Manouchehr Khan Gorji

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File:Manuchehr Khan Gorji.jpg
Portrait of Manouchehr Khan Gorji in Brooklyn Museum

Manuchehr Khan Gorji Mo'tamad al-Dawle (died 1847) was a government official in Qajar Iran. He was of Georgian origin; hence, Gorji (i.e., "Georgian") in his surname. He was known as a sympathizer of Báb, the founder of Bábism religious movement.

Manuchehr was Christian by birth. His original Georgian surname was Enakolopashvili (Georgian: ენაკოლოფაშვილი).[1] He was captured by the Iranian troops as a young child, converted to Islam, and castrated. Given an employment in the shah's harem, he rose to higher court and government positions by virtue of his military and administrative skills. He was heavy-handed in dealing with tribal and urban revolts and used his good contacts with the court to further his influence. By the mid-1840s, Manuchehr had been in charge of government of the royal city of Isfahan. When Báb arrived in Isfahan in 1846, Manuchehr gave him protection and, allegedly, offered military services to conquer Iran and spread his teachings into the country and even beyond it. Báb reportedly declined the offer, but accepted the governor's protection. Manuchehr Khan died shortly thereafter and Báb, left without an influential patron, fell in disfavor with the shah. Manuchehr Khan was buried at the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom.[2][3]

References

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