Aly Khan

Prince Aly Salomone Aga Khan was a man of many roles. He was a diplomat, a soldier, and a famous horse racing enthusiast. Born in Turin, Italy, on June 13, 1911, he had a very international background. His father was Sultan Muhammad Shah, known as Aga Khan III. His mother was an Italian woman named Cleofe Catterina Teresa Magliano. Aly Khan grew up studying with private tutors in India and France. Later, he moved to England to train as a lawyer. His life would eventually bridge the worlds of high society and international politics.

During the years of the Second World War, Aly Khan served in the military. In 1939, he joined the French Foreign Legion. He served with the cavalry division in Egypt and the Middle East. Later, he joined the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1944. He also served as a liaison officer during the Allied landing in the south of France. For his service, he received several prestigious honors. These included the Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre, and the United States Bronze Star Medal. In 1957, he was named the 1st Colonel of the 4 Cavalry Regiment in the Pakistan Army.

In his youth, Aly Khan was a well-known socialite. He was often seen in high-profile circles and had many famous relationships. In 1936, he married Joan Barbara Guinness in Paris. They had two sons, Karim al-Husseini and Amyn Muhammad Aga Khan. After his divorce from Joan in 1949, he married the famous American actress Rita Hayworth. They married in Cannes, France, in May 1949. They had one daughter together, Yasmin Aga Khan. His personal life was frequently discussed in the news, including his engagement to actress Gene Tierney and his later relationship with model Bettina Graziani.

Beyond his social life, Aly Khan was a highly respected figure in horse racing. He owned and bred racehorses in France, England, and Ireland. After World War II, he purchased a half share in his father's racing interests. He was considered an expert at judging the quality and breeding of horses. The champion trainer Noel Murless even called him a unique judge of pedigrees. His racing partnership was very successful. From 1947 to 1949 and again in 1952, they were among the top winning breeders.

In 1957, Aly Khan transitioned into a serious political career. President Iskander Mirza of Pakistan offered him a significant diplomatic role. In February 1958, it was announced that he would be Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations. He served on the UN Political and Security Committee. His work was quite influential during his short time there. On September 17, 1958, he was elected as a vice president of the United Nations General Assembly. He also served as the chairman of the U.N.'s Peace Observation Committee.

There was a major change in his family's leadership during this time. In July 1957, his father, Aga Khan III, passed away. According to the will, the leadership of the Ismaili community skipped a generation. Instead of passing to Aly Khan, the title of Aga Khan IV went to his eldest son, Karim. Karim was a student at Harvard University at the time. This was only the second time in 1,300 years that the succession had skipped a generation. This event marked a significant moment in the history of the Ismaili community.

Aly Khan's life came to a sudden end in 1960. On May 12, he was driving a car in Suresnes, France. He was traveling to a party with his fiancée, Bettina Graziani. The car collided with another vehicle at an intersection. Aly Khan sustained severe head injuries and died shortly after at Foch Hospital. His fiancée survived the accident but suffered a miscarriage due to the shock. He was initially buried at his home, Château de l'Horizon. In 1972, his remains were moved to Damascus, Syria. He was eventually reinterred in Salamiyah, Syria.