Kizil Bash

Kizil Bash, quizilbash, or "Red Hats," so named because they wore a distintive red hat with 12 pleats. They accepted the nomadic Turkish conception of leadership that was elicited by "Twelver Shi'ism." Turks loved strong leaders even if propaganda played a role in building the character. These followers were loyal to Shah Ismail as he moved south from the Turkestan-Caspian region into Iran where he started the Safavid Empire.