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THE IMAGE OF GAVHARSHODBEGIM: HISTORICAL TRUTH AND ARTISTIC
INTERPRETATION
Mirsharipova Shahzoda Shavkat kizi
Department of Uzbek Language and Literature of Bukhara
State University Independent researcher
Tel: (99) 705-35-35
Abstract:
The article pays special attention to the image of Gavharshodbegim. The life of one of
the princesses of the Timurid era - Gavharshodbegim, her involvement in state and public affairs,
and her role in political matters were studied on a comparative basis on the scale of historical
sources and works of art. The main focus is on the issue of the skill of creators in the
interpretation of historical reality in works of art.
Keywords:
Historical sources, historical novel, the image of Gavharshodbegim, the Timurid era,
the image of Timurid princesses, women, historical truth, artistic interpretation.
In the historical novels created during the years of independence, attention to the interpretation
of Amir Temur's attitude towards the family and women has increased. For this reason, it can be
noted that many works reflecting the artistic image of Timurid princesses appeared in Uzbek
literature.
“The Farewell of the Mother Falcon”( Ona lochin vidosi) by Pirimqul Qodirov, “The Queen of
Turan” (Turon malikasi) and “Bibixonim” by Shahodat Isaxonova, created during the years of
independence. At the center of such historical novels as “Gavharshodbegim” are the images of
women who took a significant part in the affairs of state and politics. Below, we will consider in
a comparative aspect the image of Gavharshodbegim, a daughter-in-law of Sahibkiran, belonging
to the family of Amir Timur, based on information from historical sources and interpretations in
literary works.
One of the scientific sources containing information about the personality of Amir Timur and the
Timurid era is Herman Vambery's book “History of Bukhara or Maverannahr”. This book
contains historical information about Sahibkiran's daughter-in-law Gavharshodbegim and
Shodimulk Sultan, who was considered the grandson’s daughter-in-law. In particular, the
following information is recorded about Gavharshodbegim: “Indeed, this observatory was
considered a miracle of the earth. To see this, even his mother Gavharshodbegim came from
Herat to Samarkand in 823” (1420) [8.43].
After Saroymulk Khanum, Gavharshodbegim was considered a woman who could significantly
interfere in state and public affairs in the Timurid empire. This woman was the wife of Shahrukh
Mirza, the fourth son of Amir Timur, who was not indifferent to political issues and even
participated in making important decisions during the reign of Shahrukh Mirza and during the
reign of his sons and grandchildren. As proof of this opinion, we can cite information from
Turgun Fayziyev’s book “Timurid Kings”: “Naturally fanatical-religious Shahrukh Mirzo spent
much of his time in worship and reading books. The affairs of the sultanate and the divan were
managed by his wife, Gavhar Shad Begum, a noble and resourceful woman
. Similar information
is also presented in Izzat Akhmedov’s book “Queens of the World”. Also, in Hakim Sattor’s
book “Hazrat Sahibkiran”, the only reason why Amir Temur chose his grandson Pir Muhammad
as heir apparent while his son Shahrukh Mirza was alive in the matter of choosing a heir
1 1
Файзиев Т. Темурий маликалар. – Т.: Абдулла Қодирий, 1994. – Б. 12.
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apparent is Gavharshodbegim’s interference in politics. This book also contains information
about Gavharshodbegim’s good understanding of political affairs regarding her husband and her
ability to easily influence Shahrukh Mirza. As a result of analysis and observations, we can say
that we found similar information about the personality of Gavharshod Begum in the works
“Timurid Princesses”, “Queens of the World”, and “Hazrat Sahibkiran”.
It should be noted that there is a certain difference in the information given about the children of
Gavharshodbegim in historical sources and works of art. In particular, in the work of the
historian Turgun Fayziev “Timurid Princesses” the following information is given about the
heirs born to Gavharshodbegim: “Gavhar Shodbegim married Shahrukh Mirza in 1393 and had
three sons and two daughters from him. The eldest son is Ulugbek Mirza, the middle son is
Baysunghur Mirza, and the youngest son is Muhammad Jo’qi Mirza” [3.12].
In Pirimqul Qodirov’s novel “The Farewell of the Mother Falcon”, the following scenes are
presented about Gavharshodbegim’s children: “Shohrukh Mirzo and Gavharshod Begim united,
firmly held the reins of power, and raised their sons in the spirit of conscience and justice, so that
none of the four sons - neither Ulug’bek, nor Ibrohim, nor Boysunqur, nor Jo’qiy Mirzo -
opposed each other, nor did they rebel against their parents” [7.27].
As a result of a comparative study of a historical and artistic work, it can be said that there are
slight deviations from historical truth in a work of art. At the same time, there is no information
in the novel “The Farewell of the Mother Falcon” about the two princesses born by
Gavharshodbegim.
