KIZILBASH

Turkish Kizilbas (Red Head), any member of the seven Turkmen tribes who wore red caps to signify their support of the founders of the Safavid dynasty (15011736) in Iran. The name was given to them by Sunnite Turks and was applied later to the followers of a Shi'ite sect in eastern Asia Minor. It also was given in Afghanistan to the Persian-speaking Turkmens, who settled in Kabul and other cities from about 1737 and engaged in government service and trade.