Famous people A

State activity
In 1469, Husayn Boyqaro conquered Herat and became governor of Khorasan. From this point on, a new phase in Navoi’s life begins. He takes an active part in the political life of the country. In the same year, the ruler of Khorasan appoints Navoi as the administrator of the state seal (Muhrdar), and in 1472 he is appointed vasir. In his position he provides great help to the cultural and scientific intellectuals of the country. He becomes the owner of a large estate.
In the 1480s he builds at his own expense in Herat and other regions of the country several medreses, 40 rabats (places of abode for travellers), 17 mosques, 10 Sufi huts (khanakah), 9 baths, 9 bridges…. And many more for public use. But such activities of the Navoi for the benefit of the people do not please the ruler’s entourage and through intrigues they succeed in spoiling the relationship between Alisher Navoi and Husayn Boyqaro.
The latter relieved Navoi of his office and sent him to the city of Astrabad as its head in 1487. He remains there for two years and only after this time does Husayn Boyqaro allow him to return to Herat and offer him a position in the government. But Navoi refuses. Despite his refusal, Husayn Boyqaro gives him the post of the ruler’s closest confidant (“mukarrabi hazrati sultani”). In this position, Alisher Navoi had the right to participate in the decision-making of all state affairs.
As this period marks the beginning of a new era in the poet’s life, he is more preoccupied with creation. Most of his works were written during this period. Navoi lived and created in the last years of the Timurid dynasty (1370-1506). Therefore, the public spirit, urgent problems of the era is strong in his works. In 1490-1501 Navoi created most of the lyrical, public-philosophical and scientific works.