King Mohammad Khodabanda

Despite the cultural, political, and theological advancements, Khodabanda’s reign was fraught with challenges that ultimately precipitated his downfall. The internal strife fueled by factionalism, coupled with the pressures of external aggressions—from the Ottomans to the Uzbeks—threatened the stability of his rule. The unraveling of political alliances and the rise of discontent among the populace revealed vulnerabilities in his governance.

Khodabanda’s own health issues further exacerbated the situation, leading him to depend increasingly on his advisors, a reliance that sometimes led to miscalculations. The culmination of these factors ushered in a period of instability, setting the stage for the ascendancy of his son, Abbas I, who would adopt a markedly different approach to governance—consolidating power and restoring order, symbolically distancing himself from the legacy of his father.

6. The Legacy of King Mohammad Khodabanda