Imam-Quli Khan

Imam-Quli Khan ( Died in 1633), Commander of the Iranian army, governor of Fars province, son of Alaverdi Khan (Undiladze). Thanks to his authority and power, Imam-Quli Khan was viewed as No. 2 political figure in the kingdom of Shah Abbas I. In 1622, Iranian army units under the command of Imam-Quli Khan drove out the Portuguese troops from the Island of Hormuz. Besides his military talents, he was well-known for his irrigation and construction projects implemented in Iran: he built roads, channels, bridges, dams, etc. Persian, Georgian and European literary sources describe him as a fine person. They confirm that ImamQuli Khan was a learned man; he knew the works of Plato and Aristotle. Italian traveller Pietro della Valle points out that Imam-Quli Khan supported Georgian Queen Ketevan, Luarsab II and children of Teimuraz I. Persian outhors have written several books about his life and work. Imam-Quli Khan was accused of participating in the rebellion organized by his brother Daud Khan Undiladze and by the order of Shah Safi I, he and his family members were put to death.