From Power to Periphery

Chapter Six delves into the intricate dynamics of the “second transformation” of the Safavid Empire, which was characterized by the deliberate erosion of the authority of the Qizilbash elite within the Safavid state apparatus. The chapter outlines how the gradual sidelining of Qizilbash notables from prominent positions in the Safavid political landscape had far-reaching consequences, not only for the Safavid Empire itself but also for its relationship with the Ottoman Qizilbash. By the 1650s, Safavid attempts to exert influence within Ottoman territories had significantly waned. Concurrently, Qizilbash subjects residing within the Ottoman Empire transitioned from being active participants in interimperial politics to becoming an increasingly isolated and marginalized community. This transformation in both Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire carried profound implications for the broader geopolitical landscape of the region, reshaping power dynamics and contributing to a more stable regional order for more than a century.