A Study and Analysis of the Safavid - Uzbek Relations during the reign of Shah Safi

Following the establishment of Safavid Government in 1502, Iran developed new relations with its Eastern and Western neighbors such as Ottoman, Uzbek and Gurkaniyan Governments. These relations were mostly based on military conflicts and clashes. Since the establishment of Safavid Reign, their relations with Uzbeks were full of tension and pugnacity, sparking many wars. The conflicts and clashes between the two states begun with the fateful war of Marv between Uzbeks led by Muhammad Khan (Sheybak Khan) and Shah Ismail in 1537 and continued in other courses of time. These clashes were mostly over Khorasan Wilayah (administration subdivision of the government) which was of strategic and economic importance; as a result, Uzbeks would attack to occupy it and the Safavids would go many times to repel them and secure the Eastern borders. During the reign of Shah Safi, Uzbek commanders and border guards invaded Khorasan and looted the cities and killed the citizens. As a result, Shah Safi made some changes to his adopted policy of flexibility and compromise and took a tougher stance against the Uzbeks and eventually defeated them thanks to his commanders and forced the Uzbeks to succumb to a peaceful relation. This paper while explaining the reasons and grounds for longtime clashes and conflicts between the Safavids and the Uzbeks provides a specific account for the clashes between the two neighboring states during the reign of Shah Safi (1659-1673) particularly over Khorsan Wilayah, constant invasions of Uzbeks and the relations between the two powers. The findings of the research show that in addition to different religious views and long history of hostility between the two states, Khorasan Wilayah stood as the major reason for sparking constant conflicts between the Safavids and the Uzbeks.