Ḥusayn I

Ḥusayn I (born 1668—died 1726, Isfahan, Ṣafavid Iran) was the shah of Iran from 1694 to 1722, the last independent ruler of the Ṣafavid dynasty, whose unfitness led to its disintegration. Ḥusayn was reared in the harem and had no knowledge of state affairs. He depleted the treasury for personal expenses and allowed the mullahs (clergy) to control the government. Russia and Ottoman Turkey took advantage of Ḥusayn’s weakness to seize border territory. Despite those...