mid 14th c. Collapse of the Ilkhanate. Safavids build support among Qizilbash (“redheads”) 1499 Safavid Isma‘il attacks local Turkish rulers 1501 Isma‘il takes Tabriz 1501-24 Reign of Isma‘il shaykh (Sufi master) Safi al-Din (lived 1252- 1334)
Ottomans Özbegs (Uzbeks/ Uzbegs) wakil (deputy) shah 1510 Safavids have taken eastern Asia Minor, Iraq and western Persia. Defeat Özbegs in battle 1512-13 Safavids defeat Özbegs again, secure eastern border 1514 Ottomans defeat Safavids at Chaldiran
1524-76 Reign of Tahmasp 1533 Tahmasp takes de facto power 1534, 1548, 1554-55 Ottoman invasions of Safavid territory. Peace finally made, Iraq (including Baghdad) left in Ottoman hands. Safavids keep Tabriz, but Tahmasp moves capital to Qazvin
1587 Murshid Quli Khan raises ‘Abbas to throne 1587-1629 Reign of ‘Abbas 1598 ‘Abbas transfers capital to Isfahan 1603-23 Safavids push Ottomans out of north-west Persia, Baghdad and south-east Asia Minor
1629-42 Reign of al-Safi 1642-66 Reign of ‘Abbas II 1645 ‘Abbas II takes de facto power 1648 Safavids take Qandahar from Mughals 1666-94 Reign of al-Safi II/Sulayman
1694-1722 Reign of Sultan Husayn 1722 Mahmud of Qandahar takes Isfahan. Sultan Husayn abdicates. Mahmud becomes new ruler of Isfahan, effectively bringing Safavid rule to an end