The Ghashghaie Sub-Tribe, one of themost famous
tribes of the FarsProvince, is actually a
confederationof various Clans.The name
Ghashghaie is derivedfrom the name of one
of the governorsof the province appointed
by SafavidShah Abbas, Jani Agha Ghashghaie.
According to oral tradition, theGhashghaie
tribesmen descended from

the Caucasus to the areas near Ardabil,
and consider themselves to belong to
the Agh Ghouyounlu (meaning the owners
of white sheep) Clan. While the Safavid
Dynasty was in power, these people were
driven to southern regions to protectthe
country, and participated in theBattle
of Harat. They also played animportant
part in the maintenance ofIran's independence
during theBritishmilitary expedition in 1274 (1869).
The Turkish Ghashghaie Sub-Tribeconsists of
theKashkooli, Sheshboluki, Darehshoori,
Amaleh andFarsimedan Clans. It has 13,753
Khanevars (households) and two summer residences
, one between Shiraz and Dasht-e-Arjhan as
far as Kazeroon and the Kohkilooyeh, and
from north of Abadeh to Shahreza.Their
Gheshlagh (winter residence), which was
previouslylocated in the south-eastern
plains ofFars Province, (Lar, Jahrom,Firoozabad,
Kazeroon, Behbahanand Genaveh) has now doubledin
size.Rugs, gelim, jajim, and gobehwoven by the
tribeswomen are worldfamous, and provide a
considerable sum of money for their families.