The Safavid Empire was the greatest and longest standing empire of ancient Persia. Rich with architecture, art, poetry, and culture, the Safavid Empire is an intriguing legacy. With an extensive history, several great leaders influenced the Safavid Dynasty greatly; in particular there were four Safavids who molded the dynasty into the great reign it is remembered for today. Sheikh Safi al-Din was the forefather of the Safaviyya Order that then became the Safavid Dynasty that claimed rule over the Aq Qoyunlu in ancient Persia under Shah Ismail. During the golden age of the empire, one of the most influential kings became Shah Abbas, he attained the suffix “The Great” because of his incredible rule as king. Yet long before this, a Safavid mystic
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Safi had many followers after the inheritance of the Order, of which most were Turkic. It is uttered that Safi had many mystical powers, but his most influential was his ability to prophesize in his dreams. He had prophetic and political dreams which were accounted for after his death in 1334. Safi also wrote a great deal of poetry, this was a sign of incredible intellect at the time. Religiously, he was a Sunni follower of the Shafii practice; this was at a time of “religious syncretism and ferment.” The earliest written account of Sheikh Safi was in Savat al-Safa in 1350. Furthermore, at least twelve Safavid narratives contain some version of his dreams, the writings of Safi continued into the chronicles of Ismail I and his son Tahmasp.2 The most prominent of Safis dreams was those of Ismail I and Shah Abbas. This gave way for the rulers to appear divinely sanctioned. Over the next 170 years the Safaviyya Sufi Order gained intense momentum with political and military power. This led to the invasion of Tabriz by Ismail I to make the Safavid rein the greatest Persian Empire to …show more content…
One of the most renowned battles Ismail would encounter was the battle of Chaldiran. The Ottoman armies under Sultan Selim I invaded resulting in the loss of part of Eastern Anatolia. As well, Tabriz was occupied by the Ottoman, but only for one week. 4 Unfortunately this did not matter, the battle of Chaldiran caused Shah Ismail to fall into a great depression. He retreated from the majority of affairs regarding the state and instigated him create a more equal balance of power between the Quzibash Emirs and the Persian-Tajik land owning nobility. 4 This heralded a significant political realignment within the Safavid Empire. Over the next ten years there were many battled fought by the Qizibash, they continued to hold great power even with a solitary Shah. Luckily the Safavids were still well controlled by his minister, Mizra Shah-Hussayn. A once invincible man became withdrawn and defeated, a rather sad ending to a great king. But before his death in 1524 Ismail claimed Twelver Shi’ism as the state religion, he was then buried in his hometown of Ardabil. His death and this claim gave way to an ostentatious civil war that would last for ten years. When Shah Ismail’s son turned ten years old he was brought to the capital to assume rule. His name was Tahmasb Mizra and would go on to rein for fifty-two years.
Safi had many followers after the inheritance of the Order, of which most were Turkic. It is uttered that Safi had many mystical powers, but his most influential was his ability to prophesize in his dreams. He had prophetic and political dreams which were accounted for after his death in 1334. Safi also wrote a great deal of poetry, this was a sign of incredible intellect at the time. Religiously, he was a Sunni follower of the Shafii practice; this was at a time of “religious syncretism and ferment.” The earliest written account of Sheikh Safi was in Savat al-Safa in 1350. Furthermore, at least twelve Safavid narratives contain some version of his dreams, the writings of Safi continued into the chronicles of Ismail I and his son Tahmasp.2 The most prominent of Safis dreams was those of Ismail I and Shah Abbas. This gave way for the rulers to appear divinely sanctioned. Over the next 170 years the Safaviyya Sufi Order gained intense momentum with political and military power. This led to the invasion of Tabriz by Ismail I to make the Safavid rein the greatest Persian Empire to …show more content…
One of the most renowned battles Ismail would encounter was the battle of Chaldiran. The Ottoman armies under Sultan Selim I invaded resulting in the loss of part of Eastern Anatolia. As well, Tabriz was occupied by the Ottoman, but only for one week. 4 Unfortunately this did not matter, the battle of Chaldiran caused Shah Ismail to fall into a great depression. He retreated from the majority of affairs regarding the state and instigated him create a more equal balance of power between the Quzibash Emirs and the Persian-Tajik land owning nobility. 4 This heralded a significant political realignment within the Safavid Empire. Over the next ten years there were many battled fought by the Qizibash, they continued to hold great power even with a solitary Shah. Luckily the Safavids were still well controlled by his minister, Mizra Shah-Hussayn. A once invincible man became withdrawn and defeated, a rather sad ending to a great king. But before his death in 1524 Ismail claimed Twelver Shi’ism as the state religion, he was then buried in his hometown of Ardabil. His death and this claim gave way to an ostentatious civil war that would last for ten years. When Shah Ismail’s son turned ten years old he was brought to the capital to assume rule. His name was Tahmasb Mizra and would go on to rein for fifty-two years.