Ismail I

17 July 1487 – 23 May 1524

Ismail I (1487-1524) was the founder of the Safavid dynasty of Iran, ruling as shah from 1501 until his death. He established Twelver Shia Islam as the official religion of his empire, a decision that permanently shaped Iranian identity, and he was also an accomplished poet writing under the pen name Khatai.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Ismail I.

Life events

Birth of Ismail in Ardabil
17 July 1487

Ismail was born on 17 July 1487 in Ardabil into the family of Safavid Sufi order leaders.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Went into hiding in Lakhijan after the deaths of his father and brother
c. 1494

Following the killing of his father Haydar and persecution of his family by the Aq Qoyunlu, the young Ismail was sheltered for years in Gilan.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Emerged from hiding to lead the Qizilbash movement
c. 1499

Around 1499, at about age twelve, Ismail left Gilan and rallied his Qizilbash followers to avenge his family and claim power.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Crowned Shah of Iran in Tabriz, founding the Safavid dynasty
1501

After defeating the Aq Qoyunlu, Ismail entered Tabriz in 1501 and proclaimed himself shah, establishing Safavid rule.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Proclaimed Twelver Shia Islam the official religion of his realm
1501

Upon taking power in 1501, Ismail declared Twelver Shiism the state religion, beginning the conversion of Iran from Sunni to Shia Islam.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Wrote Turkic poetry under the pen name Khatai
c. 1505

Ismail composed a large body of poetry in Azerbaijani Turkic that remained influential in Safavid religious and literary culture.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Defeat of the Uzbeks and death of Muhammad Shaybani at Merv
December 1510

In 1510 Ismail defeated the Uzbek leader Muhammad Shaybani at the Battle of Merv, securing Khorasan for the Safavids.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Defeat by the Ottomans at the Battle of Chaldiran
23 August 1514

On 23 August 1514 Ottoman sultan Selim I decisively defeated Ismail's forces at Chaldiran, a blow that shattered Ismail's aura of invincibility and left him withdrawn from public life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Death of Ismail I
23 May 1524

Ismail died on 23 May 1524 near Tabriz and was buried in Ardabil; his ten-year-old son Tahmasp I succeeded him.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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