The political and cultural roles of Timurid royal women have long remained overshadowed by studies focusing primarily on rulers and military elites. Nevertheless, medieval Persian chronicles preserve substantial evidence demonstrating that royal women actively participated in dynastic politics, diplomatic relations, charitable patronage, and the cultural development of the Timurid state. This study examines the representation of Timurid royal women in two major historical chronicles: Zafarnama by Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi and Matla' al-Sa'dayn wa Majma' al-Bahrayn by Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi. Employing a comparative source-based methodology, the research analyzes how these historians portrayed the political influence, public authority, religious patronage, and social status of prominent royal women, including Saray Mulk Khanum (Bibikhanum), Gawharshad Begim, Khanzada Begim, Tuman Agha, and Shadmulk Begim. The findings indicate that Timurid royal women functioned not merely as members of the royal household but also as influential actors in state governance, dynastic legitimacy, diplomatic negotiations, architectural patronage, and court politics. Although both chroniclers generally present these women within the framework of dynastic history, their narratives differ in emphasis according to their historiographical objectives and political contexts. The study argues that integrating comparative historiography with gender-oriented historical analysis provides a more comprehensive understanding of women's agency within the Timurid Empire and contributes to broader discussions on medieval Islamic political culture.
Political Authority and Cultural Patronage of Timurid Royal Women: A Comparative Analysis of The Chronicles of Sharaf Al-Din Ali Yazdi And Abd Al-Razzaq Samarqandi
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