The Shah who traded imperial power for opium and wine

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Shah Safi inherited a superpower but left behind a shrinking empire. A reclusive ruler with no interest in governance, he chose to spend his reign purging rivals and indulging in heavy drinking, ultimately presiding over a period of profound cultural and territorial decline.

Safi ascended the throne in 1629 following the reign of Abbas the Great, who had systematically eliminated most potential heirs. To secure his position, Safi engaged in a ruthless purge of any remaining claimants, including the sons of Safavid princesses and many leading courtiers. His brutality was noted in events like the 'Bloody Ma'bas' in 1632, where forty women from the imperial harem were executed. This atmosphere of violence served to consolidate his personal power while simultaneously hollowing out the state's leadership.

While Safi remained largely passive and lacked basic literacy, he delegated significant authority to a coalition of concubines, eunuchs, and military slaves known as ghulams. The most dominant figure was Saru Taqi, a grand vizier appointed in 1634. Though described as autocratic and greedy—allegedly accepting bribes and imposing heavy taxes on Isfahan's Armenian population—Saru Taqi was highly efficient at raising state revenue. Under his influence, the crown expanded its domains but faced constant internal revolts and external pressures.

Externally, Safi’s perceived weakness allowed the Ottoman Empire to capitalize on Iran's position. Despite earlier successes under Abbas, the Ottomans recaptured Baghdad and parts of Mesopotamia by 1638. The conflict eventually concluded with the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639, which returned much of Iran's previous conquests to the Ottomans. Safi died in 1642, reportedly during a drinking contest with a Georgian champion, leaving an empire smaller than he found it and a dynasty unprepared for the decline that followed.

His reign is also marked by specific cultural obsessions; while he was a heavy consumer of wine and opium, he famously abhorred tobacco. He reportedly ordered those caught smoking in public to have molten lead poured into their mouths—a policy mirroring his grandfather's preferences.

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