The Safavid Empire - The Rising Sun

Shah Abbas – The Fleet of Hormouz

Shah Abbas – The Fleet of Hormouz (1600 – 1606)​

The new capital didn’t take long to get up and running. The move was unpopular in and around Tabriz and some even talked of taking to arms but this didn’t stop almost 40,000 people flocking to Isfahan in search of a new life. The move to the new capital also helped Abbas to undermine the influence of the tribes. For too many years the tribes had maintained a large influence in the Empire. Now with the new capital in place they would stop meddling in affairs of the Shah!

Abbas completes the move of the capital​

With his new capital up and running Abbas started searching for new advisors. He had hundreds of Safavid advisors and while his people were starting to compete with the Christian world powers he knew that without outside help the Safavids could never exert their power outside of their immediate neighbours. Firstly he needed foreign knowledge on shipbuilding for a navy and the army could do with some touching up too.

It took a good few years but eventually news arrived that two English experts in land and sea warfare were visiting the Lebanon. Abbas quickly organised gifts for the men and invited them to his court in Tabriz. After a little persuasion both agreed to help improve the Safavid army and construct a navy. Work began immediately…

Abbas brings in some extra help​

Two years down the line, tons of wood and a lot of labour and the Safavid fleet was complete. It wasn’t as grand as the Spanish, English or Portuguese but with six warships it could hold its own in a fight. It also had the capacity to hold 20,000 troops which was easily enough for Abbas to move Safavid forces around the east of Africa and the west of India. For a first try Abbas didn’t think it was bad!

Not a brilliant navy but better then nothing​

Just as Abbas was about to launch his attack on the Portuguese holdings on the Arabian peninsula an opportunity too good to pass saved the Christians for a little while at least.

War with the Ottomans looks inevitable​

Abbas sent weapons and money to the Turkish rebels without even trying to hide it. In all honestly he wanted the Ottomans to find out. Only a month after the Ottomans took the bait and declared war on the Safavid Empire. Abbas, who cared little for religion, re-allied with the Mughals just to make defeat an absolute impossibility. He then ordered the Safavid army onwards to Ottoman lands.

The newly named Grand Alliance moves on the Turks​

Against the combined might of the Grand Alliance (Shiite was out due to the Pagan Mughals) the Ottomans crumbled. The war was over within 2 years and Angora and Adana were handed over to Abbas.

Two more provinces pried from the Ottomans​

After another successful war against the Ottomans Abbas turned his attention back to the Portuguese. They had bases all over Africa and India. The maps captured almost a century earlier showed cities in a far off place called ‘Brazil’ in the Americas. The rumours of the riches and gold brought back from the new continent had spread far and wide but all this fazed Abbas little. With his new navy he was confident of victory but if he won it would be his greatest accomplishment yet...

The navy is to attack the Portuguese holdings. Can't have those nasty Christians so close to the Empire can we! I'd say your about right with the pinnacle bit Duke. Not sure the worse Shahs sure to follow will be able to hold together the fragile empire Abbas is creating.

I'm split between the two ideas Herbert and CatKnight. Maybe Abbas will keep them as a vassalised buffer and attack the Poles as well!

Soon to be revealed Ragusa.

Shah Abbas – A World Power?

Shah Abbas – A World Power? (1606 – 1613)​

Abbas wasted no time in dealing with the Portuguese. Before the war with the Ottomans had even come to an end he’d had two new 20,000 strong (the standard size of Ottoman forces after his English advisors informed him this would be best) armies trained in Isfahan.

Before he could declare war on the Portuguese however heretics rose up in the Lebanon in revolt. Abbas personally crushed this rebellion and had the leaders taken back to Isfahan. Abbas wasn’t a cruel man but he did what was effective and he felt an example had to be made – the men were boiled alive. Their heads were displayed above the city walls to dissuade anyone else who felt discontent to his regime against such actions.

After this minor issue was resolved Abbas led his army to the port at Hormouz where they boarded the Safavid fleet and sailed for the Isle of Bahrein. The Portuguese garrison was overwhelmed within a week and surrendered to Abbas. Meanwhile he had Ferhan Khan sent to Al Kharam. Here the Portuguese garrison surrendered before a single shot was fired. Thus was the fear that Abbas instilled in his enemies.

Removing the Portuguese from the Arabian Peninsula​

Knowing the Portuguese would never surrender their holdings after losing two provinces to a sneak attack Abbas boarded his fleet again. This time he set sail for India – heading for the trade centre of Gao which the Portuguese used as a naval base. Here he attacked and destroyed the Portuguese fort and took possession province.

Removing the Portuguese from Gao​

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The Portuguese Court - 1612

A weary man rushes into the King’s palace. Ornaments of gold brought back from the new world litter the walls and in the middle of it all sits a crooked old man on a grand throne.

“My King, the Safavids… they march…” the man pants heavily “...they march on the African provinces!”

The King reacted calmly and simply stated “Pah we will crush them. They fight with spears don’t they?” at this point he made a strange pointy action vaguely resembling a spear stab.
One of the men standing around the King then interrupted.

“No my lord they have developed muskets and cannon. In fact our alchemists now believe their weapons are superior to ours!”

At this point the King trailed off into a barrage unfathomable foul curses but after a lot of persuasion he accepted he could not win this war and an emissary was sent to Abbas.

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When Abbas heard the Portuguese were willing to offer all their holdings on the Peninsula and Gao he accepted the offer without hesitation.

Just a few months later an emissary came from a Portuguese admiral.

Abbas’ long standing belief is confirmed – Christians are idiots​

Abbas ordered his colonial army to march on the Portuguese fortresses in Africa and after sacking a few forts the Portuguese quickly offered gold for peace.

