The Safavid succession seems secure, as three of Abbas' five sons have survived past childhood.

Abbas is on good terms with the crown prince, Mohammed Baqir Mirza (born 1587; better known in the West as Safi Mirza).

During a campaign in Georgia in 1614, however, the shah had heard rumors that the prince was conspiring against his life with a leading Circassian, Fahrad Beg.

Shortly after, Mohammed Baqir had broken protocol during a hunt by killing a boar before the shah had had the chance to put his spear in.

This had seemed to confirm Abbas’ suspicions and he sunk into melancholy; he no longer trusts any of his three sons.

He decides in 1615 he has no choice but to have Mohammed killed.

A Circassian named Behbud Beg executes the Shah’s orders and the prince is murdered in a hammam (the Turkish variant of a sauna, distinguished by a focus on water, as opposed to steam) in the city of Resht.

The shah almost immediately regrets his action and is plunged into grief.