page_title: Suleiman of Persia
section_title: Reign after first coronation; 1666-1668
hierarchical_section_title: Suleiman of Persia / Reign / Reign after first coronation; 1666-1668
caption_attribution_description: English: The Coronation of Suleiman I in 1666
context_page_description: Sam Mirza, later known by his first dynastic name of Safi II, and thereafter known by his more famous second dynastic name of Suleiman I, was the eighth Safavid shah of Iran, ruling from 1 November 1666 to 29 July 1694.
context_section_description: One day later, on 1 October 1666, Sam Mirza was crowned as Safi II. The ceremony took place in the afternoon and was managed by Mohammad-Baqer Sabzavari, the shaykh al-Islam of Isfahan. Safi II was given the heads of some dead Uzbeks, and in turn rewarded those who had given him the heads with money. He also gave money to 300 exiles from the Ottoman Empire who sought refuge in Iran to avoid being enrolled into the Ottoman army. All administrative positions were reconfirmed that same day. The name "Abbas II" was removed from royal stamps, and new coins were minted in Safi II's name. Demonstrating the sleekness of the changeover, the city of Isfahan remained peaceful; "the shops stayed open, and life went on as if nothing had happened, causing foreign residents who, fearing disturbances and looting, had kept their houses locked, to emerge before the day was out."
  The first year of his reign was markedly unsuccessful. A series of natural disasters such as earthquakes (1667 Shamakhi earthquake) in Shirvan, spread of deadly diseases around Iran, combined with devastating raids by the Cossack Stenka Razin on the coast of the Caspian Sea, convinced court astrologers that the coronation had taken place at the wrong time, and the ceremony was repeated on March 20, 1668. The shah took the new name Suleiman I. He had little interest in the business of government, preferring retreat to the harem.
caption: Artwork of Suleiman I's first coronation in 1666.
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