Majles-Nevis

The Majles-Nevis (Persian: مجلس‌نویس), also known as the vaqaye-nevis and vaqaye-negar was the official record keeper in Safavid Iran.

When the grand vizier was away, the majles-nevis served as his substitute. He had to inform the privy council and the shah of the events taking place in the nation. He had his own provincial majles-nevis who kept him updated on such events. As the person responsible for learning about relations with other countries, treaties that were in effect, and other related subjects, he also served as sort of foreign minister. All visitors, including ambassadors, visited the majles-nevis and gave him their paperwork, which he filed.

The staff of the dar al-ensha (royal chancellery), which in 1637 included at least 40 scribes, supported both the majles-nevis and the monshi al-mamalek. The majles-nevis had three clerks until the reign of Suleiman I (r. 1666–1694), when the number was increased to thirty.

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