Cheragh Khan Zahedi (), also known as Pirzadeh (

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

: ), was an

Iranian Iranian () may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Iran ** Iranian diaspora, Iranians living outside Iran ** Iranian architecture, architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia ** Iranian cuisine, cooking traditions and practic ...

officer in

Safavid Iran The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...

, who served as the head of the royal bodyguard (''

qurchi-bashi The Military of the Safavid dynasty#Qurchi-bashi, Qurchi-bashi (), also spelled Qorchi-bashi (), was the head of the ''Qurchi (royal bodyguard), qurchis'', the royal bodyguard of the Safavid dynasty, Safavid shah. There were also ''qurch-bashis'' ...

'') from 1631 until his death in 1632.

Biography

Cheragh Khan was the son of a certain Shaikh Sharif and a descendant of

Zahed Gilani Taj Al-Din Ebrahim ibn Rushan Amir Al-Kurdi Al-Sanjani (or Sinjani; Persian:تاج الدين ابراهيم كردی سنجانی)‎ (1218 – 1301), titled Sheikh Zahed (or Zahid) Gilani (Persian: شیخ زاهد گیلانی), was an Irani ...

, the prominent Iranian grandmaster (''

murshid ''Murshid'' () is Arabic for "guide" or "teacher", derived from the root ''r-sh-d'', with the basic meaning of having integrity, being sensible, mature. Particularly in Sufism it refers to a Spiritual director, spiritual guide. The term is freque ...

''), and the teacher of

Safi-ad-din Ardabili Safi-ad-Din Ardabili ( ''Ṣāfī ad-Dīn Isḥāq Ardabīlī''; 1252/3 – 1334) was a poet, Mysticism, mystic, teacher and Sufism, Sufi master. He was the son-in-law and spiritual heir of the Sufi master Zahed Gilani, whose order—the Zahediye ...

, who was the eponymous ancestor of the Safavid dynasty. Cheragh Khan was a supporter of the family of the ''qurchi-bashi''

Isa Khan Safavi Isa Khan Safavi (), also known as Isa Khan Shaykhavand () was a Safavid prince, who occupied high offices under king (shah) Abbas I (r. 1588–1629). Biography Isa Khan was the grandson of the Safavid ''vizier'' Masum Beg Safavi, and was marri ...

, which was a cousin family to the ruling Safavid dynasty. However, in 1632/1633, he accused the sons of Isa Khan Safavi planning to stage a coup against Safi and then usurp the throne. Safi then had them executed, including Isa Khan Safavi himself. Cheragh Khan was then given the ''qurchi-bashi'' post as a reward. However, Cheragh Khan was one year later accused of hiding his empathy for the family of Isa Khan Safavi, and was executed in July 1632. He was succeeded by Amir Khan Zulqadr.

References

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cheragh Khan Zahedi Safavid generals Safavid military officers 17th-century Iranian military personnel Year of birth unknown 1632 deaths People executed by Safavid Iran Qurchi-bashi 17th-century people from Safavid Iran