Sovereign Principality of Zargaristan

Zargaristan (also sometimes spelled Zargarestan) is an ancient Khanate (Sovereign Principalty) of Persia and Central Asia. It existed as an historical entity from around ~800 AD When it was created as a refuge for Jews and Gypsies fleeing Arab persecution in Persia (Iran). Later Sufis joined them making for a very diverse spiritual atmosphere. (Uprising of the Shi'ite movement in Khorasan (Northeastern Iran) by Abu Moslem Khosasany who fought the Arabs and established the first independent Persian state in Khorasan.) until the Revolution which overthrew the Qajari House in Iran, in 1926. It was the protection afforded a vassal state which was withdrawn, following the British/American promoted "Revolution" which brought to power the Pahlavi dynasty. Its rough boundaries today fall within both Iran and Afghanistan. It was considered a Libertine Society, devoid of established morals or religious dogma, and was run for centuries by a benevolent Royal Housem from which sprung many great artists, architects, Musicians, and scholars. Zargaristani princes were often great story-tellers, singers, and actors. A few also dabbled in goldsmithing, which was the traditional Zargari occupation. The Zargaris of today are most noted for the exquisite embroidery which they do, in Gold and Silver, on the cloth that hangs around the Ka'aba in Mecca. Many Zargaris fled Arab Iran to the relative safety of neighboring Uzbekistan citys such as Samarqand and Bukhara. There is still, to this day, an ancient yet functioning goldsmith's bazaar in Bukhara, called Bazaar Zargari where beautiful gold-thread embroidered robes are a spectacular and dazzling sight!
It has been noted that James Hilton, author of "Lost Horizon", may have been thinking of Zargaristan, and especially a sacred valley and mountain there called Shan Garri La, when he wrote of a lost paradise high in the mountains West of China.
The Royal House of Zargaristan, after fleeing the mobs (Revolutionary mobs always seem angry at the Jews and the Gypsies!) with precious few possessions, established its Court in Exile briefly in Turkmenistan, USSR, and then through an amazing coincidence, found sponsorship in Houston, Texas, in the United States, where the current Hereditary Sovereign Prince, Michael Zargarov, Ghazanfari~Zargaristan Lion of the Zargaristanis keeps alive the dreams and aspirations of his scattered people in the Zargaristani Diaspora.

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