User:HistoryofIran/Safavid dynasty

Originally, the Safavid family belonged to the [[Kurds|Kurdish]] aristocracy, owning property and maintaining ties with the [[Ahl-e Haqq]] in [[Kurdistan]]. In the 12th century, the family relocated to northeastern part of the [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan]] region. [[Safi al-Din Ardabili]] (died 1334), a distinguished [[Sufism|Sufi]] leader, was the founding ancestor of the Safavid family, six generations before [[Shah Ismail I]]. He established the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] [[Safavid order]], wrote mystical poetry in [[Old Azeri]], built considerable wealth, and was held in high regard by the ruling elite and their ministers.{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=40}} The Safavid order was based in [[Ardabil]], the birth and burial place of Safi al-Din Ardabili.{{sfn|Matthee|2008}} At that time, Sufi groups were highly regarded because they presented religion in a more personal way than the theologians and jurists, who adhered more closely to [[Sharia Law]].{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=40}}

Originally, the Safavid family belonged to the [[Kurds|Kurdish]] aristocracy, owning property and maintaining ties with the [[Ahl-e Haqq]] in [[Kurdistan]]. In the 12th century, the family relocated to northeastern part of the [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan]] region. [[Safi al-Din Ardabili]] (died 1334), a distinguished [[Sufism|Sufi]] leader, was the founding ancestor of the Safavid family, six generations before [[Shah Ismail I]]. He established the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] [[Safavid order]], wrote mystical poetry in [[Old Azeri]], built considerable wealth, and was held in high regard by the ruling elite and their ministers.{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=40}} The Safavid order was based in [[Ardabil]], the birth and burial place of Safi al-Din Ardabili.{{sfn|Matthee|2008}} At that time, Sufi groups were highly regarded because they presented religion in a more personal way than the theologians and jurists, who adhered more closely to [[Sharia Law]].{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=40}}

The Safavids brought the long-developing opportunities on the Caspian region to fruition under an ideological empire with Perso-Shia characteristics. Other messianic movements, such as the [[Horufis]] and [[Noqtavis]], were earlier expressions of these common ideals, albeit more subtly.{{sfn|Amanat|2025|p=25}} A wide range of diverse political and cultural traditions blended together to form the medieval Irano-Islamic civilization. The Safavid order emerged in 15th-century Iran due to a complex combination of political and doctrinal factors, arising from religious diversity and unclear boundaries among Sufi, Shia, and Sunni sects.{{sfn|Mitchell|2011|p=51}}

Little is known about the religion situation across various cities and provinces in 15th-century Iran. A description of it appears from the earlier century by [[Hamdallah Mustawfi]] in his ''[[Nuzhat al-Qulub]]'', which ''[[The Cambridge History of Iran]]'' describes as "fairly accurate."{{sfn|Amoretti|1986|p=614}} Mustawfi wrote that Sunni populations were dominant in major cities, while Twelver Shia Islam was concentrated in regions like [[Gilan province|Gilan]], [[Mazandaran province|Mazandaran]], [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], [[Varamin]], [[Qom]], [[Kashan]], [[Khuzestan province|Khuzestan]], and [[Sabzevar]] in [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]]. In the [[Timurid Empire|Timurid]] period and notably under the Sunni [[Aq Qoyunlu]], Shia Islam was prevalent among the peasantry in various regions of Iran. In major cities, some aristocratic families were also Shia and held important administrative positions.{{sfn|Amoretti|1986|p=617}}

Little is known about the religion situation across various cities and provinces in 15th-century Iran. A description of it appears from the earlier century by [[Hamdallah Mustawfi]] in his ''[[Nuzhat al-Qulub]]'', which ''[[The Cambridge History of Iran]]'' describes as "fairly accurate."{{sfn|Amoretti|1986|p=614}} Mustawfi wrote that Sunni populations were dominant in major cities, while Twelver Shia Islam was concentrated in regions like [[Gilan province|Gilan]], [[Mazandaran province|Mazandaran]], [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], [[Varamin]], [[Qom]], [[Kashan]], [[Khuzestan province|Khuzestan]], and [[Sabzevar]] in [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]]. In the [[Timurid Empire|Timurid]] period and notably under the Sunni [[Aq Qoyunlu]], Shia Islam was prevalent among the peasantry in various regions of Iran. In major cities, some aristocratic families were also Shia and held important administrative positions.{{sfn|Amoretti|1986|p=617}}

[[File:British Library Or. 3248, fol Shah Isma'el pronounces Shii Islam state religion.jpg|thumb|Miniature of [[Shah Ismail I]] declaring [[Shia Islam]] as the official religion of his kingdom. Stored in the [[British Library]], [[London]].{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=34}}]]

[[File:British Library Or. 3248, fol Shah Isma'el pronounces Shii Islam state religion.jpg|thumb|Miniature of [[Shah Ismail I]] declaring [[Shia Islam]] as the official religion of his kingdom. Stored in the [[British Library]], [[London]].{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=34}}]]

After coming to power in Iran, the movement instilled a new Shia identity in its subjects and established an imperial state that would form part of the country's political sovereignty. Despite violence caused by Safavid shah [[Ismail I]] ({{reign|1501|1524}}) and his successors, the dynasty managed to unify the diverse local dynasties, ethnicities, and cultures that had divided Iran since the time of the [[Turco–Mongol tradition|Turco-Mongol]] ruler [[Timur]] ({{reign|1370|1405}}) a century earlier.{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=35}}

After coming to power in Iran, the movement instilled a new Shia identity in its subjects and established an imperial state that would form part of the country's political sovereignty. Despite violence caused by Safavid shah [[Ismail I]] ({{reign|1501|1524}}) and his successors, the dynasty managed to unify the diverse local dynasties, ethnicities, and cultures that had divided Iran since the time of the [[Turco–Mongol tradition|Turco-Mongol]] ruler [[Timur]] ({{reign|1370|1405}}) a century earlier.{{sfn|Amanat|2017|p=35}}

The Safavids brought the long-developing opportunities on the Caspian region to fruition under an ideological empire with Perso-Shia characteristics. Other messianic movements, such as the [[Horufis]] and [[Noqtavis]], were earlier expressions of these common ideals, albeit more subtly.{{sfn|Amanat|2025|p=25}} A wide range of diverse political and cultural traditions blended together to form the medieval Irano-Islamic civilization. The Safavid order emerged in 15th-century Iran due to a complex combination of political and doctrinal factors, arising from religious diversity and unclear boundaries among Sufi, Shia, and Sunni sects.{{sfn|Mitchell|2011|p=51}}

Several important customs and traditions defining traditional Islamic political attitudes and behavior had to be adopted and represented by the Safavid dynasty. The Safavids adopted many of these elements from the Turkmen and Timurid dynasties, whose infrastructure and staff they also incorporated. Ismail I and Tahmasp I adopted and modified key ideas about Perso-Islamic forms of rule and kingship.{{sfn|Mitchell|2011|p=51}}

Several important customs and traditions defining traditional Islamic political attitudes and behavior had to be adopted and represented by the Safavid dynasty. The Safavids adopted many of these elements from the Turkmen and Timurid dynasties, whose infrastructure and staff they also incorporated. Ismail I and Tahmasp I adopted and modified key ideas about Perso-Islamic forms of rule and kingship.{{sfn|Mitchell|2011|p=51}}