innocents and placed its responsibility with the king of the time. Despite the fact that Mesopotamia had left Iran and Safavid rule, every year she sent a significant amount of money to the people of Karbala, Najaf, Jabal Amal, Sadat Medina, and the cost of furniture and fittings for the holy shrines.

She dedicated her jewelry to Imam Zaman and Imam Reza.

References

• Hani Khafipour. The Foundations of Safavid State: fealty, patronage, and ideals of authority (1501-1576). — Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago, 2013. — P. 254.