page_title: Ismail I
section_title: Appearance and skills
hierarchical_section_title: Ismail I / Appearance and skills
caption_attribution_description: Grafik aus dem Klebeband Nr. 1 der Fürstlich Waldeckschen Hofbibliothek Arolsen Illustration aus: Georg Greblinger: Wahre Abbildungen der Türckischen Kayser vnd Persischen Fürsten / so wol auch anderer Helden und Heldinnen von dem Osman / biß auf den andern Mahomet. Johann Ammon, Frankfurt 1648 Motiv: "Schachus Ismael Persa" (Schah Ismail I.)
context_page_description: Ismail I, also known as Shah Ismail I, was the founder of the Safavid dynasty, ruling from 1501 to 23 May 1524 as Shah of Iran.
  The rule of Ismail is one of the most vital in the history of Iran. Before his accession in 1501, Iran, since its conquest by the Arabs eight-and-a-half centuries earlier, had not existed as a unified country under native Iranian rule, but had been controlled by a series of Arab caliphs, Turkic sultans, and Mongol khans. Although many Iranian dynasties rose to power amidst this whole period, it was only under the Buyids that a vast part of Iran proper returned to Iranian rule.
  The dynasty founded by Ismail I would rule for over two centuries, being one of the greatest Iranian empires and at its height being amongst the most powerful empires of its time, ruling all of present-day Iran, Azerbaijan Republic, Armenia, most of Georgia, the North Caucasus, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, as well as parts of modern-day Syria, Turkey, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It also reasserted the Iranian identity in large parts of Greater Iran.
context_section_description: Ismail was described by contemporaries as having a regal appearance, gentlemanly in quality and youthfulness. He also had a fair complexion and red hair. His appearance compared to other olive-skinned Persians, his descent from the Safavid Shaykhs, and his religious ideals, contributed to people's expectation based on various legends circulating during this period of heightened religious awareness in Western Asia.
  An Italian traveller describes Ismail as follows:
  This Sophi is fair, handsome, and very pleasing; not very tall, but of a light and well-framed figure; rather stout than slight, with broad shoulders. His hair is reddish; he only wears moustachios, and uses his left hand instead of his right. He is as brave as a game cock, and stronger than any of his lords; in the archery contests, out of the ten apples that are knocked down, he knocks down seven.
caption: Shah Ismail I as depicted in a 1590s engraving by Theodor de Bry
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