Mohammed Khodabanda

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Mohammed Khodabānda of Khudabānda, also known as Mohammed Shah, was the fourth Safavid Shah of Iran (Persia) (1578–1587) .

He succeeded to the throne of Persia upon his brother Ismail II's death in 1578.

The most important event of Mohammed’s reign was the war with the Ottomans. The Ottoman army under the leadership of Osman Pasha had crossed the borders into Iran and invaded Tabriz. Sultam Mohammed sent his oldest son Hamzeh Mirza to fight the Ottomans. Soon after, Osman Pasha died in Tabriz and the young prince decided to cross the Araxes river in order to directly attack the Ottoman territory. His actions eventually forced the enemy to accept the offer of peace and return Tabriz to Iran. Soon after this victory, Hamzeh Mirza was assassinated and his younger brother 'Abbās Mirza ('Abbās the Great) moved to Qazvin to claim the throne for himself. Sultan Mohammed personally put the crown on his son’s head.

Mohammed was a mild-mannered and ascetic figure, also hampered by semi-blindness in his late years: the Safavid Empire substantially weakened during his late years, especially on the eastern frontiers, which were invaded by Uzbek and Turkmen tribes from Central Asia. After the abdication, he spent the rest of his life in seclusion. He died eight years later and his son brought his body to Karbala for burial.

Preceded by Isma'il II

Shah of Iran (Safavid Dynasty) 1576–1587

Succeeded by Abbas I