Abbas takes control Abbas I of Persia

shah ‘abbās king of persians.

copper engraving dominicus custos, atrium heroicum caesarum pub. 1600–1602.

the kingdom abbas inherited in desperate state. ottomans had seized vast territories in west , north-west (including major city of tabriz) , uzbeks had overrun half of khorasan in north-east. iran riven fighting between various factions of qizilbash, had mocked royal authority killing queen in 1579 , grand vizier mirza salman jabiri in 1583.

first, abbas settled score mother s killers, executing 3 of ringleaders of plot , exiling 4 others. next task free himself power of murshid qoli khan. murshid made abbas marry hamza s widow , safavid cousin, , began distributing important government posts among own friends, gradually confining abbas palace. meanwhile, uzbeks continued conquest of khorasan. when abbas heard besieging old friend ali qoli khan shamlu in herat, pleaded murshid take action. fearing rival, murshid did nothing until news came herat had fallen , uzbeks had slaughtered entire population. did set out on campaign khorasan. abbas planned avenge death of ali qoli khan , arranged 4 qizilbash leaders kill murshid after banquet on 23 july 1589. murshid gone, abbas rule iran in own right.

abbas decided must re-establish order within iran before took on foreign invaders. end made humiliating peace treaty – known treaty of istanbul – ottomans in 1589/90, ceding them provinces of azerbaijan, karabagh, ganja, dagestan, , qarajadagh, parts of georgia, luristan , kurdistan. demeaning treaty ceded previous capital of tabriz ottomans.