Abbas I vs Ivan III the Great

Abbas I created a standing army of ghulams (military slaves) recruited from Christian subjects in the Caucasus, particularly Georgians and Armenians. This reduced reliance on the Qizilbash tribal forces, increased royal control, and modernized the military with firearms and artillery.

Abbas I moved the Safavid capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, transforming it into a magnificent city with grand architecture, including Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the Shah Mosque, and the Ali Qapu Palace. This relocation became a symbol of Safavid power and cultural flourishing.

Abbas I sent diplomatic missions to European courts, including those of Philip III of Spain, Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire, and Elizabeth I of England, seeking alliances against the Ottoman Empire. These missions opened sustained diplomatic and commercial exchanges between Safavid Persia and Europe.

Abbas I defeated an Ottoman army near Sufiyan, securing Safavid control over Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. This victory was part of the Ottoman-Safavid War of 1603-1618, which resulted in the recapture of Tabriz, Nakhchivan, and Yerevan from Ottoman occupation.

Abbas I, with support from the English East India Company, captured the island of Hormuz from Portuguese control. This ended Portuguese dominance in the Persian Gulf and opened direct trade routes for Safavid Persia with Europe, boosting the silk trade.

Abbas I captured Baghdad from the Ottoman Empire after a siege, restoring Safavid control over Iraq. This victory expanded Safavid territory and gave Abbas control over important Shi'a pilgrimage sites like Najaf and Karbala.

Ivan III married Sophia (Zoe) Palaiologina, niece of the last Byzantine emperor. This marriage allowed Ivan to claim succession to the Byzantine Empire, adopt the double-headed eagle as a symbol, and promote Moscow as the Third Rome.

Ivan III conquered the Novgorod Republic after a series of campaigns. He abolished the veche (assembly) and removed the veche bell, incorporating Novgorod's vast territories into the Grand Principality of Moscow.

Ivan III faced the Mongol army of Khan Akhmat across the Ugra River. After weeks of stalemate, the Mongols withdrew without battle. This event ended 240 years of Mongol suzerainty over Russia.

Ivan III promulgated a new legal code, the Sudebnik, which standardized laws across the Russian lands. It restricted peasant mobility by limiting the time for transfer between landowners, a step toward serfdom.

Ivan III launched a war against Lithuania, capturing the cities of Bryansk, Dorogobuzh, and Putivl. The war ended with the Truce of 1503, which ceded significant territories to Moscow.