'Colin Mitchell has shown how Safavid ideology evolved, both for internal and external consumption, from the formative reigns of Shahs Isma'il and Tahmasp to the later maturity of the dynasty. This is a great and timely contribution to the study of the Safavid period.' - Professor Charles Melville, Pembroke College, University of Cambridge; 'Mitchell's command of Persian is outstanding, and his analyses are truly insightful ... I cannot stress enough the unique and ground-breaking nature of this research.' - Professor Sholeh Quinn, Department of History, Ohio University