An Analysis of a Decree in the Era of Shah Safi's Ruling (1629-1642) (Fruitless Efforts for Resolving the Disputes between Qizilbash Turks and the Georgians, and its Historical Consequences)

The aim of this research is to introduce an official decree issued in the era of the ruling of Shah Safi and to study its content and historical background. Methodology/Approach: This research has a historical approach and uses descriptive-analytic method. An effort has been made to answer the main question of the research based on official writings and historical research. Findings/ Findings show that after the death of Shah Abbas I، the policy of supporting Georgian slaves against Qezelbash Turks was repudiated and the Safavid society faced new challenges considering the disputes between the Turk rulers and Georgian slaves. Therefore Shah Safi، as the new King، took a symbolic action in order to prevent the escalation of such disputes. In a peaceful manner and in the form of a governmental decree، Shah Safi tried to put an end to the enmities by creating family ties between two powerful political and military individuals، Zeinal Khan Shamlu as the Safavid regent and generalissimo، and Safi Gholi Khan Gorji as the Beylerbey of Baghdad and Iraq. However، Shah Safi’s decree for killing Zeinal Khan، which was issued a short time later due to the negligence of Zeinal Khan in sending Qizilbash forces to the west of Iran in order to support Safi Gholi Khan against the siege of Baghdad by the Ottoman Turks، shows that the earlier decree of the Shah for resolving the disputes was not effective. Perhaps this incident led Shah Safi to turn to violence and brutality as his ruling method.