Shemavon of Agulis

Shemavon (Simon) of Agulis or Shemavon Aguletsi[lower-alpha 1] was an Iranian official of Armenian origin, who served during the reign of King (Shah) Suleiman I (r. 1666-1694).

He functioned as mint master (zarrab-bashi) of the important Erivan mint (the provincial capital of the Erivan Province) under four successive governors; Mohammadqoli Khan, Najafqoli Khan Cherkes, Abbasqoli Khan Qajar, and Safi Khan Lezgi.[1][2] In 1670, he was appointed mint master of the Safavid capital of Isfahan by Shah Suleiman I.[3]

Shemavon was the brother of Zakaria of Agulis (i.e. Zakaria Aguletsi), a merchant of the Safavid era who is mostly remembered for his journal, an important primary source on the history of the Safavid period. Unlike Zakaria, who stayed Christian, Shemavon was a convert to Islam.[2]

Notes
  1. "Aguletsi" literally translates as "from Agulis".

References
  1. Matthee, Floor & Clawson 2013, pp. 15, 18.
  2. Babaie et al. 2004, p. 69.
  3. Matthee, Floor & Clawson 2013, pp. 15.

Sources
  • Babaie, Sussan; Babayan, Kathryn; Baghdiantz-McCabe, Ina; Farhad, Massumeh (2004). Slaves of the Shah: New Elites of Safavid Iran. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-0857716866.
  • Bournoutian, George (2003). The Journal of Zak'aria of Agulis. Mazda Publishers. pp. 1–242. ISBN 978-1568591070.
  • Matthee, Rudi; Floor, Willem; Clawson, Patrick (2013). The Monetary History of Iran: From the Safavids to the Qajars. I.B. Tauris. pp. 1–320. ISBN 978-0857721723.
  • Ghougassian, Vazken (2008). "Wealthy merchants and factors. The legacy of Julfa". In Chaudhury, Shushil; Kévonian, Kéram (eds.). Les Arméniens dans le commerce asiatique au début de l'ère moderne. Maison des Sciences de l'Homme. p. 68. ISBN 978-2735112043.
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