Tahmasp I
| Shah Tahmasp I | |
|---|---|
| Shahanshah of Persia | |
 Painting of Shah Tahmasp I at Chehel Sotoon palace. | |
| Reign | 23 May 1524 – 25 May 1576 |
| Coronation | 2 June 1524 |
| Full name | ‘Abu’l Muzaffar ‘Abu’l Fath Sultan Shah Tahmasb bin Shah Ismail al-Safavi al-Husayni al-Musavi[1] |
| Titles | Shahanshah, Sahib-i-Qiran, Sultan bar Salatin [2] |
| Born | 22 February 1514 |
| Birthplace | Shahabad |
| Died | 14 May 1576 (aged 62) |
| Place of death | Qazvin |
| Buried | Ardebil |
| Predecessor | Ismail I |
| Successor | Ismail II |
| Royal House | Safavi |
| Father | Shah Ismail I |
| Mother | Tajlu Khanum |
| Religious beliefs | Shia Islam |
Tahmasp I (Persian: شاه تهماسب یکم) (22 February 1514 – 14 May 1576) was an influential Shah of Iran, who enjoyed the longest reign of any member of the Safavid dynasty. He was the son and successor of Ismail I.
He came to the throne aged ten in 1524 and during his minority was weak and came under the control of the Qizilbash, Turkic tribesmen who formed the backbone of Safavid power. The Qizilbash leaders fought among themselves for the right to be regents over Tahmasp. Upon adulthood, however, Tahmasp was able to reassert the power of the Shah and control the tribesmen.
His reign was marked by foreign threats, primarily from the Ottomans and the Uzbeks. In 1555, however, he regularized relations with the Empire through the Peace of Amasya. This peace lasted for 30 years, until it was broken in the time of Shah Mohammed Khodabanda.
He is also known for the reception he gave to the fugitive Mughal Emperor Humayun which is depicted in a painting on the walls of the Safavid palace of Chehel Sotoon. Humayun's return from Persia, accompanied by a large retinue of Persian noblemen and soldiers, signaled an important change in Mughal court culture, as the Central Asian origins of the dynasty were largely overshadowed by the influences of Persian art, architecture, language and literature.[citation needed]
One of Shah Tahmasp's more lasting achievements was his encouragement of the Persian rug industry on a national scale, possibly a response to the economic effects of the interruption of the Silk Road carrying trade during the Ottoman wars.
Biography
Regency 1524–1533
Tahmasp was the son of Shah Ismail I and Shah-Begi Khanum (known under the title Tajlu Khanum) of the Turcoman Mawsillu tribe.[3][4] He was only 10 years old when he succeeded his father Shah Ismail, the founder of Safavid rule in Iran. Too young to rule in his own right, Tahmasp came under the control of the Qizilbash. Some of the tribes recognised a Qizilbash leader, Div Sultan Rumlu, as regent (atabeg) to the shah, but others dissented and in 1526 a bloody civil war broke out among the differing factions. Div Sultan emerged victorious but his ally, Chuha Sultan Takkalu, turned against him and urged the shah to get rid of him. On 5 July 1527 as Div Sultan arrived for a meeting of the government, Tahmasp shot an arrow at him. When it failed to kill him, the shah's supporters finished him off.
Chuha Sultan now became regent. Iran's enemies, the Uzbeks, had taken advantage of the civil war to invade the north-eastern province of Khorasan. In 1528 Chuha Sultan and the shah marched with their army to reassert control of the region. Although they defeated the Uzbeks in a battle near Jam, Tahmasp was disgusted at the cowardice Chuha Sultan had displayed during the combat. Finally, in 1530/1, a quarrel broke out between members of the Takkalu and Shamlu Qizilbash factions and the Shamlus succeeded in killing Chuha Sultan. The Takkalus regained the advantage and some of them even tried to kidnap the shah. Tahmasp lost patience and ordered a general massacre of the Takkalu tribe. They never regained their influence in Iran.
