# Allahverdi Khan

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Iranian general and statesman (c.1560–1613)

For other uses, see [Allahverdi Khan (disambiguation)](/source/Allahverdi_Khan_(disambiguation)).

Allahverdi Khan Allahverdi Khan. From a Jarunnameh of Qadri. Isfahan style, dated 1697 Governor of Fars In office 1595–6 – 1613 Monarch Abbas I Preceded by Farhad Khan Qaramanlu Succeeded by Emamqoli Khan Personal details Born c. 1560 Died 3 June 1613 Relatives Daud Khan Undiladze (son) Emamqoli Khan (son) Safiqoli Khan Undiladze (grandson) Jafarqoli Khan (great-grandson) Clan Undiladze Military service Allegiance Safavid Iran Years of service 1570s(?)–1613 Battles/wars Safavid conquest of Bahrain Ottoman–Safavid War (1603–1618)

**Allahverdi Khan** ([Persian](/source/Persian_language): الله‌وردی خان, [Georgian](/source/Georgian_language): ალავერდი-ხანი; c. 1560 – 3 June 1613) was a Safavid general and statesman of [Georgian](/source/Georgians_in_Iran) origin who, initially a *[gholam](/source/Gholaman-e_khasseh-ye_sharifeh)* ("military slave"), rose to high office in the [Safavid state](/source/Safavid_Iran).

[Iskandar Beg Munshi](/source/Iskandar_Beg_Munshi), the Safavid court historian at the time, describes him as "one of the most powerful statesman to hold office under this dynasty", and a "man of great forbearance, modest and chaste".[1] [Shah](/source/Shah) [Abbas I](/source/Abbas_the_Great) demonstrated his genuine respect and affection for him by personally supervising the funeral arrangements, and by going to his house the day after his death to offer his personal condolences to his family.[1]

## Biography

### Background

Allahverdi was born a [Christian](/source/Christians) [Georgian](/source/Georgians), surnamed [Undiladze](/source/Undiladze). Like many of his compatriots and fellow Christian [Georgians](/source/Georgians), [Armenians](/source/Armenians) and [Circassians](/source/Circassians), he was taken prisoner in the course of one of the [Caucasian](/source/Caucasus) campaigns of [shah](/source/Shah) [Tahmasp I](/source/Tahmasp_I) of Persia and converted to [Islam](/source/Islam) to be trained for service in the *[gholam](/source/Military_of_the_Safavid_dynasty#Gholam)* army, a special military structure consisting of Christian captives that was created later by [Abbas I](/source/Abbas_I_of_Persia) to counterpoise the power of the [Qizilbash](/source/Qizilbash), which constituted the nucleus of the Safavid military aristocracy.[2]

### Service under Shah Abbas I

In 1589, he took part in the assassination of the powerful minister (*vakil*) and kingmaker Morshed-Kholi Khan Ostaglu, who was secretly condemned to death by Shah Abbas I. As a result, he was made [sultan](/source/Sultan) and a governor of [Jorpadagan](/source/Golpayegan) near [Isfahan](/source/Isfahan), the Safavid capital. He then rapidly rose to higher offices and was appointed commander of the *gholam* army (*[qollar-aghasi](/source/Qollar-aghasi)*), thus becoming one of the five principal officers in the Safavid administration by 1595/6. In the same year, Shah Abbas I appointed him the governor of [Fars](/source/Safavid_Fars), a move that made him the first *gholam* to attain equal status with the Qizilbash [emirs](/source/Emir). This act also meant that the large provinces would no longer be administered by semi-autonomous and frequently self-minded Qizilbash emirs, but by officers appointed directly by the Shah.

