The sultanate established in Iran and, took its name from Sheikh Safiyeddin, the sheikh of the Safevi sect of Islam. They established good relations with the Akkoyunlu State. Sheikh Cuneyd one of the sultans of the Saffavids tried to form a Saffavi State but he failed, his son Haydar who succeeded him followed his footsteps and he died in the battle with the Sultan of Sirvans Ferruh Yaser. Consequently, the Saffavid dynasty including crown prince Ismail was slaved by Sultan Yakup. They were freed after the death of Sultan Yakub.

Ismail who took the benefit from the Sultanate disputes upon the death of Sultan Rustem of the Akkoyunlus; invaded Arran and Sirvan, marched through Azerbaycan and by declaring himself as the Shah, he established the Saffavi State. He was supported by Turkmen Principalities of Anatolia.

Shah Ismail tyrannised the Sunni people (a common sect of Islam) living in his sultanate and he began to provoke the people in Anatolia against the Ottoman Empire. As a result of his enmity against the Ottomans, Caldiran Battle was fought and he was defeated. Shah Ismail had died in 1524, and his son Shah Tahmasp succeeded him. Suleyman the Magnificent made many expeditions through Iran, Iraq and Azerbaycan and invaded Baghdad and Tabriz. At last with the enterprises of Shah Tahmasp the Amasya Treaty was signed between two states and the peace was restored.

After the death of Shah Tahmasp who brought the Safevids in a very powerful situation, throne struggles started among his sons Haydar Mirza, Ismail Mirza and Ismail who was commonly known as Ismail II. Ismail took the throne by killing his brothers. He was a horrible ruler, and he was killed by poisoning as a result of his tyranny. After, his death the Ottomans declared war against the Safevi State, the Ottoman Army commanded by Lala Mustafa Pasha invaded, Tiflis, Sirvan and its province, beside, Ozdemiroglu Osman Pasha captured Tabriz

Shah Abbas who succeeded the throne, in 1587 fought with the Ottomans, besides his struggle with internal conflicts. In order to end the war, he sent ambassadors to Istanbul and made a peace treaty with the Ottoman Sultan. By this way he could have managed to organise a powerful army. And he attacked the Ottoman Empire as he finished his organisation. He recaptured his lands from the Ottomans and invaded the Portuguese lands in the Basra Gulf. Shah Abbas died, in 1628, he reigned for 42 years. He was replaced by his grandson Shah Mirza (with the name of Shah Safi I). In this period Ottoman Sultan Murad IV invaded Revan and Baghdad.

Commander Nadir, ended the Safevi Satate and declared himself as the Shah, in 1736.

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