Bibi Maryam Bakhtiari (1874–1937) (Luri: بی مَریَمِ بَختیاری Bi Maryam Baxtiâri, Persian: بی بی مریم بختیاری) was the daughter of Hossein Gholi Khan Bakhtiari, the sister of Ali-Qoli Khan Bakhtiari and an Iranian Lor Bakhtiari revolutionary and activist of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. As a military commander, she played a distinguished role when Bakhtiari forces, with help of modern arms from German Empire, successfully captured Tehran in 1909 as part of the revolutionary campaign to force the central government to establish democratic reforms.[1][2]
Bibi Maryam Bakhtiari | |
|---|---|
بی بی مریم بختیاری | |
 | |
| Born | 1874 |
| Died | 1937 (aged 62–63) |
| Nationality | Iranian Lur |
| Known for | Female Iranian Constitutional Revolutionary |
Life
editBibi Maryam was one of the foremost women's rights activists and pioneers of freedom movements in the constitutional movement in Iran. Because of her lifestyle, Bibi Maryam was skilled in shooting techniques and craftsmanship.
Role in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution
editBibi Maryam was one of the main proponents of Sardar Asad Bakhtiari, to conquer Tehran. Through several letters and telegraphs, as well as lectures, she prepared tribal forces to fight against the Minor tyranny (Mohammad Ali Shah tyranny). Before the liberation of Tehran by the Constitutionalist forces in 1909, she moved to Tehran accompanied with some Bakhtiary skilled warriors and stayed in her father's house for guerrilla planning. When Sardar Asa'd's forces reached Tehran, she and her husband's warriors joined the constitutionalist forces against the Mohammad Ali Shah's troops. She personally took the gun and fought against the cossacks alongside the Luri warriors.[3] Due to her bravery in the fight and the technical skills in disarming the ruling troops, her popularity increased so that she was given the honorary rank of sardar (high commander), and then she became famous as Sardar Bibi Maryam Bakhtiari.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Oehler, J. 'Bibi Maryam: A Bakhtiari tribal woman', in Edmond, B and N. Yaghoubian (ed) Struggle and Survival in the Modern Middle East. University of California Press, 2006. ISBN 9780520246614, 426 Pages (Pages 103-115), available online at: [1]
- ^ Aujan, Abolfath, 1966. 'The history of Bakhtiaries'. Tamti Publication, Tehran, 272 pages.
- ^ Aujan, Abolfath, 1966. 'The history of Bakhtiaries'. Tamti Publication, Tehran, 272 pages.
- ^ Sahimi, M. (2010). Iranian Women and the Struggle for Democracy I (Los Angeles: PBS). available online at:[2]
Further reading
edit- Sadeghian, Saghar (2019). "Expressing Selves: A Comparative Study of the Memoirs of Tāj al-Salṭana and Bībī Maryam Bakhtiyārī". International Journal of Persian Literature. 4 (1): 37–67. doi:10.5325/intejperslite.4.0037.