Shah Ismail I - The Influence of Ismail
Shah Ismail I – The Influence of Ismail (1505-1514)
In January of 1506 the Uzbeks invaded the remnants of the Timurid Empire taking Samarkland and Bukhara. This worried Ismail; the Uzbeks were a growing force and one that wasn’t too keen on his Safavid Empire. Just a month later however good news arrived the academy of fine arts had been completed. Ismail sent missionaries to Fars, Kushka and Saheden in an attempt to turn them from the Sunni faith. It was costly but he knew that this was a matter beyond material possessions such as money. Besides he had a lot of it doing nothing in the palace vault.
Ismail spent the next two years touring his new realm. He was impressed and yet worried. The vast tracks of land and many cities under his rule were the backbone of the Empire he envisioned but everything wasn’t yet in place. He set a group of his best advisors to the task of starting to reform the economy of the Safavid realm.
After his tour Ismail received some interesting news…
Ismail’s simple choice
The news of Shiite rebels in the Ottoman Empire was an opportunity too good to turn down. Ismail offered his full support to them. The support and will of Ismail held such sway in the region that the Ottoman Sultan had no choice but to give in to the will of the rebels. The Ottoman Empire was announced as a Shiite nation. The Sultan had seen the light and would lead his people under the Safavid religion. The Ottomans also joined Ismail's alliance. Ismail simply nooded and said 'Good' when told. In this mind it had been inevitable that the Ottomans would convert and if the Sultan had resisted he was simply delaying what was destined to happen.
The Ottomans convert
This action by the Sultan infuriated the vastly Sunni majority in the Ottoman lands and was seen as a weakness in Christian Greece. It plunged the Ottomans into turmoil with rebellions breaking out across the empire and the Sultans control being limited to the capital in Istanbul. Ismail offered to lend the Persian Army to the Sultans cause and put down the rebels but the Ottomans were wary of Ismail asserting too much influence over them and refused his gracious offer. Ismail shrugged when he heard the news, after all the troops could be better used elsewhere.
Rebels going wild in the Ottoman Empire
The missionaries in eastern Persia were attacked as a result of these events and their attempts failed. Ismail was not put off though and sent more missionaries to the east.
The Uzbeks continued their aggression in the east now attacking Ismail’s vassal Khorasan. Ismail was furious, he mounted his horse and prepared to lead the Persian Army to battle to teach the Uzbeks a lesson. They marched for Khorasan first where Ismail held council with the King. Ismail left the palace calm and collect with his anger for the Uzbeks cooled. He had been persuaded to leave the Uzbeks for another day. His advisors were puzzled by this and none knew what the King had said to Ismail but he left Herat and headed back for Azerbaijan.
Uzbek expansion (striped red = Khorasan gains and striped brown = Timurid gains)
Ismail returned to his capital but stayed only a week. He and a small force started travelling to Al-Haasa. When asked why by an advisor he simply said, ‘to unite our kingdoms’. For a second time Ismail’s advisors thought he had lost it. Vassalage was one thing but to bring the many local sheiks into the Safavid Empire was impossible. Ismail would be lucky to leave Al-Haasa alive. They again however underestimated the will of the Shah who when he arrived in Al-Haasa, called a meeting of all local leaders and informed them they were part of his empire. There was silence in the hall but none disputed his declaration. The lands formally of the Kingdom of Al-Haasa were now provinces of the Safavid Empire. His advisors were shocked, yet again Ismail had done what most thought impossible.
Ismail’s advisors had also finished establishing the steps which must be taken to reform the Safavid Empire.
Ismail’s reforms
These steps would greatly improve the economy of his Empire and allow it to compete with any force who might oppose Ismail!
Rather then wasting time partying as previous rulers of this region had Ismail didn’t stop. He now turned his attention to the Sunni neighbour of Ormuz (formerly ‘The People Across the Sea’)
The Kingdom of Ormuz
Ismail was now beyond the need for military action in the region. Ormuz would submit because he willed it to. He now carried enough weight and power to force them to accept his religion and accept hisoffer of vassalage without argument. Ismail simply sent a cap, and ordered King Terunxa to submit. The King reluctantly accepted his ‘gift’ and converted to the Shia faith.
Ismail’s Influence
Ormuz also joined Ismail’s alliance.
Ismail slumped, relaxing as he sat on his throne accepting gifts from many minor Kingdoms bordering the Safavid Empire, the Ottomans, the rulers in the provinces and his vassals Khorasan. Gold flooded into the palace and the vaults were almost full. None could match the wealth, power and influence of the Safavids! The Shiite faith was spreading and Ismail was sure the Safavid dominance was assured for decades to come… (his advisors thought he was wrong again and he knew it but what did they know?)