Journal of Documentary and Archival Studies
Scientific Journal

Eunuchs and Their Social Role in Qajar Era

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Marzieh Mortazavi

PhD in History of Islamic Iran; Document Expert in Malek Endowment Organization (Astan Quds Razavi), Mashhad, Iran

10.30481/psa.2025.483849.1066
Abstract
In Qajar era, servants were mainly divided into eunuchs (khajehs), slaves (gholams), and handmaidens (kanizes), who were employed for different services. Apart from Iranian eunuchs, who mostly were congenital and sometimes deliberately castrated, most eunuchs of Qajar society were blacks, entered Iran from Africa through the Persian Gulf. This study sought to see the role and social status of eunuchs over the Qajar era. The results indicated that since employing eunuchs was expensive, this group were mostly employed to be in service of the high strata of society such as merchants and princes. They were mainly in the court, doing a variety of domestic and non-domestic activities. It is noteworthy that the eunuchs working in the court held a special status because of their closeness to the top powers. Even, some could gain kings’ attention, and consequently, achieve high positions and change their own social class. Taking a socio-historical approach, this study applied a descriptive-analytical method and relied on library resources and archival documents to answer the related question.

Keywords

Black Eunuchs
White Eunuchs
Qajar
Social Role
Journal of Documentary and Archival Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 March 2025

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