Ethnic identity of Safavids
So far, there have been persistent attempts to link the ancestors of Shah Ismail with non-Turkic ethnicity. An assumption concerning the Arabic, Kurdish and Persian ethnic origin of dynasty is made. However, survey research that is undertaken through sufficient historical documents proves the Azerbaijan, Turkic origin of dynasty. In this connection, the following conclusions were made by outstanding researchers dealing with investigation of Safavid dynasty origin and are given below.
“It is undoubtedly, these Ardabil sheikhs were definitely Turkic origin and not Persian”
V.V. Barthold, Russian and Soviet scholar of Oriental studies, quotation from work “Brief review from Azerbaijan history.”
“Some of Western European orientalists have seen and scrutinized the Safavid state as the Persian one. It is a severe misinterpretation. The Safavid state was established with efforts of Azerbaijan Turkic speaking tribes-qizilbashs (Red Heads), and Iranian elements had played a rather minor role in the events concerning of the early 16th century”.
I.P.Petrushevsky, Soviet orientalist, quotation from work “Essays of the history of feudalism in Azerbaijan and Armenia in 16th and early 19th centuries.”
The tribes later named qizilbash were linguistically and ethnically related to the Azerbaijani tribes that created the Garagoyunlu and Agqoyunlu states, which in the 15th century consistently owned Azerbaijan and a large part of Iran.
N.D. Miklouho-Maclay, Russian and Soviet Orientalist, quotation from work “Shiism and its social face”
When the artificial barriers created by political and ideological motives are eliminated, as well as the life moments of Ismayil's ancestors are studied, it becomes clear that they are rooted Azerbaijanis living in Ardabil and surrounding areas. They belong to the Azerbaijani and Turkic nobility. It is known that his contemporaries called Sheikh Safi “Turkic son” and “Turkic sheikh”.
F.Beshar, Turkish historian, quotation from work “Safavids“//“Large Islamic Encyclopedia“
Standing at a high stage of socio-economic development, Azerbaijan formed the basis of a great state established in the Transcaucasia and Iran in the early 16th century. This state included many tribes and peoples, but for a long time it was dominated by Azerbaijani feudal lords, the first Safavids relied on their military power.
B.N. Zahoder, Soviet Orientalist, quotation form work “Safavid State”
* “Shah Ismail was born in Ardabil, Azerbaijan and his family belonged to the Safavid religious organization founded by Sheikh Safi ad-Din (1253-1334). It was the Turks, not the Iranians, who created and ruled the Safavid state, and they remained the rulers of the state for a long time. It was in Turkic - although Ismail spoke and wrote in Arabic and Persian, that Ismail created his major literary works; By the way, these talented works introduced him as a great poet under the pseudonym Khatayi. He lived among the Turkic-speaking qizilbashs."
J.P.Ru, French orientalist, quotation from work “History of Iran and Iranians”
* “Shah Ismail was born in Ardabil, Azerbaijan and his family belonged to the Safavid religious organization founded by Sheikh Safi ad-Din (1253-1334). It was the Turks, not the Iranians, who created and ruled the Safavid state, and they remained the rulers of the state for a long time. It was in Turkic - although Ismail spoke and wrote in Arabic and Persian, that Ismail created his major literary works; By the way, these talented works introduced him as a great poet under the pseudonym Khatayi. He lived among the Turkic-speaking qizilbashs."
O.E.Efendiyev, Azerbaijan scholar of Oriental studies, Quotation from work "On the coverage of some issues in the History of the Safavids in Modern Iranian Oriental Studies"
The name of Safavid derives from the name of sheikh Safi ad-Din Ardabili, ancestor of Shah Ismail. This is pureblooded Turkic family…”
I.H. Uzuncharshili, Turkish Orientalist, quotation from "Great Ottoman History"
The first representatives of the Safavid dynasty. Ismail's childhood
The Safavid name comes from Shah Ismail's grandfather Sheikh Safi ad-Din (1252-1334). Sheikh Safi ad-Din was a student of Sheikh Zahid Gilani and after his death he founded the Safavid sect. In Sheikh Heydar's time, his disciples began to be called Qizilbash. The reason for this was that they put a 12-striped red turban on their heads.
In 1447, the head of the sect, Sheikh Juneyd came to Eastern Anatolia, which was in the hands of the Agqoyunlu, and began to gather around him the Turkic tribes in the region. Junayd, who went to Uzun Hasan, the ruler of Aghgoyunlu, who was at war with the Garagoyunlu, married his sister Khadija Beyim. Junayd, who attacked the Shirvanshahs with his army, was killed in battle. His successor, Sheikh Heydar, married Uzun Hasan's daughter Alemshah Beyim to further strengthen ties with the Aghgoyunlus. Alemshah Beyim's mother was Feodora, the daughter of John IV Komni, Emperor of Trabzon. Sheikh Heydar, like his father, attacked Dagestan. He attacked twice in 1483 and 1487 and returned with great booty. These victories led Sultan Yagub of Agqoyunlu in 1488 to sent troops to Dagestan under the command of Suleyman Bey Bicanoglu. This army joined the army of Shirvanshah Farruz Yasar and defeated Sheikh Heydar. The sheikh himself is killed. Sultan Yagub captures Sheikh Heydar's 3 sons: Sultanali, Ibrahimi and Ismayili. They were released only after the death of Sultan Yagub. Sultanali was elected Safavid sheikh. In 1493 Sultanali was killed in a battle near Ardabil. His brother Ismail is elected sheikh. In 1493, eight years old Ismail was elected sheikh. During 1494-99 qizilbashs could protect Ismayil.
When Sheikh Heydar's 13-year-old son Ismail left Lahijan for Ardabil in August 1499, he was accompanied by the closest people consisting of seven people: Huseyn Bey Lala Shamli, Abdulali Bey Dada, Khadim Bey Khulafa, Rustam Bey Garamanli, Bayram Bey Garamanli, Ilyas Bey Aygut oglu Khunuslu and Garapiri Bey Gajar.
