Khalifeh Soltan
Khalifeh Soltan | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Khalifeh Soltan, by Mo'en Mosavver, c. 1650, opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper | |
| Grand vizier of the Safavid Empire | |
| In office 1623/4–1632 | |
| Monarchs | Abbas I Safi |
| Preceded by | Salman Khan Ustajlu |
| Succeeded by | Mirza Talib Khan |
| Grand vizier of the Safavid Empire | |
| In office 1645–1654 | |
| Monarch | Abbas II |
| Preceded by | Saru Taqi |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Beg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1592/3 Isfahan |
| Died | 5 March 1654 Ashraf, Mazandaran |
| Spouse | Khan-Agha Begum |
| Parents |
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Sayyed Ala al-Din Hoseyn (Persian: سید علاء الدین حسین) (c.1592 – 5 March 1654), better known as Khalifeh Soltan[a] (خلیفه سلطان), and also known as Soltan al-Ulama (سلطانالعلماء آملی), was an Iranian statesman and cleric, who served as the grand vizier of the Safavid king (shah) Abbas I (r. 1588–1629), the latter's grandson Safi (r. 1629–1642), and Abbas II (r. 1642–1666).
A member of a prominent Sayyid family with origins in the royal Marashi family of Mazandaran, Khalifeh Soltan was a well-educated man of letters, who played an important role in the Iranian clergy affairs, and also later in the Safavid administration, when he was appointed as grand vizier in 1623/4.
He was, however, in 1632, disgraced and exiled by the ruthless newly-crowned shah Safi. Later, in 1645, Khalifeh Soltan was re-appointed as grand vizier by the latter's son and successor, Abbas II, whom he became a close companion of, and gained considerable influence. Khalifeh Soltan later died in 5 March 1654 in his ancestral homeland of Mazandaran due to illness, and was succeeded by Mohammad Beg.