Abbas the Great vs Louis XV

Abbas the Great moved the Safavid capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. He initiated a massive building program, constructing the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the Shah Mosque, and the Ali Qapu palace. Isfahan was transformed into a grand city with parks, bridges, and bazaars, becoming a center of Persian culture and commerce.

Abbas the Great established a new military corps of ghulams (slave soldiers) recruited from Christian subjects in the Caucasus. These troops were trained in modern firearms and artillery, reducing the Safavid reliance on the Qizilbash tribal forces. This reform created a loyal, professional army that strengthened the central government.

Abbas the Great led the Safavid army to victory against the Ottoman Empire at Sufiyan near Tabriz. This battle was part of the Ottoman-Safavid War of 1603-1618. The victory allowed Abbas to recapture Tabriz and other territories lost to the Ottomans in earlier wars.

Abbas the Great allied with the English East India Company to expel the Portuguese from the island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. A joint Persian-English force captured the Portuguese fort after a siege. This victory ended Portuguese dominance in the Persian Gulf and opened trade routes for Persian and English merchants.

Abbas the Great led a campaign to recapture Baghdad from the Ottoman Empire. The Safavid army besieged the city and forced the Ottoman garrison to surrender. This victory restored Safavid control over Mesopotamia, a region lost since the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514.

Louis XV involved France in the War of the Austrian Succession, supporting Prussia against Austria. French forces achieved victories at Fontenoy (1745) but failed to secure lasting gains. The war drained French finances and ended with the inconclusive Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

Louis XV signed the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, ending the War of the Austrian Succession. France gained little from the war despite military successes, returning conquered territories including the Austrian Netherlands. The treaty was seen as a diplomatic failure and contributed to the decline of royal prestige.

Louis XV led France into the Seven Years' War against Great Britain and Prussia. The war resulted in France losing most of its North American colonies (New France) and its influence in India. The Treaty of Paris (1763) confirmed these losses, severely weakening French colonial power.

Louis XV, advised by Chancellor Maupeou, abolished the Parlements (high courts) that had opposed royal tax reforms. This authoritarian move centralized power but alienated the nobility and legal classes, creating long-term opposition to the monarchy.