Pari Khan Khanum

Pari Khan Khanum پریخان خانم
Painting of a seated princess, most likely Pari Khan Khanum[1]
Born	August 1548 Ahar, Iran
Died	12 February 1578 (aged 29) Qazvin, Iran
Spouse	Badi-al Zaman Mirza Safavi
Dynasty	Safavid
Father	Tahmasp I
Mother	Sultan-Agha Khanum
Religion	Shia Islam

Pari Khan Khanum (Persian: پریخان خانم, also spelled Parikhan Khanum; 1548–12 February 1578, aged 29) was a Safavid princess, the daughter of the Safavid king (shah) Tahmasp I (r.  1524 – 1576) and his Kumyk consort, Sultan-Agha Khanum. An influential figure in the Safavid state, Pari Khan Khanum was well educated and knowledgeable in traditional Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence, and was an accomplished poet.

She played a crucial role in securing the succession of her brother Ismail II (r. 1576–1577) to the Safavid throne. During Ismail's brief reign, her influence lessened, but then increased during the reign of Ismail's successor, Mohammad Khodabanda (r. 1578–1587), even becoming the de facto ruler of the Safavid state for a short period. She was strangled to death on 12 February 1578 at Qazvin because her influence and power were perceived as dangerous by the Qizilbash.