Abbas I (1571-1629), called "the Great," was a shah of Persia, the fifth king of the Safavid dynasty. He brought Persia once again to the zenith of power and influence politically, economically, and culturally.

The greatest shah of the Safavids, Abbas I had a precarious beginning. His mild-mannered and ascetic father, Shah Mohammad Khodabandeh, could not cope with the leaders of the seven Turkish Shii tribes known as Qizilbash (Redheads), who helped the Safavids come to power. But they were so greedy for land and power that though they controlled the king they quarreled among themselves. They preferred an oligarchy to a central government with an autocratic shah. To weaken the dynasty and ensure their success, the Qizilbash killed most of the Safavid princes, including the heir apparent and his mother.

Abbas was born on Jan. 27, 1571. When his older brother, the crown prince, was killed, Abbas was rescued...