How to Pronounce Tahmasp

Meaning and Context

Shah Tahmasp I, born in 1514 and reigning as the second Safavid Shah of Persia from 1524 until his death in 1576, was a pivotal figure in shaping early modern Iran. Ascending to the Peacock Throne as a child following the death of his formidable father, Shah Ismail I, Tahmasp's lengthy 52-year rule was defined by a relentless struggle to preserve the nascent Shi'a Persian empire against formidable external threats. His reign was marked by near-constant warfare on two fronts: against the Sunni Ottoman Empire to the west, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, and against the Uzbek Khanates to the northeast. Despite significant territorial losses, his tenacious defense ensured the survival of the Safavid dynasty. Beyond the battlefield, Shah Tahmasp's cultural patronage was profound; his royal atelier in Tabriz produced masterpieces of Persian miniature painting, most famously the monumental Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, cementing his legacy as a key patron of Persian art during the Safavid golden age and solidifying Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary transliteration from the Persian name طهماسب is most accurately rendered as Tahmasp, which is the standard spelling in English historical scholarship. A common alternative spelling is Tahmasb, substituting the final 'p' with a 'b', which reflects a phonetic variation in certain dialects and older transliteration systems. Frequent misspellings and typos include "Tahmasp" (dropping the 'a'), "Thamasp" (confusing the 'h' placement), and "Tahmasib" (incorrect vowel insertion). The name is sometimes erroneously prefixed with "Shah" as part of the spelling itself (e.g., "Shah Tahmasp I") rather than correctly treating "Shah" as a title. In academic contexts, one may also encounter the fuller designation Tahmasp I or Tahmasp the First to distinguish him from the later, less prominent Tahmasp II of the 18th century.

Example Sentences

Shah Tahmasp's court in Tabriz became a dazzling hub for artists, calligraphers, and poets, fostering a distinct Safavid aesthetic.

Following a series of brutal wars, the Peace of Amasya in 1555, negotiated between Tahmasp and the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman, established a fragile but crucial eastern border for decades.

Historians often note that Tahmasp's suspicious nature led him to imprison his own son, Ismail II, for nearly two decades, a decision that would later plunge the empire into a brief but bloody succession crisis.

The exquisite miniatures commissioned by Tahmasp, such as those in his personal Shahnameh, are now dispersed in museums worldwide, testifying to his unparalleled cultural patronage.

Despite early military setbacks, Tahmasp's enduring reign provided the stability necessary for the Safavid administrative and religious institutions to take deep root in Persian society.

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