ThePersian embassy to Europe (1609–1615) was dispatched by thePersianShahAbbas I in 1609 to obtain an alliance with Europe against theOttoman Empire. The embassy was led by the EnglishmanRobert Shirley.[1]
TheSafavid Persians had then been at war with their archrivals, the neighbouringOttoman Empire, for more than a century, and so decided to try to obtain European help against the Ottomans.[2] Besides the territorial antagonism of the Ottoman and Persian realms, there was also strong religious antagonism, as the Persians proclaimedShiism against the Ottoman Empire'sSunnism.[3] These Persian efforts at rapprochement with Catholic Europe (Spain, theHabsburg Empire, andItaly), attempted to counterbalance theFranco-Ottoman alliance (betweenFrance and the Ottoman Empire), and came at a time when Persia was in direct conflict against the Ottoman Empire in theOttoman–Safavid War (1603–1618). This embassy followed the1599–1602 Persian embassy to Europe.
The embassy went toKraków,Prague,Florence,Rome,Madrid,London, and returned to Persia through theGreat Mogul'sIndia.[4] Shirley was extremely well received in these countries, which were in regular conflict with the Ottoman Empire. The reception in Kraków was excellent and in Prague, where Shirley was knighted.[5] He was also made aCount Palatine of theHoly Roman Empire byRudolf II in 1609.[6] He then continued to Florence, Milan and Rome, where he was received byPope Paul V.[7] He then continued to Spain.
In 1611, Shirley reached England, but he was opposed by theLevant Company, which had strong interests with Ottomans.[8]
Shirley then returned to Persia by sea, through theCape of Good Hope to land inIndia, at the mouth of theIndus, escaping from an attempt on his life by thePortuguese.[9] He finally returned toIspahan with his wife in 1615. All his traveling companions however had died on the way in a poisoning conspiracy.[10]
In 1616, a trade agreement was reached between Shah Abbas and theEast India Company and in 1622 "a joint Anglo-Persian force expelled the Portuguese and Spanish traders from thePersian Gulf" in theCapture of Ormuz.[11]
In 1624, Robert Shirley led another embassy toEngland in order to obtain trade agreements.[12]
