Homayoon Shah Goorkani Seeking Asylum in Iran

In each country prominent political figures are received on the basis of the protocol of diplomatic visits. In Iran of the Safavid era, Shah Tahmaseb I granted asylum to Homayoon Shah of India. Owing to the significance, dimensions and expected consequences of this event for Iran, Shah Tahmaseb wrote a letter to Khorasan’s Governor, Mohammad Khan Takloo, describing the ceremony and diplomatic code of receiving Homayoon Shah. While this is solely related to Homayoon Shah reception, apparently this is the first written order on how to receive a foreign political figure in the Safavid era. Based on two Indian sources, Homayoon and Akbar memoirs written by Bayazid Bayat and Akbarnameh written by Abolfazl Allami, this article will review the letter of Shah Tahmaseb addressed to the Governor of Khorasan and will analyze its dimensions and will scrutinize the protocol of receiving a prominent political figure in the 19th century A. H.