Ismail I

Ismail I, also known as Shah Ismail I or Shah Ismail Safavi, was the founder of the Safavid dynasty and Shah of Iran from 1501 to 1524. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in Iranian history, as he established Twelver Shi'a Islam as the official religion of the Safavid Empire, thereby shaping the religious and political landscape of Iran for centuries. In Hebrew, his name can be transliterated as איסמאיל הראשון. In Persian, he is known as اسماعیل یکم (Esma'il-ye Avval), and in Turkish, he is referred to as I. İsmail. Ismail I's reign marked the beginning of a period of Persian cultural and artistic renaissance, and his military campaigns expanded the Safavid Empire to include most of the modern-day Iran, as well as parts of the Caucasus, Iraq, and Anatolia. His legacy continues to be celebrated in Iran, where he is remembered for his role in unifying the country and establishing a distinct Iranian identity.