In 1598, the Iranian emperor, Shah Abbas, moved his capital to Isfahan. Eager both to demonstrate and to enhance his power, he set about enlarging and embellishing it in an extravagant fashion. Isfahan soon became one of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan of cities, where foreigners and non-Muslims alike were welcomed. In the same year it became a capital, Robert Shirley, an 18-year-old Englishman, arrived in Iran. The ambitions of these two men, one the ruler of his country, the other a junior partner in a team of English soldier-adventurers, soon intersected.rnWithin a decade, Shirley had married a Circassian Christian, Teresia, and set off with her to Europe on a series of diplomatic missions in the service of the shah. Their purpose was twofold: Abbas hoped to gain allies for his struggles against the encroaching Ottoman Turks and also to build up Iran's silk trade. The Shirleys' sales efforts were helped by the splendour of their dress, advertising the most opulent Iranian fabrics. His outfit, a gift from Shah Abbas, was like an Isfahan grandee's ceremonial uniform, topped by a turban bigger than his head. Her gowns were in the fashion favoured by her English contemporaries.
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