Sophy (Safavid Empire)

The Sophy was a reference to the ruler of the Safavid dynasty of Iran.^[1] Despite that Europeans had been calling Iran "Persia" ever since the time of the ancient Greeks, from the time of king Abbas I (r. 1588-1629), the ruler of the nation came to be known as the "Sophy", itself a corruption of the word "Safavi" - the dynasty to which Abbas I belonged.^[1]

An extensive number of references to Persia and its "Sophy" in European literature start with the reign of Abbas I and onwards.^[1] William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (published 1602) is noted as being amongst the early attestments to this.^[1] One of the characters in the play, named Fabian, says: "I will not give my part of this sport for a pension of thousands to be paid from the Sophy!".^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 Blow 2009, p. xiii.

Sources

Blow, David (2009). Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King Who Became an Iranian Legend. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-0857716767.
Savory, Roger (2007). Iran Under the Safavids. Cambridge University Press. p. 259. ISBN 978-0521042512.

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