The leader of the Shamlu faction, Husayn Khan, now assumed the regency but, in 1533, Tahmasp suspected Husayn Khan was plotting to overthrow him and had him put to death. Tahmasb was now old enough and confident enough to rule in his own right.[5]
Foreign threats 1533–1553
The discord in Iran had allowed its enemies, the Uzbek khans in the east and the Ottoman Empire in the west, to seize territory. The Ottomans were at the height of their power during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. They launched four invasions of Iran between 1533 and 1553. Since the Ottoman army possessed overwhelming numerical superiority, Tahmasp avoided pitched battle with them and resorted to alternative tactics.
In 1534, Suleiman invaded Iran with a force numbering 200,000 men and 300 pieces of artillery. Tahmasp could only field 7,000 men (of dubious loyalty) and a few cannons. The Ottomans seized the Safavid capital Tabriz, and captured Baghdad. Tahmasp avoided direct confrontation with the Ottoman army, preferring to harass it then retreat, leaving scorched earth behind him. This scorched earth policy led to the loss of 30,000 Ottoman troops as they made their way through the Zagros mountains and Suleiman decided to abandon his campaign.[6]
Next, Suleiman tried to exploit the disloyalty of Tahmasb's brother Alqas Mirza, who was governor of the frontier province of Shirvan. Alqas had rebelled and, fearing his brother's wrath, he had fled to the Ottoman court. He persuaded Suleiman that if he invaded the Iranians would rise up and overthrow Tahmasp. In 1548, Suleiman and Alqas entered Iran with a huge army but Tahmasp had already "scorched the earth" around Tabriz and the Ottomans could find few supplies to sustain themselves. Alqas penetrated further into Iran but the citizens of Isfahan and Shiraz refused to open their gates to him. He was forced to retreat to Baghdad where the Ottomans abandoned him as an embarrassment. Captured by the Iranians, his life was spared but he was condemned to spend the rest of his life in prison in the fortress of Qahqaha.[7]
During the final Ottoman invasion of Iran in 1553, Tahmasp seized the initiative and defeated Iskandar Pasha near Erzerum. He also captured one of Suleiman's favourites, Sinan Beg. This persuaded the sultan to come to terms at the Peace of Amasya in 1555. The treaty freed Iran from Ottoman attacks for three decades. Nevertheless, Tahmasp took the precaution of transferring his capital from Tabriz to Qazvin, which was further away from the border.[8]
Between 1540 and 1553, Tahmasp conducted military campaigns in the Caucasus region, capturing many Armenians, Georgians and Circassians. These would become an important new element in Iranian society.[9]
Royal refugees: Bayezid and Humayun
The Mughal Empire was Iran's eastern neighbour. In 1544, the Mughal emperor, Humayun, fled to Tahmasp's court after he had been overthrown by the Pashtun rebel Sher Shah Suri (Sher Khan). Tahmasp insisted on the Sunni Humayun converting to Shi'ism before he would help him. Humayun reluctantly agreed and also gave Tahmasp the strategically important city of Kandahar in exchange for Iranian military assistance against the heirs of Sher Khan and his own rebellious brothers. By 1555, he had regained his throne.[10][11]
Humayun was not the only royal figure to seek refuge at Tahmasp's court. A dispute arose in the Ottoman Empire over who was to succeed the aged Suleiman the Magnificent. Suleiman's favourite wife, Roxelana, was eager for her eldest son, Selim, to become the next sultan. But Selim was an alcoholic and Roxelana's third son, Bayezid, had shown far greater military ability. The two princes quarrelled and eventually Bayezid rebelled against his father. His letter of remorse never reached Suleiman and he was forced to flee abroad to avoid execution. In 1559, Bayezid arrived in Iran where Tahmasp gave him a warm welcome. Suleiman was eager to negotiate his son's return, but Tahmasp rejected his promises and threats until, in 1561, Suleiman offered him land and 400,000 gold pieces. In September of that year, Tahmasp and Bayezid were enjoying a banquet at Tabriz when Tahmasp suddenly pretended he had received news that the Ottoman prince was engaged in a plot against his life. An angry mob gathered and Tahmasp had Bayezid put into custody, alleging it was for his own safety. Tahmasp then handed the prince over to the Ottoman ambassador. Shortly afterwards, Bayezid was killed by agents sent by his own father.[12]
Final years
In 1574, Tahmasp fell ill and discord broke out among the Qizilbash once more, this time over which prince was to succeed him. The shah's Georgian and Circassian wives had also introduced a new faction into the court. Seven of Tahmasp's surviving sons were by Georgian or Circassian mothers and two by a Turcoman.[13] Of the latter, Mohammed Khodabanda was regarded as unfit to rule because he was almost blind, and his younger brother, Ismail, had been imprisoned by Tahmasp since 1555. Nevertheless, one court faction supported Ismail, while another backed Haydar Mirza, the son of a Georgian. Tahmasp himself was believed to favour Haydar but he prevented his supporters from killing Ismail.[14]
Tahmasp died as a result of poison, although it is unclear whether this was by accident or on purpose. On his death, as expected, fighting broke out between the different court factions. Haydar was killed and Ismail emerged triumphant as Shah Ismail II.[15]
In 1574, Tahmasp also had the 36th Nizari Ismaili Shia Imam Murād Mīrzā executed, due to the perceived political threat he posed.
