The Sophy, also spelled Sofi, Sophie, Sophi, or Soffi, was a reference to the ruler of the Safavid dynasty of Iran.[1] Even though Iran remained known in the West by the exonym Persia (see Name of Iran), which had been coined in "the days of the ancient Greeks", from the time of king Abbas I (r. 1588-1629), the ruler of the nation came to be known as the "Sophy", itself a corruption of the word "Safavi" - the dynasty to which Abbas I belonged.[1]
Though the usage of "Sophy" gained much more prominence during Abbas I's rule, the word was in use to refer to the Safavid ruler since the time of the dynasty's founder, Ismail I (r. 1501-1524).[2]
An extensive number of references to Persia and its "Sophy" in European literature start with the reign of Abbas I and onwards.[1]William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (published 1602) is noted as being amongst the early attestments to this.[1]
European painting of Shah Ismail I with the title Sophy
European painting of Shah Abbas II with the title Grand Sophy de Perse
sophy, safavid, iran, sophy, also, spelled, sofi, sophie, sophi, soffi, reference, ruler, safavid, dynasty, iran, even, though, iran, remained, known, west, exonym, persia, name, iran, which, been, coined, days, ancient, greeks, from, time, king, abbas, 1588, . The Sophy also spelled Sofi Sophie Sophi or Soffi was a reference to the ruler of the Safavid dynasty of Iran 1 Even though Iran remained known in the West by the exonym Persia see Name of Iran which had been coined in the days of the ancient Greeks from the time of king Abbas I r 1588 1629 the ruler of the nation came to be known as the Sophy itself a corruption of the word Safavi the dynasty to which Abbas I belonged 1 Though the usage of Sophy gained much more prominence during Abbas I s rule the word was in use to refer to the Safavid ruler since the time of the dynasty s founder Ismail I r 1501 1524 2 An extensive number of references to Persia and its Sophy in European literature start with the reign of Abbas I and onwards 1 William Shakespeare s Twelfth Night published 1602 is noted as being amongst the early attestments to this 1 European painting of Shah Ismail I with the title Sophy European painting of Shah Abbas II with the title Grand Sophy de PerseReferences Edit a b c d Blow 2009 p xiii Floor 2001 p 176 Sources EditBlow David 2009 Shah Abbas The Ruthless King Who Became an Iranian Legend I B Tauris ISBN 978 0857716767 Floor Willem 2001 Safavid Government Institutions Costa Mesa California Mazda Publishers ISBN 978 1568591353 Savory Roger 2007 Iran Under the Safavids Cambridge University Press p 259 ISBN 978 0521042512 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sophy Safavid Iran amp oldid 1099660690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
