Safavid Empire

By maxmorabito
  • Jan 1, 1501

    Safavid Empire Founded

    Safavid Empire Founded
    Ismail, A member of the Safavid Sufi order, rises to the top of the order and proclaims himself Shah. He captures Tabriz, the capital Azerbaijan and begins minting coins in his name. He also declared Shi'ism the official religion of his empire.
  • Nov 29, 1508

    Ismail conquers Baghdad

    Ismail conquers Baghdad
    In 1508, Ismail attacked Baghdad, slaughtering hundreds of Sunni Muslims and captured the city.
  • Nov 28, 1514

    The Safavids are defeated by the Ottomans at Chaldiran.

    The Safavids are defeated by the Ottomans at Chaldiran.
    The Ottoman Empire considered the Safavids a major threat, and in 1514, the Ottomans and Safavids met in battle at Chaldiran. The Ottoman forces won a major victory when their artillery decimated the Safavid Cavalry. This defeat lowered the army's morale for many years.
  • Nov 29, 1524

    Shah Tahmasp takes power

    Shah Tahmasp takes power
    Tahmasp, Ismail's son, takes power after Ismail's death in 1524. He was 10 years old at the time, and due to low morale and internal fighting, the empire suffered internal struggles for the first decade of Tahmasp's reign.
  • Nov 29, 1530

    Tahmasp's administration becomes more secular.

    Tahmasp's administration becomes more secular.
    During Tahmasp's reign, the position of Shah began to become a more political figure, rather than the leader of the Safavid Sufi order.
  • Nov 29, 1535

    Prisoners from the Caucasus Region are taken.

    Prisoners from the Caucasus Region are taken.
    Tens of thousands of prisoners from the Caucasus region north of Persia are taken, which changes the ethnic mix of the empire, bringing Armenian Christians and Georgians into the empire.
  • Nov 29, 1576

    Ismail II, Tahmasp's son, takes power and is subsequently murdered.

    Ismail II, Tahmasp's son, takes power and is subsequently murdered.
    Ismail II took power after Tahmasp's death, and began a short but brutal reign. He murdered many members of his family and court for no reason, and tried to convert the empire to Sunniism. Ismail II was murdered a year after taking power.

  • Abbas I takes power and begins a golden age.

    Abbas I takes power and begins a golden age.
    Abbas I, also known as Abbas the Great, is considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid Empire. He rebuilt the empire after the inept rule of Ismail II and brought new success to the empire.

  • Abbas I forbids the appointment of princes as regional governors

    Abbas I forbids the appointment of princes as regional governors
    Abbas I ended the practice of appointing his sons to be regional governors because he believed it gave the princes too much power. After Abbas' death, a string of weak rulers without any government experience took power, contributing to the decline of the empire.