Tahmasb and the arts
Tahmasb was an enthusiastic patron of the arts with a particular interest in the Persian miniature, especially book illustration. He had been trained in drawing himself, and had some talent. The most famous example of such work is the Shāhnāma-yi Shāh Tahmāsbī (King's Book of Kings), commissioned for Tahmasb by his father and containing 250 miniatures by the leading court artists of the era.[16] However in the 1540s he is recorded as losing interest in the arts, and his imperial atelier largely dispersed.
The reign of Tahmasp I is considered the most brilliant period in the history of the Azerbaijani language and Azerbaijani literature at this stage of its development.[17]
Tahmasp was against music and dispelled all the musicians from his court.[18][19]
Offspring
He married (first) his maternal first cousin, Kadamali Sultan Begum, née Sultanum Begum daughter of Musa Sultan bin ‘Isa Beg Musullu, of the Aq Quyunlu, m. (second) Sultan Agha Khanum, a Circassian, sister of Shamkhal Kara-Musal Sultan,Governor of Sakki, m. (third), Sultanzada Khanum a Georgian, m. (fourth) Zahra Baji daughter of Prince Ot'ar Shalikashvili of Samtskhe from Shalikashvili family of Georgia, m. (fifth) Khan-Parwar Khanum a Georgian, m. (sixth) Huri-Khan Khanum, a Georgian, m. (seventh) daughter of the Governor of Daghestan, m. (eighth)Aisha Begum, daughter of Sufian Khan, Khan of Khiva, m. (ninth) Zainab Sultan Khanum, m. (tenth) Zahra Baji a Georgian.[20]
Sons
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan ‘Ali Quli Mirza (b.1528-d.1529)
- Mohammed Khodabanda
- Ismail II
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan Murad Mirza (b. 1538-d. 5 September 1545) Governor of Kandahar 1545.
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan Soleiman Mirza (b. at Nikhichivan, 1554-k. at Qazvin, 2 November 1576) Governor of Fars 1555–1557, and Mashhad 1576.
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan Heidar Mirza (b. 1555-k. at Qazvin, 14 May 1576) having had issue, a daughter, married Hasan Khan Ustajalu. She had issue, 4 sons.
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan Mostafa Mirza (b. 1557-k. at Qazvin, 2 November 1576) having had issue, 2 daughters, Princess Mahd-e-Olia married Abbas I and a daughter who married Zulfikhar Khan Karamanlu and had issue, 2 sons.
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan Mahmud Mirza (b. 1559-k. at Qazvin, 24 February 1577) Governor Shirvan 1566–1567, and of Lahijan 1567–1571, having had issue, a son, Prince Mohammad Baqer Mirza (b.1575 -k. 24 February 1577)
- Prince Shahzadeh Imam Qoli Mirza (b. 1562- k. at Qazvin, 24 February 1577), without issue .
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan ‘Ali Mirza (b. at Qazvin, 1563- d. at Isfahan, 31 January 1642) Governor of Ganja 1570–1577. He was blinded and imprisoned by Shah Abbas I at Alamut. m. Kabuli Begum, having had issue, one son, Prince Shahzada Soltan Mustafa Mirza.
