The attitude of Azerbaijan rulers to the Shiites; from the collapse of Ilkhanids to the rise of Safavids

Shi'ism has had a lot of ups and downs in Iran from the collapse of Ilkhanids to the establishment of Safavids. The study of the situation of Shi'ism in that period in Azerbaijan, which later became the provenance for the formation of Safavid rule and consequently, official recognition of Shi'ism, is very important. The main question of this paper is that what the attitude of Azerbaijan local rulers was to Shi'ism and the Shiites of this region before Safavid periods. This article, using descriptive-analytical examination of historical texts, attempts to clarify how the local rulers of Azerbaijan had a tendency toward Shi'ism after the collapse of the Ilkhanids. This tendency developed during the time of Aq Qoyunlu and Qara Quyunlu rulers and subsequently led to the establishment of Safavids and the domination of the Shi'ite religion in the region.