Asiye Khanum Ezzeddin Qajar

Asiye Khanum Ezzeddin Qajar (Persian: آسیه خانم عزالدین قاجار; died 1802/03) was the mother of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797–1834). She functioned as the administrator of the Qajar harem and the treasurer of her son, the Shah. When she died, her son married her trusted slave servant Khazen ol-Dowleh, who succeeded Asiye Khanum as harem administrator and treasurer. Asiyeh Khanum was one of the prominent and influential women of the Qajar era. She was the beloved and held in high regard by Agha Mohammad Khan.

Asiyeh Khanum was a compassionate and benevolent lady who spent most of her life caring for the poor and aiding the destitute. She was renowned for her kindness and humanitarianism. On numerous occasions at her son’s court, she interceded on behalf of wrongdoers and was able to prevent the execution of some who had fallen under the shah’s wrath. Apart from her special attention to scholars and poets, Asiyeh Khanum also took an interest in the construction of public buildings, particularly schools. Among her charitable works was the repair of Hakim Hashem’s school, which afterward became known as the Shah’s Mother School. She was also concerned with the welfare of teachers and students, providing them with stipends and allowances.