- Prince Shahzadeh Sultan Ahmad Mirza (b. at Qazvin, 1564-k. at Qazvin, 24 February 1577)
- Prince Shahzadeh Zeinal Abedin Mirza (d. before 1576)
- Prince Shahzadeh Musa Mirza (d. before 1576)
Daughters
- Princess Shahzadeh Alamiyan Gowhar Sultan Beygom (b. 1540- d. 19 May 1577) married Prince ‘Abu’l Fath Soltan Ibrahim Mirza (b. 1543- k. 24 February 1577) son of paternal uncle, Shahzada ‘Abu’l Fath Muiz ud-din Bahram Mirza son of Ismail I, having had issue, one daughter, Princess Gowhar Shad Begum (b. 1561-d. ?)
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Pari-Khan Khanum (b.1548-k. 17 February 1578) unmarried and without issue.
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Khadija Sultan Begum, m. (first) her cousin, Jamshid Khan Gilani (b. 1557- k. 1580) son of Soltan Mahmud Mirza Gilani, governor of Fuman. m. (second) as his third wife, Mir Nimatu’llah Yazdi Zu’l-Nurain, eldest son of Amir Ghiyas ed-din Muhammad Yazdi Mir-i-Miran, having had issue, two sons, by her first husband.
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Zainab Beygom (b. 1550-d. at Isfahan, 14 May 1641) unmarried and without issue
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Mariam Sultan Beygom (b. 1551-d. at Isfahan, 1608), m. (first) Khan Ahmad Khan governor of Gilan, m. (second) as his second wife, Mir Nematu’llah Yazdi Zu’l-Nurain, eldest son of Amir Ghiyas ed-din Muhammad Yazdi Mir-i-Miran, having had issue one daughter and one son, by her first husband.
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Beygom Khanoum, m. Musib Beyg Khan, son of Muhammad Khan Takahi.
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Khanish Begom. (b. after 1562-d. at Isfahan, 1590) m. as his first wife, Mir Nimatu’llah Yazdi Zu’l-Nurain, eldest son of Amir Ghiyas ed-din Muhammad Yazdi Mir-i-Miran, having had issue, two sons.
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Fatemeh Sultan Beygom, m. Amir Khan Musallu (k. at Qahqaha, 1584) son of Muhsmmad Beyg Mosalla.
- Princess Shahzadi Alamiyan Shahbanu Khanum, m. his first wife, her cousin, Amir Salman Khan Ustajalu son of Shah ‘Ali Quli Mirza Ustajalu.[21]
See also
- Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism
References
- ↑ The Royal Ark
- ↑ The Royal Ark
- ↑ Women in Iran: From the Rise of Islam to 1800 ed. Nashat and Beck (University of Illinois Press, 2003) p.145
- ↑ Andrew J. Newman Safavid Iran (I.B.Tauris) p.23
- ↑ This section: Savory pp.51–58
- ↑ Nahavandi and Bomati p.283
- ↑ Savory pp.62–63
- ↑ Savory p.63
- ↑ Savory p.64-65
- ↑ Nahavandi and Bomati pp.286–287
- ↑ Savory pp.66–67
- ↑ Nahavandi and Bomati pp.284–286
- ↑ Her name was Sultanum Bekum Mawsillu (Andrew J. Newman, Safavid Iran, I.B.Tauris, 2004, p.42)
- ↑ Savory p.69
- ↑ Cambridge History of Iran Vol.6, p.248
- ↑ Savory p.129
- ↑ http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/azerbaijan-x
- ↑ http://www.noormags.com/view/fa/articlepage/361159
- ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=afsYCq1XOewC&lpg=PA32&dq=music%20%2B%20Tahmasp&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q&f=false
- ↑ The Royal Ark
- ↑ The Royal Ark
Sources
- Roger Savory Iran under the Safavids (Cambridge University Press, 2007 reissue) pp. 96–100
- H. Nahavandi, Y. Bomati, Shah Abbas, empereur de Perse (1587–1629) (Perrin, Paris, 1998) pp. 222–226
External links
- A king's book of kings: the Shah-nameh of Shah Tahmasb, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF)
| Tahmasp I Safavid Dynasty | ||
| Preceded by Isma'il I |
Shah of Persia 1524–1576 |
Succeeded by Isma'il II |