The Safavid Empire of Shah Abbas the Great​

Abbas was pleased. The Portuguese had been taught a lesson and suddenly all of Christian Europe was aware there was a new kid on the block. The Safavids may not have the colonies of Spain and were slightly behind in technology compared to the French and English but in beating the Portuguese they had sent a warning out to the Christian powers that they wouldn’t tolerate meddling within their influence. They also proved they had the naval power to compete in sea warfare.

More good news was to come. The Ottomans had lost their war against Poland and Spain. The two powers had picked at the bones of the Empire and taken yet more provinces. Abbas was however wary that one day he may have to deal with the Christians which now held the east of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire in tatters​

Savoy were in the war with Spain Karasuman. They apparantly did preety well as you can see.

Egypt and Ottomans are on the agenda soon Ragusa. After that... well if the Poles and Spanish are still around Abbas may decide they have to be dealt with. Wonder how much Abbas can do and if it'll be too much for the next Shah.

Struggling to remeber the results because there wasn't really a choice to make. I think refusing gave a stab hit and war with Portugal while accepting gave up Gao but increased stab and relations with Portuguese.

Shah Abbas – Peaceful Times

Shah Abbas – Peaceful Times (1613 – 1620)​

The war with Portugal had been concluded only two months earlier when a messenger arrived bringing bad news. News which most courtiers were certain would cause yet another war. Knowing Abbas probably a successful war but still the Empire was tiring of endless war. The messenger had brought word that the Mughal’s new emperor wasn’t as keen on the pagan thing as his predecessor. He wasn’t keen on the Shiite thing either and instead, wisely from a domestic outlook, converted to the Sunni form of Islam. Past Shahs would have had troops in India within days but Abbas simply said “Let them be” and the Mughals were left to it.

Instead of throwing more money into the army and a war in India Abbas ordered that all legal councils must be promoted to chief judges. For an empire the size of the Safavids this would cost thousands of ducats but Abbas’ will was law and the project began. The people seemed to like his plans however and worked especially hard in Ciskei where new land was claimed.

A nice little event​

On top of the judges Abbas also had a bank and a fine arts academy dedicated to the greatness of the Safavids built in Isfahan.

One of the paintings of Abbas the Great in the fine arts academy – showing off his more gentle side which was just as great as his fighting side.​

During this time peace was constant throughout the empire. Even the Ottoman lands remained free of rebels. The building project had really brought the country together. After 7 years of this however something happened in the vassals states which was almost certain to end the peace.

Looks like the vassal states are just begging for some Safavid involvement​

The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Alexandria had, after sensing a loosening of the hold their masters had on them, gone to war. Abbas was quite pleased about this. After all it gave him the perfect opportunity to go in and take control of Egypt. Firstly he organised an alliance with his vassals in Jerusalem and send many lavish gifts. The plan was to absorb them into the Empire peacefully. The alliance also allowed him to attack the Alexandrians and take control of them a little less peacefully.

Abbas was delighted. All that red and white in the south west of his map was irritating him. Soon it would all be blue!

Yeah takes a real man to pull off pink Kara!

Not sure if I like what the new map looks like Duke. The Empires kinda sprawling out now in a big claw to the west.

As for the Uzbeks I've been giving them some thought. They've been vassals for quite a while now but recently have won a war against Sibir gaining a few northern provinces. I'm thinking the increase in power should make them a little uppity and yet having heard of Abbas' victories against the Turks and Portuguese they wouldn't want to risk outright war. Abbas while not relgious might be wanting to exert some authority. Not entirely sure how I should play it all out but an event to help the Uzbek AI along is needed.

Any ideas anyone? Suggestions are helpful.

Shah Abbas – Can anything stop him now?

Shah Abbas – Can anything stop him now? (1620 – 1625)​

Abbas declared war on Alexandria in the summer of 1620. At the same time the Mughals attacked Gujarat and Abbas offered his support although had no intention of sending any troops into India. Instead he sent around 70,000 men, horses and cannon into Egypt.

The war zone​

His men met the forces of Alexandria first at Cairo where they drove them back to the Delta. Here one 20,000 strong regiment defeated the Alexandrians again but between the fighting and losses due to poor supply lines the army was down to 11,000 men by the time their assault at the Delta could get underway. Meanwhile a second Safavid army headed for the capital at Alexandria and began the assault of the city.

After a week Alexandria fell but the forces in the Delta, demoralised by the losses suffered, failed to capture the Delta. Ferhan Khan who had been placed in charge of the army at Alexandria quickly headed east to help the Safavid men in the Delta. Under the leadership of Ferhan the Delta suffered the same fate as Alexandria.

Assaulting fortresses​

Next Ferhan marched south to face the 20,000 Alexandrian troops besieging a Jerusalem fortress in the Nile region. Ferhan met them on the field and thanks to the greatly superior Safavid organisation and weaponry the Alexandrians were sent fleeing to Cataract. Ferhan took chase and followed them Cataract where he won a devastating victory completely destroying the Egyptian forces. Ferhan proceeded to lay siege to the city before marching on El Alemein. After capturing the fortress there the Alexandrians were forced to submit to Safavid rule keeping only Alexandria.

The Kingdom of Alexandria surrenders​

While their troubles with the Safavids were over the Alexandrians still had to deal with the Kingdom of Jerusalem who promptly annexed their remaining city.

The ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Abu Mirza, who was in truth no more then a puppet of Abbas was then informed he was no longer required. Abbas would take over control of the lands of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and govern them from his capital of Isfahan.

The claw reaching westwards​

With each new conquest Abbas was growing more and more ambitious. He now openly talked of the Safavids marching on Istanbul, all of northern Africa and to the walls of Venice. His plans seemed fanciful and yet none would have argued it was beyond Abbas. He was the supreme, undisputed ruler of his own Empire and even the states of Eastern Europe now feared his wrath!