Ismāʿīl I summary

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Ismāʿīl I, (born July 17, 1487, Ardabīl, Azer.—died May 23, 1524, Ardabīl, Ṣafavid Iran), Shah of Iran (1501–24) and founder of the Ṣafavid dynasty. Born into a Shīʿite family with close ties to the Sunnite Sufi tradition, he became head of a Shīʿite military force, the Kizilbash, at age 14. He captured Tabrīz in 1501 and proclaimed himself shah of Iran, bringing the whole country and portions of modern-day Iraq under his control. In 1510 his troops defeated the Sunnite Uzbeks. His proclamation of Shīʿism as the official creed prompted the staunchly Sunnite sultan of the Ottoman Empire to order an invasion of Iran in 1514. Ismāʿīl lost the Battle of Chaldiran, but mutiny among the Ottoman troops forced their withdrawal. The conflict between the Ṣafavids and their Sunnite neighbours continued for over a century.

Safavid dynasty Summary

Safavid dynasty, (1501–1736), ruling dynasty of Iran whose establishment of Twelver Shiʿism as the state religion of Iran was a major factor in the emergence of a unified national consciousness among the various ethnic and linguistic elements of the country. The Safavids were descended from Sheikh

army Summary

Army, a large organized armed force trained for war, especially on land. The term may be applied to a large unit organized for independent action, or it may be applied to a nation’s or ruler’s complete military organization for land warfare. Throughout history, the character and organization of

Shiʿi Summary

Shiʿi, member of the smaller of the two major branches of Islam, the Shiʿah, distinguished from the majority Sunnis. The origins of the split between the Sunnis and the Shiʿah lie in the events which followed the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad was understood to be the messenger of God who,

war Summary

War, in the popular sense, a conflict between political groups involving hostilities of considerable duration and magnitude. In the usage of social science, certain qualifications are added. Sociologists usually apply the term to such conflicts only if they are initiated and conducted in accordance