Political Asylum during the Safavid Era Based on the Asylum of the Khans of Khwarezm and Marv to the Court of Shāh  Abbās I

The main goal of this paper is to study and analyze the contexts and reasons of the Khans of Khwarezm and Marv to give asylum to the Safavid Government and to analyze the impacts of these asylums on the relations of the Safavid Government with the Uzbeks. The findings of this research showes that in this period, some Khans of Khwarezm and Marv as the result of the expansionist policy of the Uzbek sultans, worried about their lives and with the hope of finding ally and regain their power, turned to the court of Iran. Shāh, Abbās I took the advantage of this opportunity and by intervention in the internal conflicts of Uzbek rulers, succeeded to restore the sovereignty and influence of Iran in the eastern borders and Khorasan. This policy of Shāh ‘Abbās to use the opportunities for the establishment of friendly relationship with Arabshahi Uzbek Emirs of Khwarezm region played an significant role in reducing the next Shaybanid Uzbeks invasions of Iran.