3
I'm going to put an end to this debate since there is the long heated debate wether they were Iranians or Turks:
Shaykh Junayd (Azari/Kurdish??) – (w) Khadija Begum (Bayindir Turkoman/Pontic Greek/Georgian)
--> Shaykh Haydar (Iranian/Bayindir-Turkoman/Pontic Greek) – (w) Halima Begum (Turkoman/Pontic Greek/Georgian)
--begin of Safavid Dynasty--
--> Shah Ismail (Iranian/Turkoman/Pontic Greek/Georgian) – (w) Tajlu Begum (Mawsillu Turkoman)
--> Shah Tahmasp (mostly Turkoman/Iranian/Pontic Greek/Georgian) – (w) Sultanum Begum (Mawsillu Turkoman)
--> Ismail II (pred. Turkoman/minor Iranian and Pontic Greek/Georgian)
--> Mohammad Khodabanda (pred. Turkoman/minor Iranian and Pontic Greek/Georgian) – (w) Khayr-al Nisra Begum (Mazandarani/Seyyedd)
--> Shah Abbas (Turkoman/Mazandarani/Seyyedd) - (w) (Circassian)
--> Safi Mirza (Turkoman/Mazandarani/Seyyed/Circassian) – (w) Anna Khanum (Circassian)
--> Abbas II (Circassian/Turkoman/Iranian) – (w) Nakihat Khanum (Circassian)
--> Suleyman (pred. Circassian minor Iranian & Turkoman) – (w) Elena Khanum (Circassian?)
--> Tahmasp II (pred. Circassian) – (w) Shahpari Begum (Safavid)
Conclusion: Their paternal origin might be Iranian (either Azari or Kurdish) however at the beginning of their dynasty they were mostly of Turkoman stock mixed with Iranian and Pontic Greek elements. Later they became mostly Circassian by ethnicity due to taking Circassian wifes. And the Iranian and Turkoman input became minor.
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