The Qizilbash, a coalition of many different peoples of predominantly (but not exclusively) Turkic-speaking Azerbaijani background, united in their adherence to the Safavid doctrine of Shiism, have provided the backbone of the Iranian army from the very beginning of Safavid rule; they also occupy many posts in the government.

To counterbalance their power, Abbas has turned to another element in Iranian society, the ghulams (a word literally meaning "slaves").

These are Georgians, Armenians and Circassians who have converted to Islam and taken up service in the army or the administration.

Abbas promotes such ghulams to the highest offices of the state.

They include the Georgian Allahverdi Khan, who becomes leader of the ghulam regiments in the army as well as governor of the rich province of Fars.

Abbas has removed provincial governorships from some Qizilbash leaders and transferred Qizilbash groups to the lands of other Qizilbash tribes, thus weakening Qizilbash tribal unity.

Budgetary problems have been resolved by restoring the shah's control of the provinces formerly governed by the Qizilbash chiefs, the revenues of which supplement the royal treasury.