According to the custom of Muslim countries, the ruling king had the opportunity to marry up to
four women, and Shahrukh Mirza was not exempt from this custom. Although Gavharshodbegim
was unmatched in beauty and enterprise, she was not the only wife of Shahrukh Mirza. The
following information is given in the historical work about Shahrukh Mirza’s marriage after
Gavharshodbegim: “The co-wife of Gavharshadbegim was Princess Mulkat Aga, who was the
wife of Amir Temur’s second son Umarshaykh Mirza. After the death of Umar Shaikh Mirza in
1394, she submitted to the will of her father-in-law Amir Timur and married Shahrukh Mirza”
[3.14].
The artistic interpretation of the above historical truth can be seen in Pirimqul Qodirov’s novel
“The Farewell of the Mother Falcon”: “After Amir Timur’s second son, Umarshayx, was killed
by an arrow, one of his wives - Mulkat Agha - married his two sons to Shahrukh Mirza”[7.36].
Through the above comparisons, one can witness that the creator created an artistic interpretation
based on historical truth.
As a result of reading and comparing literary and historical works about the period in which
Gavharshodbegim lived, it should be noted that the same events that occurred in history have
found their artistic interpretation in literary works without changes. As proof of our opinion, we
can cite the description of the processes associated with the death of Gavharshodbegim in the
historical source and the work of art. In Izzat Akhmedov’s historical source “Queens of the
World”, the above historical reality is described as follows: “Gavharshodbegim urges her great-
grandson Sultan Ibrahim Mirza to rebel against the ruler Sultan Abusayid Mirza. Upon learning
of Gavharshod begim’s actions, Sultan Abusayid Mirza ordered the princess's execution despite
her fasting” [2.60]. In the historical novel “The Farewell of the Mother Falcon” by Pirimkul
Kadyrov, an expert in the history of the Timurid era, one can encounter exactly such a reality:
“Would a Muslim king be so unjust? - they say. What right did he have to sentence an eighty-
year-old fasting mother to death?”[7.228].
The information given in the work of art and the historical book is exactly the same, only the
writer Pirimkul Kadyrov enhanced the coloring of the information in the pages of history through
artistic words. In this way, it can be said that he tried to bring the characters of the work closer to
the reader. For example, the construction of the above sentence in the form of an interrogative
sentence serves to exaggerate the terrible, tragic situation, to increase the effectiveness. The
information given in the work of art and the historical book is exactly the same, only the writer
Pirimkul Kadyrov enhanced the coloring of the information in the pages of history through
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artistic words. In this way, it can be said that he tried to bring the characters of the work closer to
the reader. For example, the construction of the above sentence in the form of an interrogative
sentence serves to exaggerate the terrible, tragic situation, to increase the effectiveness.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Gavharshodbegim, as a historical figure, attracted the
attention of historians, as well as writers who wrote on historical themes during the period of
independence. In particular, in the works dedicated to the history of Amir Timur and the Timurid
era, such as Pirimkul Kadyrov’s “The Farewell of the Mother Falcon”, Muhammad Ali’s “The
Great Sultanate”, Shahodat Isakhanova’s “Bibikhanum”, Risolat Khaydarova’s “Javzo” attention
was paid to the interpretation of this image. The unique nature of this historical figure, his culture,
his involvement in the affairs of society, love conflicts, and issues of his influence on the politics
of that time constituted one of the important aspects of the plot of historical works. Consequently,
as a historical figure, he possessed a complex character, and in literary works, he was also
interpreted as a complex image.
In conclusion, Gavharshodbegim, as a historical figure, was the center of attention of many
artists. In fact, Gavharshodbegim was viewed as a complex personality in historical works and
examples of past literature, approached differently. But in the works on historical themes created
during the period of independence, new approaches to the creation of his artistic image were
noticed. The activity of this woman in state affairs, her determination, her own opinion, and the
fact that she gained the trust and attention of Shahrukh Mirza were widely covered and
interpreted in literary works. In historical novels, images related to his spiritual world, inner
experiences, thoughts, as well as his appearance, attract attention as a product of the artistic
fabric of the creators.
Bibliography:
1. Abdusamatov H. History and Artistic Interpretation. - Tashkent: G. Gulyam Publishing House
of Literature and Art, 1995. - 184 p.
2. Akhmedov I. Queens of the World. - T.: Zarqalam, 2005. - 141 p.
3. Fayziyev T. Timurid Queens. - T.: Abdulla Qodiriy, 1994. - 75 p.
4. Fayziyev T. The Timurid Genealogy. - T.: Writer, 1995. - 351 p.
5. Sattoriy H. Hazrat Sahibqiran. - T.: Sharq, 2016. - 510 p.
6. Isakhonova Sh. Bibikhanum. - Tashkent: Davs Press, 2011. - 304 p.
7. Qodirov P. Mother Falcon's Farewell. - Tashkent: Sparks of Literature, 2018. - 305 p.
8. Herman V. History of Bukhara or Transoxiana. - T.: Literature and Art, 1990. - 64 p.
