Iran Empress. She was the second wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlevi, the Shah of Iran. She was the daughter of Khalil Esfandiary-Bakhtiari, later Ambassador of Iran to the Federal Republic of Germany, and Eva Karl, Princess Esfandiary-Bakhtiari. In the summer of 1950 she was introduced to Mohammad Reza Pahlevi. They fell in love and the engagement was celebrated in October. A sudden illness nearly prevented her to attend her own marriage. Unknown to anyone this illness had made her infertile. This was the main reason why the divorce was announced in 1958. She was granted the title Her Imperial Highness the Princess Soraya of Iran. In 1965 she wanted to start a movie career. She starred in the movie "Three Faces of a Woman" and fell in love with the director Franco Indovina. After his death she traveled Europe. Two of her lovers committed suicide. From 1980 she lived secluded in her Parisian apartment in the Avenue Montaigne. In October 2001 she was found dead in this apartment. The official cause of death was apoplexy but every other cause from suicide to murder was suspected. The memorial service was celebrated a few days later at the Eglise Americaine in Paris. Several members of the European nobility attended the service. Her belongings were sold at an auction in Paris after her death, because her only heir, her brother, had died eight days after her.
Iran Empress. She was the second wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlevi, the Shah of Iran. She was the daughter of Khalil Esfandiary-Bakhtiari, later Ambassador of Iran to the Federal Republic of Germany, and Eva Karl, Princess Esfandiary-Bakhtiari. In the summer of 1950 she was introduced to Mohammad Reza Pahlevi. They fell in love and the engagement was celebrated in October. A sudden illness nearly prevented her to attend her own marriage. Unknown to anyone this illness had made her infertile. This was the main reason why the divorce was announced in 1958. She was granted the title Her Imperial Highness the Princess Soraya of Iran. In 1965 she wanted to start a movie career. She starred in the movie "Three Faces of a Woman" and fell in love with the director Franco Indovina. After his death she traveled Europe. Two of her lovers committed suicide. From 1980 she lived secluded in her Parisian apartment in the Avenue Montaigne. In October 2001 she was found dead in this apartment. The official cause of death was apoplexy but every other cause from suicide to murder was suspected. The memorial service was celebrated a few days later at the Eglise Americaine in Paris. Several members of the European nobility attended the service. Her belongings were sold at an auction in Paris after her death, because her only heir, her brother, had died eight days after her.
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