The Interactions between Ottomans and Uzbeks in the Early SafavidPeriod and theirConsequences

Ahmad Ashrafi[1]

Abstract

The emergence of Safivid Dynasty and its recognition of Shiite as the legitimate religion of the country was a new period in the history of Iran. Inappropriate religious extremism by Shah Ismail and his son, Tahmasb, led to radical reactions on the part of the Ottomans and Uzbeks in the East and West of the country. It also resulted intheir political and military interactions against Safavid state. Furthermore, blocking the linking roads of these two states by Iran caused many commercial and transportation problemsfor pilgrims from Transoceanic and India on their way to Mecca. The expansionary aims of the Ottomans in the East and their claim for exerting dominance on the world of Islam along with the issuance of harsh Islamic decrees by their Islamic leaders against theGhezelbashs were among thesignificant factors that made Uzbek leaders and Ottomans’ coalition against Safavids possible. The existing documents and correspondence exchanged between the Ottomans and Uzbeks indicate great political and militaryinteractions between them.The documents reveal that Ottomans were involved in training the Uzbek forces and equipping them with guns and rifles againstSafavid Dynasty. Some Uzbek leaders who were well aware of the importance of military readiness corresponded with the Ottomans, requesting that Yenicheri soldiers be sent for training and mobilizing their forces. The present study aims at investigating the objectives followed by these states throughsuch interactions against the Safavids and the consequences especially in Khorassan area in the early Safavid period.