Aly Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aly Khan |
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Aly Khan in 1949
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| Religion | Nizari Ismaili Shia Islam |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | British India (pre-1947) Pakistani (post-1947) |
| Born | 13 June 1911 Turin, Italy |
| Died | 12 May 1960 (aged 48) Suresnes, France |
| Resting place | Salamiyah, Syria |
| Spouse | |
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| Senior posting | |
| Title | His Highness Prince Ali Salman Aga Khan |
Prince Ali Salman Aga Khan (born June 13, 1911 – died May 12, 1960), known as Aly Khan, was an important diplomat from Pakistan. He had roots in both Iran and Italy. He was the son of the Aga Khan III and the father of the current Aga Khan IV.
Aly Khan was well-known in society. He owned and raced horses as a jockey. He was also married to the famous actress Rita Hayworth. After his father chose his son to be the next Aga Khan, Aly Khan became Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations. He served in this role from 1958 to 1960. During this time, he also became a vice president of the UN General Assembly.
His first name was often spelled "Aly" in newspapers. The titles of prince and princess for the Aga Khan's children were recognized by the British government in 1938. This was because they were descended from the Qajar king Fath Ali Shah of the Persian Qajar dynasty.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Aly Khan was born in Turin, Italy. He was the younger son of the Aga Khan III and Cleope Teresa "Ginetta" Magliano. His father was born in Karachi, which was then part of British India (now Pakistan). His mother was Italian. His grandparents on his father's side were from Iran.
Aly Khan had two brothers. One was Prince Giuseppe Mahdi Aga Khan, who died young in 1911. The other was Sadruddin Aga Khan, from his father's third marriage. Aly Khan was taught by private teachers in India and France when he was a child. Later, he studied to become a lawyer in England. When he was 12, he knew Orson Welles. Years later, both Aly Khan and Orson Welles were married to Rita Hayworth.
Military Service and Awards
In 1939, Prince Aly Aga Khan joined the French Foreign Legion. He served with their cavalry (horseback soldiers) in Egypt and the Middle East. In 1940, he joined the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, a British army unit. He became a lieutenant colonel in 1944.
That same year, he helped with the Allied landing in southern France. He worked as a liaison officer with the United States Seventh Army. For his service, he was made an officer in the Legion of Honour in 1950. This is a very high French award. He also received the Croix de Guerre and the United States Bronze Star Medal.
In 1957, Prince Aly Khan was made the first Colonel of the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the Pakistani Army. He held this special honor until he passed away.
Ambassador to the United Nations
In November 1957, Aly Khan met with President Iskander Mirza of Pakistan. He was offered the job of Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations. This important appointment was officially announced on February 6, 1958.
As part of the United Nations Political and Security Committee, Aly Khan represented Pakistan. He was elected as a vice president of the United Nations General Assembly on September 17, 1958. He also led the U.N.'s Peace Observation Committee. His role was to help keep peace around the world.
Family Life
Prince Aly Khan was known for his lively social life. He married twice and had three children.
First Marriage
Aly Khan married Joan Barbara Guinness (born Yarde-Buller) in Paris on May 18, 1936. Before their wedding, Joan became a Muslim and took the name Taj-ud-dawlah. Their first child, Prince Karim, was born in Geneva seven months later, on December 13, 1936. They also had a second son, Prince Amyn Muhammad Aga Khan, who was also born early the next year. Joan Barbara also had a son from her previous marriage. Aly Khan and Joan divorced in 1949.
Second Marriage
On May 27, 1949, Aly Khan married American film star Rita Hayworth in Cannes, France. Rita Hayworth stopped her acting career to marry him.
Aly Khan and his family loved horse racing. They owned and raced many horses. Rita Hayworth was not very interested in horse racing. However, she became a member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Her horse, Double Rose, won several races in France. It also came in second in a big race called the 1949 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
In 1951, while still married to Hayworth, Khan was seen dancing with actress Joan Fontaine. Hayworth decided to divorce him. She moved to Lake Tahoe, Nevada with their daughter to prepare for the divorce. Hayworth filed for divorce from Khan on September 2, 1951. She said he was "extremely cruel" in a mental way.
Aly Khan and Rita Hayworth divorced in 1953. They had a daughter together, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, born on December 26, 1949. During the custody discussions for Yasmin, Prince Aly Khan wanted her to be raised as a Muslim. Hayworth, who was raised Roman Catholic, wanted their child to be a Christian. Hayworth did not accept his offer of money if she would raise Yasmin in the Muslim faith.
Later Engagement
After his divorce from Rita Hayworth, Aly Khan became engaged to American actress Gene Tierney in 1952. However, his father did not approve of him marrying another Hollywood actress. After about a year, Tierney and the Prince separated. Later, in the late 1950s, Aly Khan started dating fashion model Simone Micheline Bodin, also known as Bettina Graziani. They became engaged and were expecting a child. Sadly, Bettina had a miscarriage after being in a car accident.
Succession of the Aga Khan
On July 12, 1957, Aly Khan's father, the Aga Khan III, passed away. His will named Aly Khan's eldest son, Karim Aga Khan, as the next Aga Khan IV. Karim was studying at Harvard University at the time. He became the 49th Imam of the Ismailis. This was the first time in the community's 1,300-year history that the leadership did not pass directly from father to son.
Horse Racing Passion
Prince Aly Khan was a very famous owner and breeder of racehorses. He had horses in France, England, and Ireland. Noel Murless, a top horse trainer in England, said that Aly Khan was very smart. He was excellent at judging horses and their family lines. Murless believed Aly Khan was one of the best in the world at understanding horse racing.
Aly Khan's father, the Aga Khan III, was also a well-known horse owner. After World War II, Aly Khan bought half of his father's horse racing business. Their partnership quickly became successful. They were the top winning breeders from 1947 to 1949 and again in 1952.
Passing Away
On May 12, 1960, Aly Khan was in a car accident in Suresnes, France, near Paris. He was driving with his fiancée, Bettina, when his car crashed into another vehicle. He suffered serious head injuries and died shortly after at Foch Hospital. Bettina survived with a minor injury, but the shock caused her to lose their baby. The prince's driver and the other car's driver also survived.
Aly Khan was first buried at his home, Château de l'Horizon, in the south of France. The plan was to move him to a special tomb in Syria later. His remains were moved to Damascus, Syria, on July 11, 1972. He was reburied in Salamiyah, Syria.
Most of his money went to his children. Some other people also received money from his will. This included Bettina, who received $280,000, and a close friend, Lord Astor.
Lord Astor wrote about Aly Khan after his death. He said that Aly Khan had great charm, perfect manners, and a lot of energy. He was also very generous, imaginative, and a wonderfully warm friend.
Cultural Impact
Because of his well-known life, Prince Aly Khan was mentioned in popular culture.
- In a 1950s song called "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" by Noël Coward, Aly Khan is mentioned in the lyrics.
- Lucille P. Markey, who owned a famous horse racing stable, named one of her best young horses "Alydar" in his honor. She used to call him "Aly Darling."
- In a TV show called Mad Men, a character named Don Draper mentions Aly Khan.
- In an episode of Honeymooners from 1955, a character jokes about going "tiger hunting with Aly Khan."
See Also
In Spanish: Alí Khan para niños
- List of Ismaili imams
- Fatimids
- Isma'ilism
- Nizari
- Aga Khan
Images for kids
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Aly Khan in 1949
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Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan at their wedding reception in the garden of the Château de l'Horizon, near Cannes (May 27, 1949)
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Aly Khan mausoleum in Salamiyah
