sudabeh

Sudabeh was a woman of the royal court of Sassanid Persia, known for her role in the life of the Persian prince Kai Khosrow and his eventual downfall. According to legend, Sudabeh was a servant or slave in the prince's household, and his nurse or governess.

There are several accounts of her story in medieval Persian literature, including in the Chronicles of The Persian Kings and the Shahnameh, the epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. According to these accounts, Sudabeh was a beautiful and intelligent woman, who gained the love and favor of Kai Khosrow despite being of lower social status.

As the prince's affections for Sudabeh grew stronger, he conspired with her to remove the legendary king, Darius the Great, from power and to take the throne for themselves. However, their plans were discovered, and the king's wrath fell upon them.

Sudabeh's fate is a tragic one, with accounts suggesting that she wore a poisoned garment or a poisoned headdress, which caused her to commit self-immolation or be executed by her husband, King Ardashir. Her story has captivated the imagination of storytellers and historians for centuries, offering a glimpse into the intricate politics and intensely personal relationships of the Sassanid court.

The legend of Sudabeh continues to be a compelling and enduring aspect of Persian literature and history, symbolizing the complex and often fraught dynamics of royal life in ancient Persia.