Golbadan Baji

Golbadan Baji (Persian: گلبدن‌باجی) or Gulbadan Khanum (گلبدن خانم), also known by her title Khazen ol-Dowleh (خازن‌الدوله; fl. 19th-century) was a concubine of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar of Iran (r. 1797–1834).This woman rose from being a servant to becoming one of Fath-Ali Shah’s closest and most trusted women.^[1]

After the death of Crown Prince Abbas Mirza, the son of Fath-Ali Shah, several princes—including Ali Shah Mirza, known as Zel-e-Sultan—sought to attain this position. Zel-e-Sultan, in search of support, promised Khazen-ol-Dowleh that he would accept the crown princedom on the condition that the governorship of Tehran be granted to his brother and to Khazen-ol-Dowleh’s son, Bahman Mirza Baha-al-Dowleh.^[2]Nevertheless, Khazen ol-Dowleh was not willing to involve herself in this matter, nor to disregard the wishes of her crowned husband for the sake of her son’s future interests.^[3]Nevertheless, she was able, at times, to use her influence over the Shah. For example, Crown Prince Abbas Mirza referred in a letter to her mediation regarding the payment of an allowance to the son of one of the Qajar commanders, Mohammad Khan Iravani.Khazen ol-Dowleh, who managed the inner court and was related by family ties to Armenian captives, also acted as an intermediary so that Mirza Asadollah, son of Haji Mirza Reza Qoli Nava’i the former Munshi al-Mamalek would be selected. His elder brother, Mirza Mohammad-Taqi Nava’i, likewise benefited from Khazen ol-Dowleh’s influence through this same connection and hereditary appointment, and through her persistent efforts, he was appointed as Munshi al-Mamalek.^[4]

Of Georgian origin, she was originally a slave girl of Fath-Ali Shah's mother after whose death she rose to prominence.^[5][6]

Fath-Ali Shah's mother Mahd-e Olya Asiye Khanum Ezzeddin Qajar had been responsible for functioning as the administrator of the Qajar harem household and treasurer until her death.^[7] When she died, Fath-Ali Shah's wives were unable to choose a new head of the royal Qajar harem, and therefore requested Fath-Ali Shah to leave Golbadan Baji in charge of the household as she was reportedly familiar with the ways of her mistress.^[7] By choosing a concubine, Fath-Ali Shah's wives protected themselves from the perception of favouring one wife over another.^[7] Golbadan Baji therefore became head of the household pursestrings.^[5] According to contemporaneous sources, she fulfilled this task efficiently and with fidelity.^[5] Fath-Ali Shah was very impressed by Golbadan Baji's performance, and therefore married her as a sigheh, and gave her the honorific title (laqab) Khazen-ol-Dowleh.^[5][6]

She gave birth to two sons (Fath-Ali Shah's 37th son Bahman Mirza Baha od-Dowleh; and his 42nd son Seyfollah Mirza) and efficiently managed the harem's affairs and expenditures.^[7][6] According to contemporaneous sources, at Nowruz (the Iranian New Year), she chose gifts for the harem's residents, princes and notables including the governors of Iran's provinces.^[7] Golbadan Baji kept a detailed list of all expenditures and presents.^[7] She was well trusted by many inside and outside the harem.^[7] At the height of her influence, Golbadan Baji presided over the private treasury, the harem finances and the Shah's private funds whilst heading a host of women secretaries and accountants.^[8]

ʿOzod al-Dowleh writes about her as follows:Khazen ol-Dowleh was among the women who attained great prestige. After the death of the late Mahd-e ʿOlya, His Majesty ordered the women who belonged either to the Qajar family or to other noble households that one of them should assume Mahd-e ʿOlya’s place as the head and authority of the royal harem, and that all others should conduct their affairs with her permission. Whatever cash, goods, or stipends had previously been distributed to them through Mahd-e ʿOlya would henceforth be delivered by that single individual.After consultation, however, all the noble ladies submitted that it was impossible for one of them to become chief while the others were subordinate. They declared that if instead one of Mahd-e ʿOlya’s former maidservants were appointed in her place and given full authority over the blessed harem, then out of respect for the late lady, they would willingly obey her servant.Thus, Golbadan Baji who had been one of Mahd-e ʿOlya’s maidservants was chosen for this rank. She took control of all the cash, goods, jewels, and other valuables kept in the royal treasury chambers, and the system established during Mahd-e ʿOlya’s time remained entirely unchanged. The whole harem was under her command. All salaries, clothing, rewards, and gifts were distributed through her. She received the distinguished title of Sanduqdar (Keeper of the Treasury), and the inscription on her seal read: “Recognized throughout the realms of Iran as the Treasurer of the King of the World.”Such was the authority of this seal that if she requested vast sums from merchants or others, they would hand them over without hesitation. Her power within the royal harem was such that no one whether noble lady, elderly woman, or maidservant could enter or leave without her permission.Whenever a woman wished to enter the inner quarters, she would send, through her eunuch Aqa Almas, a large ruby ring as a token of permission to enter. At the gate of the harem, Aqa Ya‘qub the Georgian would inspect the ring and show it to the gatekeeper, whereupon entry would immediately be granted. Likewise, anyone wishing to leave would carry the Sanduqdar’s large emerald ring, which served as the permit for departure, and thus exit the harem.The number of Khazen ol-Dowleh’s staff clerks, women attendants, and maidservants attached to the treasury was so vast that describing them would require a thousand pages. Nothing in cash, goods, jewels, or other valuables could enter or leave the treasury without being recorded by Khazen ol-Dowleh and her officials.God had granted her an extraordinary memory and intelligence: whenever Fath-Ali Shah requested anything from the treasury, she would produce it immediately. If handfuls of gold coins were poured into her hand or sealed money bags given to her, she would state exactly how much they contained. At most, her estimate might differ by only two or three coins out of a hundred or two hundred.Fath-Ali Shah trusted her to such an extent that she was authorized even to bestow the entire treasury if she wished. Yet despite all this authority, it was inconceivable that she would give away the equivalent of even ten tumans in cash or goods without presenting the matter to the Shah and ensuring it was properly recorded in the ledger of Mirza Maryam.^[9]

• Amanat, Abbas (1999). "FATḤ-ʿALĪ SHAH QĀJĀR". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. IX/4: Fārs II–Fauna III. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 407–421. ISBN 978-0-933273-32-0.
• Eskandari-Qajar, Manoutchehr (2018). "Temporary and Permanent Marriages at the Court of Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar: Taking a Second Look at the "Established Facts."". Paper given at the 4th Annual Conference of the Iranian Studies Initiative at UCSB.
• Navāʾī, ʿA. (1988). "BAHMAN MĪRZĀ BAHĀʾ-AL-DAWLA". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. III/5: Bahai Faith III–Baḵtīārī tribe II. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 491–492. ISBN 978-0-71009-117-8.
• Nashat, Guity (2004). "Marriage in the Qajar Period". In Beck, Lois; Nashat, Guity (eds.). Women in Iran from 1800 to the Islamic Republic. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0252071898.