Khaqani Shirvani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Khaqani
Born	1121/1122 Shamakhi, Shirwan
Died	1190 Tabriz, Iran
Occupation	Poet

Khāqāni was a very important Persian poet. He was born in a historical area called Shirvan and later passed away in Tabriz, Iran. Khaqani left behind many amazing poems and writings in the Persian language. His work is still studied and admired today.

A Poet's Knowledge and Inspirations

Khaqani knew a lot about Christianity. He often used Christian ideas and pictures in his poems. He even said he could speak the Georgian language. He wrote a special poem praising King Demetrius I of Georgia. His cousin also taught him about philosophy, which is the study of knowledge and existence.

How Khaqani Got His Name

Khaqani learned a lot about poetry from a famous teacher named Abul-Ala Ganjavi. Abul-Ala introduced him to the court of a ruler named Khaqan Manuchehr Shirvanshah. This is how Khaqani got his special pen-name, which is a name a writer uses instead of their real name. His pen-name, "Khaqani," means "regal" or "royal," showing his connection to the king.

When he was younger, Khaqani used a different pen-name: Haqai'qi. This name means "Seeker." Later, after he was invited to the court of the Shirvanshah Abu'l Muzaffar Khaqan-i-Akbar Manuchiher, he officially started using the name Khaqani. He also married Abul-Ala's daughter.

Images for kids

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  1997 Azerbaijani stamp of the Persian poet Khaqani