Analysis of the Safavid and Ottoman's Religious Conflicts in the Caucasus (1524-1629)

The Caucasus is a religiously important region as it has been the pathway of different cults, beliefs, creeds, and sects throughout history. Since ancient times, this region has had deep religious as well as historical links with Iran. After the advent of Islam, the new religion tried to spread over the entire Caucasus, but the people there resisted embracing the new faith. At last, however, the people in some parts of Caucasia converted to Sunnis, and in this way, Islam became one of the religions in the Caucasus, along with Christianity in Georgia and Armenia. Due to its unique geographical location, the Caucasus was one of the disputed areas between the Safavids and the Ottomans. The Safavid government and the Ottoman government made efforts to increase their influence in the region. On the one hand, the Ottoman government tried to put pressure on the Safavid government from the north under the pretext of supporting the Sunnis in Shervan, Daghestan, and other regions with Sunni populations, and with encouragement from their relationships with the Crimea dynasty. On the other hand, the Safavid government tried to promote Shiism, and to penetrate into the regions with Sunni populations, and promulgate their religious tenets under the pretext of engaging a holy war against the Christian infidels. Although both governments claimed that they were motivated solely by a desire for fighting against the Christian infidels, there were other hidden motives for their actions, and the present study deals with the undeclared motives and the challenges arising from them in an analytical manner.