Abbas the Great

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.