Barthélémy Semino

Barthelemy Semino (19 November 1797 – 14 July 1852), also known as General Semino, was a French-born general and linguist who served in the Qajar army for years. A former officer of the Napoleonic army, he was one of several European military officers recruited into Persian service during the reign of Abbas Mirza. He also served under three successive Qajar monarchs: Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, Mohammad Shah Qajar, and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. He also participated in various diplomatic missions, including one to Russia in 1829.

Early life and education Semino was born in Nice (now in France), on 19 November 1797, to a French mother and a Sardinian father who served as consul of the French First Republic. He graduated from the military school of Naples and subsequently joined Napoleon army.

Under Mohammad Shah Qajar After Abbas Mirza's death, his son Mohammad Shah Qajar continued to trust Semino, assigning him to various diplomatic and military missions.

Later life Throughout his later years, he documented his unpaid salary claims, military affairs, and his unsuccessful attempts to secure compensation of both of his own service and Borowski's estate. with whom he had one son and one daughter. However, a 2016 publication in Encyclopædia Iranica suggests that Borowski had two sons, including Stanislaus Borowsky both of whom came under Semino's care after the marriage. Another of Borowski's sons, who had been employed in the Persian government, later committed suicide.

His children married into prominent Iranian and foreign families. His daughter Louise married Conrad Gustaf Fagergren, a Swedish physician; another daughter, Emilie, married Dr. Morel, secretary and doctor to the French embassy. His son Nicola converted to Islam, married various Iranian women, including Gowhar Taj of the Qaraguzlu family, where he became known as Zulfiqar Khan Mobasher al-Mamalek. Semino's descendants remained in Iran and entered prominent Iranian circles through marriage alliances.

Semino died in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (in modern-day Turkey), on 14 July 1852.