The Relations Between the Ottomans and the Uzbeks During the Reign of Shah Tahmaseb, the Safavid Ruler of Persia

During the reign of Sultan Suleiman, the Ottomans were involved in European campaigns, and thus they minimized their military diplomacy against Iran. They even did not arouse the Uzbeks to actions against the Safavids. After the European Campaigns, they aroused religious emotions in the Uzbeks and made some attacks on the Eastern and Western borders of Iran. The Ottomans and the Uzbeks shared the same language, race, and religion. In addition, they were thinking about regaining the rulership. All of these allied the two against the Safavid government with its special political and religious claims.The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors which led to alliance between the Ottomans and the Uzbeks during the reign of Tahmaseb, one of the rulers of the Safavid dynasty. To this end, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman’s diplomacy with Iran and especially his diplomacy with the Uzbeks of Transoxiana have been considered. Furthermore, the influences of alliance between these two Sunni governments, on the Western and Eastern borders of Iran, on the survival of the Safavid dynasty have been investigated. In other words, this study has investigated some of the relations within the Islamic worlds in the 16th century.