Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari (b. June 22, 1932, Isfahan, Persia October 25, d. 2001, Paris, France) was the second wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. During her marriage, she was known as Queen Soraya; the title of Shahbanu (Empress) was not used in Iran at that time. June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Part of Shah Abbas large urban project in his new capital, the Chahār Bāgh Four Gardens, is a four-kilometer avenue in the city of Isfahan. ... Motto: Independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic (Persian: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ«) Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Official language(s) Persian Government Supreme Leader President Islamic republic Ali Khamenei Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Revolution Declared Against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi February... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... His Majesty Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (اعلیحضرت محمدرضا شاه پهلوی; October 26, 1919 – July 27, 1980) also knows as Aryamehr, was the last Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 until 1979. ... One of the worlds longest-lasting monarchies, the Iranian monarchy went through many transformations over the centuries, from the days of Persia to the creation of what is now modern day Iran. ... Shahbanu (in Persian: شهبانو) means Empress in Persian. ...

She was the only daughter of Khalil Esfandiary Bakhtiari a notable of the Bakhtiari tribe and Persian ambassador to Germany, and his Russian-born German wife, Eva Klein; she had one brother, Bijan. The Bakhtiari (or Bakhtiyari) are a group of southwestern Iranian people. ...

At the age of 18, the green-eyed Soraya, an Ava Gardner lookalike, whom was introduced the royal court by Forough Zafar Bakhtiari, married the Shah at Golestan Palace in Tehran on February 12, 1951. She was divorced by him on April 6, 1958, when it became apparent that she could not bear children. A weeping Shah announced their divorce to the Iranian people in a speech that was broadcast on radio and television. The headline-making divorce inspired French songwriter Françoise Mallet-Jorris to write a hit pop song, "Je Veux Pleurer Comme Soraya" (I Want to Cry Like Soraya). Ava Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. ... A view of the Gulistan Palaces garden from Khalvat e Karimkhani. ... Map of Iran and surrounding lands, showing location of Tehran The towering Alborz mountains rising above modern Elahiyeh district and its green neighborhoods. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Granted the title Her Imperial Highness the Princess Soraya of Iran, she moved to France and launched a brief career as a film actress. She starred in the 1965 movie "Three Faces of a Woman" and became the companion of its Italian director Franco Indovina (1932-1972). After Indovina's death in a plane crash, she spent the remainder of her life unhappily, by her own admission, wandering through Europe, buying antiques and couture, appearing at social events in a desultory fashion, and generally becoming known as a serious depressive. 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Tuesday. ... World map showing Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ...

Princess Soraya died of natural causes at age 69 and is buried in Munich, Germany. In 2002, her tomb was defaced with the words "miserable parasite," followed by the phrase "Didn't work from the ages of 25 to 60." The vandalism made headlines throughout Europe. Munich: Frauenkirche and Town Hall steeple Munich (German: München pronunciation) is the state capital of the German Bundesland of Bavaria. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Upon learning of her death, her brother, who died one week after Soraya, sadly commented, "After her, I don't have anyone to talk to." Since Soraya's death, several young women have come forward claiming to be her illegitimate daughter, reportedly born in 1962, according to the Persian-language weekly Nimrooz; the claims have not been confirmed. 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The former queen's belongings were sold at auction in Paris after her death. Her wedding dress, which was made by Christian Dior, brought $1.2 million. The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 – October 24, 1957), born in Granville, was an influential French fashion designer. ...

Princess Soraya wrote a memoir of her tragic life, "The Palace of Solitudes" (1991). 1991 (MCMXCI in Roman) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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