Allahverdi Khan (seated center right) with his son [Emamqoli Khan](/source/Emamqoli_Khan) (seated center left). From a *Jarunnameh* of Qadri. [Isfahan](/source/Isfahan) style, dated 1697

In 1596/7, he was transferred to the governorship of [Kohgiluyeh](/source/Kohgiluyeh_and_Boyer-Ahmad_province). In 1597, two clans of the [Afshar tribe](/source/Afshar_tribe), the Arsahlu and Gundzulu, together with some [Lur](/source/Lurs) and [Arab](/source/Arabs) tribes, rebelled at [Ramhormoz](/source/Ramhormoz). However, it was shortly suppressed by Allahverdi Khan.[3]

In August 1598, Allahverdi Khan, as a *[sardar](/source/Sardar)-e-lashkar* (commander-in-chief), was instrumental in recovering [Herat](/source/Herat) from the [Uzbek](/source/Uzbeks) tribes and shortly after this victory was ordered by the shah to put a powerful Qizilbash emir [Farhad Khan Qaramanlu](/source/Farhad_Khan_Qaramanlu) to death. This act turned Allahverdi Khan into the most powerful man in the Safavid Empire after the shah. From 1600 onwards, counseled by the English gentleman of fortune, Sir [Robert Sherley](/source/Robert_Sherley), he reorganized the army and strengthened it by increasing the number of *gholam* troops from 4,000 to 25,000.[1]

Allahverdi Khan led the Persian armies in a number of successful campaigns on both the eastern and the western frontiers of the Safavid empire, including the 1601–2 conquest of [Bahrain](/source/Bahrain). In 1605, during the [Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603–1618](/source/Ottoman%E2%80%93Safavid_War_(1603%E2%80%9318)), Allahverdi Khan besieged the [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) city of [Van](/source/Van%2C_Turkey). During the siege, he was informed of Ottoman reinforcements under Mehmed Pasha marching towards the city. He then sent an army under [Qarachaqay Khan](/source/Qarachaqay_Khan) to stop the reinforcements from arriving, which he successfully accomplished.[4] However, Allahverdi Khan later lifted the siege, and returned to Abbas I, who was in [Khoy](/source/Khoy).[4] On 6 November, Allahverdi Khan took part in the [battle of Sufiyan](/source/Battle_of_Sufiyan), where the Safavids decisively defeated the Ottomans.[5]

### Death and burial

Allahverdi Khan died on 3 June 1613, during a visit at [Isfahan](/source/Isfahan). His death greatly saddened Abbas I, who accompanied his [bier](/source/Bier) to a place where the corpses of the deceased were ritually washed and prepared for the burial.[6] Abbas I also visited the house of Allahverdi Khan's family in Isfahan, where he offered his condolences. He thereafter appointed Allahverdi Khan's son [Emamqoli Khan](/source/Emamqoli_Khan) as the governor of Fars, thus succeeding his deceased father. Allahverdi Khan was buried in an exquisite tomb at Mashhad. His tomb was built next to the [Imam Reza shrine](/source/Imam_Reza_shrine) as a unique way of respect,[6] which reflects his standing and status in the Safavid empire. The tomb still stands to this day; it is an elegant two-storied octagonal structure with marble slabs and tiles sheathing the interior.[7]

Allahverdi also had another son named [Daud Khan](/source/Daud_Khan_Undiladze), who would later serve as the governor of [Ganja](/source/Ganja%2C_Azerbaijan) and [Karabakh](/source/Karabakh).

## Legacy

[Si-o-se-pol](/source/Si-o-se-pol), also known as the "Allahverdi Khan Bridge"

[Madrasa Khan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Khan_Madrasa_(Shiraz)), in [Shiraz](/source/Shiraz)

Allahverdi Khan presided over construction of several public buildings and charitable foundations. The [Si-o-se-pol](/source/Si-o-se-pol) bridge across the [Zayandeh River](/source/Zayandeh_River) built by the architect Mir Jamal al-Din Muhammad Jabiri in Isfahan under Allahverdi Khan's patronage still bears the general's name. Allahverdi Khan is furthermore credited with several other building works, such as a large double dam near Sarab; a fortification around a village in Fars; a large *qaysariyya*, or royal market, in [Lar](/source/Lar%2C_Iran), which impressed the Spanish envoy [García de Silva Figueroa](/source/Garc%C3%ADa_de_Silva_Figueroa); and a stately house near [Nahavand](/source/Nahavand) for Abbas I. Allahverdi Khan also initiated the construction of a large [theological college](/source/Madrasa), [Madrasa Khan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Khan_Madrasa_(Shiraz)), in [Shiraz](/source/Shiraz) as a teaching base for the Islamic scholar [Mulla Sadra](/source/Mulla_Sadra). The project would be completed by his son Emamqoli Khan.[7]

