Political Marriages: from the Timurid to the Advent of the Safavids (Causes and Consequences)

As a sociopolitical phenomenon, political marriages have historically been a good strategy to get benefits and political legitimacy, economic earnings, land expansion, and social promotions in Iran. Despite the important role of these marriages for governmental fluctuations, and political and military regiments, few independent studies have been conducted on this issue, especially in the Timurid and the Turkmans (AghGhuyunlou and GharaGhuyunlou). The main question of the current research is to identify the motives and goals of political marriages from the Timurid era to the advent of the Safavids and how these marriages have affected the formation and orientation of Iran's political future. Considering the simultaneous presence of the Timurid and Turkmans (AghGhuyunlou and GharaGhuyunlou) in Iran and the confrontations, oppositions, and shared political and territorial interests simultaneously, a political marriage was one of the best ways to reduce tension and territorial development and the consolidation of the political situation in any geographical range. The present study aimed to apply a descriptive analysis to identify the political nature of such marriages as a tool in political relationships against rivals and interior/exterior enemies, considering geographical boundaries and religious contrasts among governments and movements of the mentioned era.