Shah Ismail the Second
Shah Ismail the Second
After the death of Shah Tahmasp by poisoning, a conflict arose regarding the throne. This culminated with the ascension of his son Ismail who had been imprisoned by his own father for a period of 25 years. The first thing he did was to kill his brothers one after another. He also killed the courtiers of the palace and gouged out their eyes; so it has been related.
Others have stated that these actions have been attributed to him, since he intended reforms in Iran by re-introducing the creed of the Ahlus Sunnah.
His reign did not last long though. After some time, a group of men killed him in the year 985 AH. It is said, he distanced himself from the scholars, did not ascribe to the concept of deputization of the jurists, and believed the scholars fooled his father. The scholars, thus, accused him of becoming a Sunni and they killed him. Some have stated this is a reflection of the reality.[1]
[1] Ibid., pg. 382; Tarikh Iran Zamin, pgs. 272-273. Some researchers have asserted that the allegations levelled against him of bloodshed are contrary to reality. They are merely false accusations that were levelled against him because he returned to the creed of his forefathers, that of the Ahlus Sunnah.