21 Facts About Ismail II

Ismail II was the third shah of Safavid Iran from 1576 to 1577.

Ismail II was the second son of Tahmasp I with his principal consort, Sultanum Begum.

In fear of the Qizilbash influence on the administration and the army, Ismail II replaced them with people whom he trusted.

Ismail II belittled the Shi'ia Islam scholars and sought spiritual guidance from the Sunni Islam ulama.

Towards the end of his reign, Ismail II shunned Pari Khan, and had her arrested, despite her efforts to make him king.

Ismail II was succeeded by his brother, the blind Mohammad Khodabanda.

Ismail II's mother was from the Mawsillu clan of the Qizilbash and was the sister of Musa Sultan, the governor of Tabriz, who is sometimes confused with Sultanum's father, Isa Khan, who was Tahmasp's maternal uncle.

Ismail II spent his childhood in the court and since his older brother and the heir apparent, Mohammad Khodabanda was appointed as the governor of Herat, the young Ismail II was the only child in the royal palace of Qazvin; thus, he had all his father's attention.

Ismail II was defeated by an army under the command of Ismail's lala, Gokcha Sultan Ziadlu Qajar.

The battle ended in a stalemate, with Ismail II retreating into the west and seemingly defeated.

In Qazvin, Ismail II spent many of his nights with male lovers, and his homosexuality was an open secret.

However, the main reason for his ousting was Ogli Takalu's bitter feud with his elder son, Zayn-al-Din Ali Sultan, a close companion to Ismail II, that prompted Tahmasp to recall his son from Herat in less than two years.

Ismail II's gaolers were replaced every two years to prevent them from becoming intimate with Ismail II and developing sympathy towards him.

The other candidate was Ismail II, supported by Pari Khan Khanum, Tahmasp's influential daughter and the other Qizilbash tribes such as Afshar, Qajar and Rumlu.

The king, who still held affection towards Ismail II, ordered Afshar musketeers to guard his jail in case of an assassination attempt.

Three months after his enthronement, on a day that Ismail II insisted was auspicious, he not only ordered the execution of the pro-Haydar faction members of the court, but showed hostility towards his own supporters.

Ismail II executed people whose only crime was having a position during Tahmasp's reign, and soon it was clear that Ismail, his mind affected by the long imprisonment, wanted to stay in power at any cost.

Ismail II sought out individuals who could help disassemble the established Shi'ia hegemony, which had emerged under his father.

Ismail II organised a set of qurchis to counter those who were loyal to al-Karaki.

Pari Khan Khanum's status after Ismail II's coronation was enhanced greatly; the nobility paid her obeisance and many of prominent courtiers sought her patronage and assistance.

Ismail II was apparently displeased with the attention that his courtiers gave her and his sister 'meddling' in the affairs of state.