Shāh ‘Abbās the Great or Shāh ‘Abbās I (Persian: شاه عباس بزرگ) (born January 27, 1571; died January 19, 1629) was Shah (king) of Iran, and the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He was the third son of Shah Mohammad. Abbas came to the throne during a troubled time for Iran. Under his weak-willed father, the country was riven with discord between the different factions of the Qizilbash army, who killed Abbas' mother and elder brother. M...