Contacts with Europe Abbas I of Persia

persian ambassador during entry kraków wedding ceremonies of king sigismund iii of poland in 1605.

abbas tolerance towards christians part of policy of establishing diplomatic links european powers try enlist in fight against common enemy, ottoman empire. idea of such anti-ottoman alliance not new 1 – on century before, uzun hassan, ruler of part of iran, had asked venetians military aid – none of safavids had made diplomatic overtures europe , abbas attitude in marked contrast of grandfather, tahmasp i, had expelled english traveller anthony jenkinson court on hearing christian. part, abbas declared preferred dust shoe soles of lowest christian highest ottoman personage .

canvas carlo , gabriele caliari in doge s palace in venice depicting doge marino grimani receiving persian ambassadors, 1603



abbas new caesar being honoured trumpets of fame, 1609-1615 persian embassy, in allégorie de l occasion, frans ii francken, 1628.

in 1599, abbas sent first diplomatic mission europe. group crossed caspian sea , spent winter in moscow, before proceeding through norway, germany (where received emperor rudolf ii) rome pope clement viii gave travellers long audience. arrived @ court of philip iii of spain in 1602. although expedition never managed return iran, being shipwrecked on journey around africa, marked important new step in contacts between iran , europe , europeans began fascinated iranians , culture – shakespeare s 1601–02 twelfth night, example, makes 2 references (at ii.5 , iii.4) sophy , english term shahs of iran. persian fashions—such shoes heels, men—were enthusiastically adopted european aristocrats. henceforward, number of diplomatic missions , fro increased.

the shah had set great store on alliance spain, chief opponent of ottomans in europe. abbas offered trading rights , chance preach christianity in iran in return against ottomans. stumbling block of hormuz remained, port had fallen spanish hands when king of spain inherited throne of portugal in 1580. spanish demanded abbas break off relations english east india company before consider relinquishing town. abbas unable comply. abbas became frustrated spain, did holy roman empire, wanted him make 400,000+ armenian subjects swear allegiance pope did not trouble inform shah when emperor rudolf signed peace treaty ottomans. contacts pope, poland , muscovy no more fruitful.

more came of abbas contacts english, although england had little interest in fighting against ottomans. shirley brothers arrived in 1598 , helped reorganise iranian army, proved pivotal safavid victory in ottoman-safavid war (1603-1618) , first safavid victory in battle on neighbouring ottoman archrivals. 1 of shirley brothers, robert shirley, led abbas second diplomatic mission europe between 1609-1615. english east india company began take interest in iran , in 1622 4 of ships helped abbas retake hormuz portuguese. beginning of east india company s long-running interest in iran.