1. 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
Reign of Isma‘il
shaykh (Sufi
master)
Safi al-Din
(lived 1252-
1334)

2. Ottomans
Özbegs
(Uzbeks/
Uzbegs)
wakil
(deputy)
shah
1510 Safavids have taken
eastern Asia Minor, Iraq and
western Persia. Defeat Özbegs
in battle
Safavids defeat Özbegs
again, secure eastern border
1514 Ottomans defeat Safavids
at Chaldiran

3. Reign of Tahmasp
1533 Tahmasp takes de facto power
1534, 1548, Ottoman invasions of
Safavid territory. Peace finally made, Iraq
(including Baghdad) left in Ottoman hands.
Safavids keep Tabriz, but Tahmasp moves
capital to Qazvin

4. 1587 Murshid Quli Khan raises ‘Abbas to
throne
Reign of ‘Abbas
1598 ‘Abbas transfers capital to Isfahan
Safavids push Ottomans out of
north-west Persia, Baghdad and south-east
Asia Minor

5. Reign of al-Safi
Reign of ‘Abbas II
1645 ‘Abbas II takes de facto power
1648 Safavids take Qandahar from Mughals
Reign of al-Safi II/Sulayman

6. 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