TAHMASP I

born , March 3, 1514, Shahabad, near Esfahan, Safavid Iran died 1576, Kazvin? shah of Iran from 1524 whose rule was marked by continuing warfare with the Ottoman Empire and the loss of large amounts of territory. Tahmasp, the eldest son of Shah Isma'il I, founder of the Safavid dynasty, was for a long period after coming to the throne a pawn of powerful tribal leaders. Three times (1534, 1538, and 1543) Ottoman forces invaded Iran, recovering territory lost earlier and capturing new areas. Hostility between the Ottomans and Iran was intensified by religious differences between the Shi'i sect (Iran) and the Sunni sect (Ottoman Empire) of Islam. Peace was concluded with the Ottomans in 1555. Tahmasp spent his later years in seclusion at his palace, giving little attention to public affairs.