Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Akoğlu M. (Yürütücü)
TÜBİTAK Projesi, 2015 - 2016
Numerous
Islamic sects that are defined as Islamic thought schools existed in the history
of Islamic culture. Undoubtly, one of them has been the Shia. Shia thought is
based on the doctrine of the Imamate and originated in Iraq. This situation
shows that the geography of Iraq is important in the development of Shia
thought. Indeed, we look at the history of Iraq, it is obvious that in the
period of the caliphate of Hz. Ali (May God Be Pleased With Him) and
his son Hz. Hasan, Kufa ( a city in Iraq) had a central political position.
This situation continued in the Umayyad period. But the Umayyad could not
prevent some rebel movements that emerged in the region. Thus the Umayyad rule
ended and afterwards, the Abbasid State was founded (132 A.H/750 C.E).
Baghdad was
made a capital city in the period of caliph Abu Jafar al-Mansur. It is
remarkable to be noted that Iran’s influences in Iraq was seen in this period.
However, Iraq strengthened its central position in political, religious,
social, military and economic affairs. But it seems in history every time that
the insurgency movements emerged in Iraq, central authority was weakened. As a
result of this, impact forces started to be seen in the community. One of these
were the Buyids. These developments had increased the interest of the Seljuks
in the region. Thus the great Seljuk Sultan Tugrul Beg came to Baghdad and the
Seljuks took over the Iraqi administration (447 A.H/1055 C.E).
In the period
of the Seljuks, Iraq was ruled by the Shahnameh and Amides. However, there were
fights for the throne at the time. These
fights blew with bellows the disputes between the Abbasid administrations.
Administrative weaknesses usually have been the harbinger of new developments
throughout the history. Thereupon this situation has facilitated the Mongol
invasion and Iraq was subjected to the severe attacks of the Mongols.
The Mongols
heading towards westward captured Baghdad and did great damage there. They
slaughtered the Caliph Mu’tasim Billah (656/1258). After the Mongol invasion of
Iraq, according to the conjuncture, it gave an image of unstability where there
will be peace at the sometime and chaos at another.
Ghazan Khan of
the Ilkhans enthroned in 694/1295 and adopted Sunnism, and the region was in a
revival during this period. But after him, the region turned into the old days
with Olcaytu who came to power after Ghazan Khan. Severe and bloody fights came
back to the region.
Jalayerids,
which are regarded to be a Mongol sub-tribe centralised Baghdad as their
capital (740/1340) and formed a new governmet in Iraq. But this region passed
into the hands of Timur in 795/1393.
Baghdad
remained under the domination of Qaraqoyunlus from 1410 to 1467. On this date,
Iraq entered the rule of the Ag Qoyunlus. It was seen severe fights in this
period in Iraq. Finally the Ag Qoyunlus started to lose their power and instead
of them, Safavids obtained the political power in this region (914/1508). The
rule of Safavids continued only twenty-six years in Iraq.
Iraq’s
population was made up of mostly Arab tribes until the sixteenth century.
However it drew attention of the Shiites because of sacred places located
there. Infact, Iraq was a geography in which very significant events took place
as those of Karbala, the Tavvabun and Mukhtar as-Sakafi. At the same time, the
tombs of important Imams for Shia were also here. This situation revealed the
important role of Iraq for Shia thought. But it was remarkeble that it did not
have a significant Shia population. Thus Shia thought was in cities like
Baghdad, Kufa, Karbala and followed by small groups.
Shah Ismail
the founder of the Safavıd State opened the way of Iran for an expansionist
spirit and saw Shiism as a tool for the imperial ambitions of Iran. For this,
he firstly started the dissemination activities of Shiism on İran. Then he
attempted to spread it to the neighboring countries. He even brought it into
state policy. Thus he thought that can be expanded to Iran’s political domain.
In this
period, the Ottoman Empire was interested in that geography too. Undoubtly it
was effecient in controlling strategical trade routes and increasing the
commercial dominance of power. It is also possible to add the idea of breaking
the influence of the Safavids that had the tendency to spread in the region
against the Ottomans. Indeed, Yavuz Sultan Selim from Ottomans after the
consequest of Syria and Egyp headed to Iraq. This situation prepared the ground
for Iraq to emerge as a battleground between the Ottomans and Safavids.
The Ottoman
army started an expedition to the East in fall of 940/1533. It was called this
expedition as “Irakeyn” because it headed to Persian Iraq and Arab Iraq. As a
result of this, the expedition was taken to South Azerbaijan and Baghdad
(941/1535). Though Baghdad was under Iranian invasion for short time
(1032-1048/1623-1638), it remained under Ottoman rule until early 20th
century.
We see today
that 60-65 % of Iraq’s population came under the influence of Shia thought. We
know that these are the effects of the Safavid State policy. In this context,
It is important to explain the effects of the Safavid State in spreading of the
Shia in Iraq, the natures and dimensions of the actions.
It is seen
that we can learn the historical processes of Iraq, the historical evolution of
Shia and the effects of Shia on Iraq in the current studies of history. But we
do not possess any knowlegde yet about the spread of Shiism in Iraq by the
Safavids. Our study aims to fill this information gap in this area by using
western sources.