a study of the records of wakīl-i nafs-i nafīs-i humāyūn during the reign of shāh esmā‘īl ṣafawī and shāh ṭahmāsb (907-984/1502-1577)

in the reign of shāh ismā‘īl i, the position-holder wakīl-i nafs-i nafīs-i humāyūn would serve as the regent (nāyib al-salṭana). after six months that this position was held by one of the elites who was a qizilbash turk, shāh ismā‘īl handed it over to a non-turk and continued the same procedure to the end of his life. the present article is mainly intended to study the social origin of the wakīl (representative, deputy) position in this period, the socio-political function of the councilors, the challenges and difficulties faced by them, and explanation of the similarities and differences among the councilors of this era,