Abbas I (the Great)

Shah of Persia (r.1588-1629). After a long period of weak government his most urgent tasks were to recover territory lost to Uzbeg, Ottoman and Mughal aggressors, and to re-assert royal authority in Persia. Sacrificing territory to the Turks to gain time to improve his position in Persia, he built a standing army, reformed state revenue, and later moved the capital from Kazvin to Isfahan. From 1598 he launched campaigns and recovered the territory lost. He left no capable heir, and Persia went into rapid decline after his death.