Rostom was a natural son of Levan, the regent of Kartli, by an unknown concubine. He was a half-brother of three monarchs of Kartli—Kaikhosro, Vakhtang VI, and Jesse—and the catholicos patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Domentius IV. Rostom's career, like those of many of his relatives, was shaped by the political hegemony of Safavid Iran over Kartli. He spent many years far from his homeland as a member of the Safavid élite to which he was also related by kinship: he was married to a daughter of Fath 'Ali Khan Daghestani, who served as grand vizier (chief minister) of Iran from 1716 to 1720.[1]
Safavid generaledit
Rostom's appointments in the Safavid service included being darugha (prefect) of the capital city of Isfahan in 1709, khan (governor) of Kerman in 1717, and qullar-aqasi (commander) of the shah's élite ghulam regiments in 1717. In this latter capacity he served through the Afghan revolts, which had taken lives of Rostom's uncle, George XI (Gurgin Khan), his half-brother, Kaikhosro, and a cousin, Alexander.
Rostom played a prominent role in the battle with the Afghan rebels led by Mahmud Hotaki at Gulnabad, close to Isfahan, on 8 March 1722. The grand vizier, Muhammad-Quli-Khan Shamlu, urged patience and avoidance of a pitched battle before putting the capital's defences in a state of proper readiness. Rostom, being in command of the Safavid right wing, went ahead with an attack and successfully charged the Afghan left wing. In the meantime, the Arab cavalry of the Safavid army, tempted into looting the Afghan baggage train, detached from the fighting and the grand vizier also failed to advance with his main troops. Mahmud had his forces regrouped and surrounded Rostom's men, who fought with desperate courage until completely annihilated. On his retreat, Rostom fell off when his horse stumbled in the mud. An Afghan soldier hit him with a flail and others repeatedly speared him with their lances, killing him.[2][3][4][5]
The battle occasioned the downfall of the Safavid dynasty. In vain did the beleaguered shah Sultan Husayn urge Vakhtang VI of Kartli to come to his aid. After a six-month siege, Isfahan fell to Mahmud's army and the Afghan chieftain took over the shah's throne.[2]
^ abLang, David Marshall (1952). "Georgia and the Fall of the Ṣafavī Dynasty". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 14 (3): 537–538. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00088492. S2CID 128468654.
^Mikaberidze, Alexander (2011). "Gulnabad, battle of". In Mikaberidze, Alexander (ed.). Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia. Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 351–352. ISBN978-1598843378.
^Lang, David Marshall (1957). The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy, 1658-1832. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 113.
^Axworthy, Michael (2006). The Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant. London: I.B.Tauris. pp. 45, 47–48. ISBN1850437068.
Sourcesedit
Floor, Willem (2001). Safavid Government Institutions. Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers. ISBN978-1568591353.
prince, rostom, kartli, 17th, century, vali, king, kartli, rostom, kartli, georgian, iranian, soldier, first, half, 17th, century, rostam, khan, sepahsalar, under, safi, georgian, iranian, soldier, second, half, 17th, century, rostam, khan, sepahsalar, under, . For the 17th century vali king of Kartli see Rostom of Kartli For the Georgian Iranian soldier in the first half of the 17th century see Rostam Khan sepahsalar under Safi For the Georgian Iranian soldier in the second half of the 17th century see Rostam Khan sepahsalar under Suleiman I Rostom Georgian როსტომი or Rustam Khan Persian خان جودکي died 8 March 1722 was a Georgian prince member of the Bagratid House of Mukhrani of Kartli and a general in the service of the Safavid dynasty of Iran He was killed by the Afghan rebels at the climactic battle of Gulnabad Contents 1 Family background 2 Safavid general 3 See also 4 References 5 SourcesFamily background editRostom was a natural son of Levan the regent of Kartli by an unknown concubine He was a half brother of three monarchs of Kartli Kaikhosro Vakhtang VI and Jesse and the catholicos patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church Domentius IV Rostom s career like those of many of his relatives was shaped by the political hegemony of Safavid Iran over Kartli He spent many years far from his homeland as a member of the Safavid elite to which he was also related by kinship he was married to a daughter of Fath Ali Khan Daghestani who served as grand vizier chief minister of Iran from 1716 to 1720 1 Safavid general editRostom s appointments in the Safavid service included being darugha prefect of the capital city of Isfahan in 1709 khan governor of Kerman in 1717 and qullar aqasi commander of the shah s elite ghulam regiments in 1717 In this latter capacity he served through the Afghan revolts which had taken lives of Rostom s uncle George XI Gurgin Khan his half brother Kaikhosro and a cousin Alexander Rostom played a prominent role in the battle with the Afghan rebels led by Mahmud Hotaki at Gulnabad close to Isfahan on 8 March 1722 The grand vizier Muhammad Quli Khan Shamlu urged patience and avoidance of a pitched battle before putting the capital s defences in a state of proper readiness Rostom being in command of the Safavid right wing went ahead with an attack and successfully charged the Afghan left wing In the meantime the Arab cavalry of the Safavid army tempted into looting the Afghan baggage train detached from the fighting and the grand vizier also failed to advance with his main troops Mahmud had his forces regrouped and surrounded Rostom s men who fought with desperate courage until completely annihilated On his retreat Rostom fell off when his horse stumbled in the mud An Afghan soldier hit him with a flail and others repeatedly speared him with their lances killing him 2 3 4 5 The battle occasioned the downfall of the Safavid dynasty In vain did the beleaguered shah Sultan Husayn urge Vakhtang VI of Kartli to come to his aid After a six month siege Isfahan fell to Mahmud s army and the Afghan chieftain took over the shah s throne 2 See also editList of Safavid governors of KermanReferences edit Savory Roger M 1993 Daḡestani Fatḥ ʿAli Khan Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol 6 Retrieved 2013 02 10 a b Lang David Marshall 1952 Georgia and the Fall of the Ṣafavi Dynasty Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 14 3 537 538 doi 10 1017 s0041977x00088492 S2CID 128468654 Mikaberidze Alexander 2011 Gulnabad battle of In Mikaberidze Alexander ed Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World A Historical Encyclopedia Volume 1 Santa Barbara California ABC CLIO pp 351 352 ISBN 978 1598843378 Lang David Marshall 1957 The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy 1658 1832 New York Columbia University Press p 113 Axworthy Michael 2006 The Sword of Persia Nader Shah from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant London I B Tauris pp 45 47 48 ISBN 1850437068 Sources editFloor Willem 2001 Safavid Government Institutions Costa Mesa California Mazda Publishers ISBN 978 1568591353 Preceded bySafiqoli Khan Commander of the gholam corps qollar aghasi 1717 1722 Succeeded byAhmad Agha Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prince Rostom of Kartli amp oldid 1189726499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