## See also

- [Iranian Georgians](/source/Iranian_Georgians)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESavory1985891–892_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESavory1985891–892_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESavory1985891–892_1-2) [Savory 1985](#CITEREFSavory1985), pp. 891–892.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Shah ʹAbbas & the arts of Isfahan, by Anthony Welch, pg. 17

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPotts2014233_3-0)** [Potts 2014](#CITEREFPotts2014), p. 233.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFloorHerzig201595_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFloorHerzig201595_4-1) [Floor & Herzig 2015](#CITEREFFloorHerzig2015), p. 95.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFloorHerzig201598–100_5-0)** [Floor & Herzig 2015](#CITEREFFloorHerzig2015), pp. 98–100.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBlow2009102_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBlow2009102_6-1) [Blow 2009](#CITEREFBlow2009), p. 102.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBabaie200492–94_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBabaie200492–94_7-1) [Babaie 2004](#CITEREFBabaie2004), pp. 92–94.

## Sources

- Babaie, Sussan (2004). [*Slaves of the Shah: New Elites of Safavid Iran*](https://books.google.com/books?id=2BMVnw9JQh8C). I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–218. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781860647215](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781860647215).

- Blow, David (2009). [*Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King Who became an Iranian Legend*](https://books.google.com/books?id=K_kBAwAAQBAJ). London, UK: I. B. Tauris & Co. Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84511-989-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84511-989-8). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [2009464064](https://lccn.loc.gov/2009464064).

- Floor, Willem; [Herzig, Edmund](/source/Edmund_Herzig), eds. (2015). *Iran and the World in the Safavid Age*. I.B.Tauris. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1780769905](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1780769905).

- Matthee, Rudi (1999). "FARHĀD KHAN QARAMĀNLŪ, ROKN-AL-SALṬANA". [*Encyclopaedia Iranica*](http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/farhad-khan-qaramanlu-rokn-al-saltana).

- Matthee, Rudi (2011). [*Persia in Crisis: Safavid Decline and the Fall of Isfahan*](https://books.google.com/books?id=fFaw4od7nfUC). I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–371. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0857731814](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0857731814).

- Mikaberidze, Alexander (ed., 2007). [Allahverdi Khan](https://web.archive.org/web/20090215065027/http://georgianbiography.com/bios/a/allahverdikhan.htm). *Dictionary of Georgian National Biography*.

- Newman, Andrew J. (2008). [*Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire*](https://books.google.com/books?id=KPgBAwAAQBAJ&q=false). I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–281. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780857716613](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780857716613).

- Potts, Daniel T. (2014). [*Nomadism in Iran: From Antiquity to the Modern Era*](https://books.google.com/books?id=I-xtAAAAMAAJ). London and New York: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780199330799](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780199330799).

- Roemer, H.R. (1986). "The Safavid period". [*The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 5: The Timurid and Safavid periods*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LZ0-2BIR8BQC&q=The+Cambridge+History+of+Iran+safavid). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 189–351. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780521200943](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780521200943).

- Savory, R. M. (1985). "ALLĀHVERDĪ KHAN (1)". [*Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. I, Fasc. 8*](http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/allahverdi-khan-d-1). pp. 891–892.

- [Savory, Roger](/source/Roger_Savory) (2007). [*Iran under the Safavids*](https://books.google.com/books?id=v4Yr4foWFFgC&q=false). Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–288. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0521042512](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0521042512).

Preceded by Farhad Khan Qaramanlu Governor of Fars 1595/6 – 1613 Succeeded by Emamqoli Khan

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