Though Sultan Khodah-bundah, about two centuries before, had embraced the faith of the sect of Aly, yet it was to Ismail that it owed its establishment as the religion of the empire ; and it was principally to the nature of its tenets, that he was indebted for the rise of his fortunes. From the sanctity of his own character, and also of that of his ancestors, he was regarded by his followers as one raised up and favoured by heaven for the propagation of the new faith. They gloried in the name of Sheah, or tc sectary," and vowed eternal hostility against all Sonnites. So enthusiastic were they in this feeling, that many of his soldiers disdained to wear armour when fighting under Ismail, but bared their breasts, and courted death in the midst of their enemies, exclaiming, “Sheah ! Sheah !" to mark the holy cause for which they fought. The me mory of Ismail is still cherished with affection in Persia ; and the dynasty, of which he was the founder, ruled over this country for more than two centuries.
His son Tamasp was only ten years of age when he ascended the throne. Though not distinguished by great abilities, this prince possessed a kind and generous dis position, and was not wanting either in spirit or in pru dence. During a long reign of fifty-three years, which was almost periodically disturbed by the invasion of the Turks, on the one hand, and by the inroads of the Usbegs on the other, he maintained the integrity of the empire, and added Georgia to the conquests of his father. His generous reception of the emperor Hoomayoon, when driven from the throne of India, is remembered by his countrymen with national pride ; and the munificent and royal hospitality which that prince experienced, and the effectual assistance which he received to replace him on his throne, called forth the praise even of distant nations. It was during the reign of this prince, that Queen Eliza beth accredited an English merchant, named Jenkinson, to visit the court of Persia, for the purpose of extending the commerce of her kingdom ; but Tamasp, who was most bigoted in his religious sentiments, told him that he had no need of the aid of infidels, and bade him depart.
For nearly ten years, subsequent to the death of Shah Tamasp, the empire was torn by the contentions of his children, when his grandson Abbas was raised to the throne by the chiefs of Khorassan. The young prince was fora time held in subjection by those powerful nobles, to whom he owed his elevation ; and Murshud Kooli Khan, who had obtained the supremacy among them, exercised all the functions of a sovereign. But the mind of Abbas was not formed to be contented with the name of power without the reality ; and the death of Alurshud Kooli, which he soon after accomplished, put him in possession of an authority which he jealously retained to the end of his life The Usbegs still continued their usual inroads into Khorassan ; but Abbas in vain endeavoured to bring them to an action ; for their chief object being plunder, they always retired on the approach of the Persian army.
On one occasion, however, the rapidity of his movements prevented the retreat of these depredators, when a general engagement ensued, which ended in the complete over throw of the invaders. Their prince Tulim Khan, and many of their bravest leaders, fell in this action ; and the remainder saved themselves by a rapid flight across the Oxus. This victory gave a long respite to this province from such depredations ; and enabled the Persian mo narch to extend his territories as far as Bulkh. His ge nerals, at the same time, had subdued the whole of the mountain province of Lai-, and the islands in the Persian Gulf.
Abbas now directed his attention to the encroachments of the Turks, who not only held the fort of Nahavund in Irak, but the cities of Teflis and Tabreez, with almost the whole of Georgia and Aderbijan. His first attack was upon Nahavund, which he took, and levelled its fortifica tions with the ground. He then marched into Aderbijan, and besought his troops to second his efforts against the enemies of their country and their faith. Tabreez and Erivan surrendered to his arms, but he was compelled to recall his general from the siege of Bagdad, by the ap proach of the Turkish army. The action which followed was not only glorious to the Persian arms, but the most important in its consequences which Abbas ever fought. The Turks were driven from all their possessions on the Caspian ; and Aderbijan, Georgia, Kurdistan, Bagdad, AIoossul, and Diarbekir, were re-annexed to the Persian empire.
This great prince had early perceived, that the internal tranquillity of the kingdom was liable to be frequently disturbed by the violent disputes of the more powerful tribes. Some of these composed the best portion of his army, particularly the Kuzel-bash tribes, whose numbers amounted to between fifty and sixty thousand horsemen. These men would only obey leaders of their own tribe ; so that the king could not advance a favourite to any rank or command in his army, except he was the chief of a Kuzel-bash family. To render himself independent of these turbulent chiefs, Abbas reduced the number of their followers in his army to thirty thousand; and raised a corps of ten thousand horse and twelve thousand foot, as his body guard, who received their pay from the crown, and were commanded by officers of his own appointment. In the formation and discipline of this corps, he was greatly assisted by the counsel and exertions of two Eng lish knights of the name of Shelley, who, with twenty-six followers, had gone over to Persia as soldiers of fortune. By their instructions in the art of war, and in the use of artillery, they were enabled to cope with the janizaries of Turkey, and constituted a powerful defence to the mo narch against the violence of the nobles.