Shah of Iran. When Shah Abbas 1 died in 1629, none of his brothers and sons was able to take on the succession, because he had them all killed or blinded. In spite of the western historians calling him 'The Great' Shah Abbas was a very cruel man who had come to the throne deposing his own father and banishing him from the capital together with his two surviving brothers, whom he had blinded. He even had the eyes put out of Prince Sultan Mirza (his son) and had his eldest son Safi Mirza, murdered. Safi 1, the son of Safi Mirza and grandson of Shah Abbas 1, mounted the throne in 1629. Following the example of his grandfather, he put to death all the contenders for the throne. He died unexpectedly, and left behind a smaller Safwi empire.