Gharib Shah

Sultan Kalanjar (Persian: شیشه سلطانکلان), better known as Gharib Shah (غریب شاه), was a Iranian aristocrat who rebelled against Safavid rule in 1629/30, but was defeated and later executed.

Biography

A native of Gilan, Gharib Shah was a descendant of the Kia'i dynasty, and his original name was Sultan Kalanjar, but when he in 1629/30 rebelled against Safavid rule in his home-province, he took the name of Adil Shah, while he was called Gharib Shah by his enemies.[1] Before Gharib Shah rebelled, he had received the blessing of a certain Pir Shams-i Gulgiluva'i.[2] During his rebellion, he was joined by various descendants of dynasties of Mazandaran and Gilan.[2] After having declared himself as the ruler of Gilan, he occupied the provinces two major cities, Lahijan and Rasht.[1] However, Gharib Shah was eventually defeated by a group of Safavid governors,[1] which included Saru Taqi,[3] the governor of Gilan and Mazandaran.

Gharib Shah, along with 2,000 of his supporters, were then executed at Isfahan.[3] However, a supporter of Gharib Shah who claimed that he was his brother, rebelled in Mazandaran.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Matthee 1999, p. 122.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Babae 2004, p. 153.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Newman 2008, p. 75.

Sources