Abbas the Great

27 January 1571 – 19 January 1629

Abbas I, known as Abbas the Great, was the fifth Safavid shah of Iran and is generally considered the strongest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He reformed the Persian army, expelled Ottoman and Uzbek forces from Iranian territory, and moved the capital to Isfahan, which he transformed into one of the world's great cities. His reign marked the political and cultural zenith of Safavid Iran.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Abbas the Great.

Life events

Born in Herat
27 January 1571

Abbas was born in Herat as the third son of Mohammad Khodabanda of the Safavid dynasty.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Became Shah of Iran
October 1588

Abbas was placed on the Safavid throne after his father Mohammad Khodabanda was deposed in a coup led by Qizilbash chiefs.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Signed peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire
1590

Abbas concluded the Treaty of Constantinople, ceding extensive northwestern territories to the Ottomans in order to free his forces to fight the Uzbeks.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Reformed the Safavid army
c. 1598

Abbas created a standing army loyal to the crown, including musketeer and artillery corps, reducing his dependence on Qizilbash tribal forces.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved the Safavid capital to Isfahan
1598

Abbas transferred his capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, which he rebuilt with grand mosques, palaces, and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Recaptured Tabriz from the Ottomans
1603

Abbas launched a successful war against the Ottoman Empire, retaking Tabriz and beginning the recovery of territories lost in 1590.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Ordered the death of his eldest son Mohammad Baqer Mirza
1615

Fearing conspiracy, Abbas had his heir Mohammad Baqer Mirza (Safi Mirza) killed, an act he reportedly regretted deeply.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Captured Hormuz from the Portuguese
1622

With naval support from the English East India Company, Abbas's forces seized the strategic island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf from Portugal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Mazandaran
19 January 1629

Abbas died at his palace in Farahabad on the Caspian coast and was succeeded by his grandson Safi.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