Foreign Relations History

Foreign Relations History

The Political Functions of Robe-Bestowal and Robe-Wearing in Safavid Foreign Relations

Document Type : Scientific - research article

Authors
Member of the Faculty of History Department of Lorestan University
Abstract
As one of the customary gifts of the Safavid era, robes were consistently bestowed upon subordinates by superiors. In fact, the practices of robe-bestowal and robe-wearing in the Safavid era, serving as a ritual that often delineated the status of high-ranking statesmen relative to others, held significant importance in the foreign relations of Safavid shahs. This research, employing a library-based methodology, will examine and analyze the political functions of robe-bestowal and robe-wearing in Safavid foreign relations through a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings of this study indicate that robes were bestowed directly and indirectly by the shahs upon foreign ambassadors, enemies, and officials involved in foreign relations. Direct bestowal upon ambassadors revealed the shah and court's perspective on the negotiating countries, while, when confronting enemies, it served to demonstrate power and deter war. Indirectly, during wartime and confrontations with foreign enemies, the shah's robe-bestowal to subordinates varied based on their performance. Thus, victory over enemies and the imposition of defeat were accompanied by honorary robes from the shah. Conversely, individuals who suffered defeat in confrontations with enemies were subject to robes of humiliation and insult from the shah; occasionally, however, conciliatory robes were sent based on individuals' pasts. The issue of demonstrating and preserving the power of Safavid shahs in comparison to their counterparts played a significant role in the bestowal of robes to individuals involved in this matter.

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  • Receive Date 20 December 2023
  • Revise Date 12 February 2024
  • Accept Date 18 April 2024