Muhammad Khudabanda

Muhammad Khudabanda (Persian: محمد خدابنده‎; died 1595) was the fourth Shah of the Safavid dynasty, ruling from 1578 until 1587. He was the son of Shah Tahmasp I and succeeded his brother Ismail II after his death. Khudabanda is often remembered for his weak leadership, which allowed internal factions and external enemies to gain strength during his reign. His poor eyesight and indecisive character made him dependent on court factions, especially the Qizilbash tribal leaders, who competed for influence in the Safavid state.Roger Savory, Iran under the Safavids, Cambridge University Press, 1980, pp. 69–72.

During his rule, the Ottoman Empire took advantage of Safavid weakness and launched invasions into western Iran. The Ottomans captured Tabriz in 1585, dealing a major blow to Safavid prestige. At the same time, the Uzbeks pressed into Khorasan from the northeast, further destabilizing the realm.Andrew J. Newman, Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire, I.B. Tauris, 2006, pp. 45–47.

Khudabanda’s wife, Khayr al-Nisa Begum (also known as Mahd-i Ulya), played an important role in politics during the early years of his reign. She attempted to strengthen central authority by curbing the power of the Qizilbash chiefs, but her efforts provoked opposition. In 1579 she was assassinated by Qizilbash conspirators, leaving Khudabanda even more vulnerable to factional struggles.David Blow, Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King Who Saved Iran, I.B. Tauris, 2009, pp. 27–29.

Khudabanda’s reign ended when his son, Abbas I, was declared Shah in 1587 with the support of powerful Qizilbash leaders. Abbas forced his father to abdicate and went on to become one of the most successful rulers of the Safavid dynasty. Muhammad Khudabanda lived in retirement until his death in 1595.Colin P. Mitchell, The Practice of Politics in Safavid Iran: Power, Religion and Rhetoric, I.B. Tauris, 2009, pp. 61–63.
References

Category:Safavid rulers  
Category:16th-century Iranian people  
Category:1595 deaths  
Category:Year of birth unknown