Latest / The Safavid Empire: Persia's Return to Greatness — Fexingo History
The Shah's Shadow Court: Eunuchs in Safavid Persia
In Safavid Persia, eunuchs were far more than palace servants — they were kingmakers, diplomats, and power brokers who shaped the empire from behind the scenes. This episode explores the rise of the eunuch institution under Shah Abbas I, who deliberately elevated them as a counterweight to the Qizilbash warlords. We examine how eunuchs like Khajeh Saru Taqi and Mirza Mohammad controlled court access, managed the harem, and even dictated succession. Drawing on accounts by European travelers like Jean Chardin and Engelbert Kaempfer, we reveal the brutal recruitment, the legal debates over their…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.