Parikhan

Pari Khan Khatun

پریخان ، پریخان خاتون

Parikhan Khanum was the daughter of Shah Tahmasp I. She was a very influential person at the Safavid court. Parikhan wanted to establish his brother Ismail on the throne after his father died. But his other brother Heydar Mirza proclaimed king and locked them inside the Harem. She escaped captivity and gave the keys of the court to his uncle Shamkhal and 300 of his best Circassian soldiers stormed the palace and caught Heydar Mirza and decapitated him.
Parikhan Khanum then arranged release of his brother Ismail and provided his accession to the Safavid throne. But when Shah Ismail 2 started killing his opponents and eliminated all competition, killing or blinding his brothers and nephews, he gained many enemies at top of which stayed Parikhan who was stripped from most of her powers.
As revenge, she poisoned Shah Ismail 2 who died after 15 months on the throne.
Parikhan was then seen as a powerful figure who was calculating on ruling the country behind the scenes. Soltan Mohammad’s wife noticed this and plotted for her murder.
After her death on Feb, 27, 1578, Parikhan khatun was buried in Imamzadeh Hossein by Soleyman Mirza and Shah Ismail 2.

---