Yusuf Khan (also spelled Yusof Khan) was a Safavid gholam and official of Armenian origin who was governor of Astarabad (1604), Shamakhi (1610-?), and Shirvan (1610–1624) during the reign of King Abbas I (r. 1588–1629). Originally a Christian, Yusuf was first employed in the royal mews, and because of his skill in handling and hunting birds and animals, he was soon given the rank of "master of the hunt" (mīr shekār-bāshi). Thereafter, he became governor of Shirvan and Shamakhi.

Yusuf Khan
Governor of Astarabad
In office
1604–1604
MonarchAbbas the Great
Preceded byHoseyn Khan Ziyadoghlu Qajar
Succeeded byFereydun Khan Cherkes
Master of the hunt (mīr shekār-bāshi)
In office
1609–1610
MonarchAbbas the Great
Preceded byAli Beg Ustajlu
Succeeded byFarhad Beg Cherkes
Governor of Shamakhi
In office
1610–?
MonarchAbbas the Great
Preceded byZu'l Fiqar Qaramanlu
Succeeded byAllahverdi Khan (1704)
Governor of Shirvan
In office
1610–1624
MonarchAbbas the Great
Preceded byZu'l Fiqar Qaramanlu
Succeeded byQazaq Khan Cherkes
Personal details
OccupationOfficial
Military service
Allegiance Safavid Iran

When Abbas I decided to marry his granddaughter to Semayun Khan (Simon II) in 1624, Yusuf Khan was ordered by Qarachaqay Khan, likewise of Christian Armenian origin and a childhood friend, to host the banquet in the first term of the wedding party.

Yusuf Khan was murdered on the orders of Murav Beg (Giorgi Saakadze), after the latter decided to conspire with the Georgian rebel leaders.

Sources

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  • Allsen, Thomas (2006). The Royal Hunt in Eurasian History. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0812239263.
  • Blow, David (2009). Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King Who Became an Iranian Legend. I.B.Tauris. pp. 134, 176. ISBN 978-0857716767.
  • Floor, Willem M.; Faghfoory, Mohammad H. (2007). The Dastur Al-moluk: A Safavid State Manual, by Mohammad Rafi' al-Din Ansari. Mazda Publishers. pp. 187–188. ISBN 978-1568591957.
  • Floor, Willem M. (2008). Titles and Emoluments in Safavid Iran: A Third Manual of Safavid Administration, by Mirza Naqi Nasiri. Washington, DC: Mage Publishers. pp. 152–153, 278–279, 286. ISBN 978-1933823232.
  • Floor, Willem; Herzig, Edmund (2015). Iran and the World in the Safavid Age. I.B.Tauris. p. 484. ISBN 978-1780769905.
Preceded by
Hoseyn Khan Ziyadoghlu Qajar
Governor of Astarabad
1604
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ali Beg Ustajlu
Master of the hunt (mīr shekār-bāshi)
1609-1610
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Zu'l Fiqar Qaramanlu
Governor of Shamakhi
1610-?
Succeeded by
Allahverdi Khan (1704)
Preceded by
Zu'l Fiqar Qaramanlu
Governor of Shirvan
1610-1624
Succeeded by