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Shah Safi

Type Figure Region Safavid Persia Time 1611–1642 Also known as Shah Safi、Safi of Persia、Sam Mirza、شاه صفی

Shah Safi (1611–1642), born Sam Mirza, grandson of Safavid shah Abbas I, ascended in 1629, purged the royal family to consolidate power, and shifted …

Timeline

  1. 1611–1628Isfahan · Isfahan ProvinceGrandson of Abbas I, his father Muhammad Baqir Mirza was executed early; he was not the primary heir and held a marginal position at court. Between 1621 and 1628 his grandfather Abbas still firmly controlled government, and Sam Mirza had not yet entered core decision-making.
  2. 1629–1630Isfahan · Isfahan ProvinceHe ascended after his grandfather Abbas I died in January 1629, taking the name Safi. Early in his reign he executed potential heirs on a large scale to eliminate threats and purged some old ministers, quickly establishing personal authority.
  3. 1630–1642Persia · IranForeign relations turned defensive, maintaining a fragile peace with the Ottoman Empire; domestically he relied on eunuchs and favorites, raising taxes to cover court expenses. His reign is seen as a turning point after the Abbasid-era prosperity of Abbas I.

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