Baysunghur

Scene from the Baysonghor Shahnameh, a Shahnameh commissioned by Baysonqor, 1430

Gīāṭ al-dīn Bāysonḡor, commonly known as Baysonqor or Baysunghur, Baysonghor or (incorrectly) as Baysunqar, also called Sultan Bāysonḡor Bahādor Khan (1397, Herat - 1433, the Bāḡ-e Safīd palace near Herat) was a prince from the house of Timurids. He was known as a patron of arts and architecture, the leading patron of the Persian miniature in Persia, commissioning the Baysonghor Shahnameh and other works, as well as being a prominent calligrapher.

Bāysonḡor was a son of Mirza Shahrukh, the ruler of Persia and Transoxania, and Shahrukh's most prominent wife Goharshad.

A calligraphic panel with Geometrical Kufic letters attributed to Baysonqor

In the view of modern historians, Bāysonḡor was actually a better statesman than his more famous elder brother, Ulugh Beg, who inherited Shahrukh's throne, but who "must have envied his younger brother, Baisunghur, whom his father never saddled with major responsibilities, which left him free to build his elegant madrasas in Herat, gather his ancient books, assemble his artists, and drink".

He was living in Herat as governor by 1417. After taking Tabriz, in 1421 he brought back to Herat a group of Tabrizi artists and calligraphers, formerly working for Ahmad Jalayir, who he installed in Herat to add to his existing artists from Shiraz. They became the most important school of artists in Persia, merging the two styles.

Personal life

Consorts

Baysonqor had five wives:

• Jan Malik Agha, daughter of Amir Chulpan Qauchin;
• Gawhar Nasab Agha, a lady from Khwarezm;
• Khandan Agha;
• Afaq Agha;
• Shah Begi Agha;

Sons

Baysonqor had three sons:

• Ala-ud-Daulah Mirza - with Jan Malik Agha;
• Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza - with Gawhar Nasab Agha;
• Sultan Muhammad Mirza - with Khandan Agha;

Daughters

Baysonqor had eight daughters:

• Ruqaiya Begi Begum - with Shah Begi Agha;
• Fatima Sultan Begum - with Gawhar Nasab Agha;
• Zuhra Begi Begum - with Gawhar Nasab Agha;
• Aisha Begi Begum - with Afaq Agha, married to Sultan Masud Mirza, son of Sayorghatmish Mirza, son of Shah Rukh;
• Sa'adat Begi Begum - with Khandan Agha;
• Bakht Daulat Begum;
• Payanda Sultan Begum;
• Sahib Sultan Begum, married to Muhammad Khalil Mirza son of Muhammad Jahangir Mirza, son of Muhammad Sultan Mirza, son of Jahangir Mirza;