The Prince of Basra

Principality of Basra Arabic: إمارة البصرة
Prince of Basra
A Map of the Basra Region,17th century
Country	Ottoman Iraq
Founded	1596
Founder	Afrasiyab I
Final ruler	Hussein Pasha

In 1596, the Ottoman governor of Basra sold Basra to the merchant Afrasiab of Arab or Turkish origin, transforming Basra into a hereditary emirate that lasted until 1668.^[3][4]

Safavid invasions of Basra
Part of Ottoman–Safavid War (1623–1639), Portuguese–Safavid wars
Map of Safavid Iran occupy Mesopotamia, excluding Basra
Date 1624–1629 Location Iraq, Basra, Gulf Result Portugal-Basra victory List first invasion of Basra (1624-1625) Siege of Basra (1624) siege failed Siege of Basra (1625) siege failed Battle of virtue (1625) Afrasiab Victory Second invasion of Basra (1628-1629) Siege of Basra (1628-1629) siege failed
Belligerents
Safavid Iran Masha'sha State (1624)	Afrasiyab of Basra Kingdom of Portugal Masha'sha State (1625)
Commanders and leaders
Shah Abbas I Quli Khan	Ali Afrasiyab

During this period, the Safavid Shah Abbas the Great (r. 1588–1629) made a number of attempts to capture Basra, a major rival for his own commercial port city of Bandar Abbas, and a base for the Portuguese traders in the region. The Safavid attempts in 1624, 1625, and 1628–1629 during the War of 1623–1639 proved unsuccessful, through a combination of Portuguese interference, pressing concerns on other fronts and, finally, Abbas' death.^[3]

in 1667, when Husayn Pasha of the Afrasiyab dynasty refused to acknowledge the suzerainty of the Sultan and the Ottomans sent a punitive expedition against him, Husayn Pasha evacuated the entire population to Safavid territory while offering the city to the Safavids.^[3][5] Shah Suleiman I (r. 1666–1694), however, dismissed Husayn Pasha's pleas as he did not want to antagonize the Ottomans,^[3] and in 1668, the Ottoman governor of Baghdad established direct control over Basra.^[6]

• Basra