Sarwar Sultana Shaghasi

Queen Sarwar Sultana Shaghasi was the first queen consort of Afghanistan (1875 – 1965). Her Majesty was given the royal title of Serāj-ul-Khawātīn (Lamp of the Ladies), the Aliya Hazrat. She was married to Emir Habibullah Khan (r. 1901–1919), who was referred to as Serāj-ul-Millat wa ad-Dīn (Lamp of the Nation and Religion), and was the mother of King Amanullah Khan (r. 1919–1929). Denoted in Leon B. Poullada's book "Reform and Rebellion in Afghanistan, 1919-1929", she set out to exert all her considerable skill, intelligence, and influence to prepare Amanullah for the throne. He goes on to say that "the indomitable lady, who was later to be described by Major Fraser in her moment of defeat and exile as "this interesting old eagle," summoned her most experienced kinsmen to act as Amanullah's tutors." Her kinsmen were members of the Shaghasi family, and by "this interesting old eagle," Major Fraser was referring to this courageous queen consort of Afghanistan who stretched her limits, did not accept the status quo, but rather reached higher and become more.