Empress Farah Pahlavi: Shahbanu of Iran

Early Life and Education

Farah Diba was born on October 14, 1938, in Tehran to Sohrab Diba, an army captain, and Farideh Ghotbi. Her father died when she was nine years old, and she was raised by her mother and extended family.

Farah received an excellent education, attending the Jeanne d'Arc School and later the Italian School in Tehran. Her academic abilities led her to study architecture at the Ecole Speciale d'Architecture in Paris, where she became one of the few Iranian women of her generation to pursue higher education abroad.

Royal Marriage

In 1959, Farah was introduced to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi at the Iranian Embassy in Paris. The Shah, twice divorced and without a male heir, was immediately taken with the intelligent and elegant young architecture student.

They married on December 21, 1959, in a lavish ceremony at the Golestan Palace in Tehran. Farah became Queen (Malekeh) of Iran, and their marriage would prove to be the Shah's happiest. She bore him four children: Crown Prince Reza (1960), Princess Farahnaz (1963), Prince Ali-Reza (1966), and Princess Leila (1970).

Coronation as Shahbanu

On October 26, 1967, during the long-delayed coronation ceremony of Mohammad Reza Shah, Farah made history as the first woman to be crowned in Iran since ancient times. The Shah personally placed the crown upon her head, bestowing upon her the title of Shahbanu (Empress), a title not used in Iran for over 1,300 years.

The Empress's crown was specially designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring 1,469 diamonds, 36 emeralds, 36 rubies, and 105 pearls, all from the Iranian Crown Jewels collection.

Cultural Patronage

Empress Farah became known as the cultural heart of the Pahlavi court. Her contributions to Iranian arts and culture were substantial:

• Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art: She founded this world-class museum, which acquired one of the finest collections of Western modern art outside Europe and North America.
• Shiraz Arts Festival: She patronized this renowned international festival that brought together artists from around the world.
• Carpet Museum: She established the Carpet Museum of Iran to preserve traditional Persian carpet-making arts.
• Preservation: She championed the restoration of historical sites and traditional crafts throughout Iran.

Humanitarian Work

The Empress dedicated herself to numerous charitable causes, establishing foundations for healthcare, education, and social welfare:

• The Farah Pahlavi Foundation provided assistance to the needy
• Organizations supporting children's health and welfare
• Educational initiatives expanding opportunities for women
• Leprosy treatment and rehabilitation programs
• Support for the disabled and marginalized communities

Revolution and Exile

As revolutionary unrest grew in 1978, Empress Farah stood firmly beside her husband. When the Shah left Iran on January 16, 1979, she accompanied him into what would become permanent exile.

The couple traveled to Egypt, Morocco, the Bahamas, Mexico, and the United States. The Empress cared for her husband during his final illness with cancer, remaining at his side until his death in Cairo on July 27, 1980.

Life in Exile

After the Shah's death, Empress Farah settled in the United States, dividing her time between Connecticut and Paris. She continued her cultural and humanitarian work, writing her memoirs "An Enduring Love," and maintaining the legacy of the Pahlavi dynasty.

Personal tragedy struck with the deaths of her daughter Princess Leila in 2001 and son Prince Ali-Reza in 2011. Despite these losses, the Empress has remained a dignified symbol of the Iran that was, beloved by many Iranians both in the diaspora and within Iran.

Legacy

Empress Farah Pahlavi's legacy extends beyond her years as Iran's queen. Her promotion of Iranian arts and culture, her humanitarian work, and her dignity in exile have earned her respect worldwide. The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, with its priceless collection, remains one of her most visible contributions.

As Shahbanu, she represented a modern vision of Iranian womanhood, educated, cultured, and active in public life while maintaining respect for tradition. Her coronation as Empress marked a historic moment in the long history of Persian monarchy.