A glance at the state of kanīzān, ghulāmān and eunuchs during the Qajar era

During the Qajar era in Iran, servants found abundantly in the houses of the wealthy, were the kanīzān, ghulāmān and eunuchs. There were African ghulāman and kanīzan who were traded via the Persian Gulf. The white servants of various ethnicites were bought or captured during wars and invasions. Often any behaviour towards these groups were admitted by all and accepted in the society. Kanīzān entered the harem either as concubines and legitimated wives or as servants of the wives of the grandees. Ghulāmān were also used in different fields of military, domestic works, guards, agricultures, irrigators, fishermen and divers in the south. Able and experienced servants could reach high official and military positions. This research aims to examine the state of slaves (kanīzān, ghulāmān and Eunuchs) during the Qajar era through several discourses: provision centers, population, treatment of slaves, their responsibilities and the ways of behaving towards them.