Your challenge, with a POD after the collapse of the Ilkhanate in 1335, have Anatolia come to be dominated by a dynasty that does roughly the same things as the Ottomans (ie, capturing Constantinople, menacing Vienna)...but is Shia (and yes, I realize a Shia dynasty will obviously have a different name!), with present day *Turkey being a majority Shia country. Meanwhile, have Iran stay Sunni.
AHC: Shia "Ottomans", Sunni Iran
- Thread starter Mirza Khan
- Start date
The Safavids were a Shia Kurdish dynasty from Iranian Azerbaijan. To keep Iran Sunni, all you need is for the Safavids (or some ATL equivalent) from taking power.
en.wikipedia.org
Meanwhile, have the Nottomans be a Shia Turkic dynasty from the greater Azerbaijan region, which becomes dominant in Anatolia. It demands conversion of Turks to Shia Islam, in the same way the Safavids did for Iran. How successful they could be is another matter.
Safavid conversion of Iran to Shia Islam - Wikipedia
Meanwhile, have the Nottomans be a Shia Turkic dynasty from the greater Azerbaijan region, which becomes dominant in Anatolia. It demands conversion of Turks to Shia Islam, in the same way the Safavids did for Iran. How successful they could be is another matter.
Large parts of Iran ( such as the Caspian coast, Azerbaijan, Alborz mountains, and Luristan) were already majority Shia when the Safavids rose to power. Also, the Safavids weren't the first Shia dynasty in IranThe Safavids were a Shia Kurdish dynasty from Iranian Azerbaijan. To keep Iran Sunni, all you need is for the Safavids (or some ATL equivalent) from taking power.
Safavid conversion of Iran to Shia Islam - Wikipedia
Meanwhile, have the Nottomans be a Shia Turkic dynasty from the greater Azerbaijan region, which becomes dominant in Anatolia. It demands conversion of Turks to Shia Islam, in the same way the Safavids did for Iran. How successful they could be is another matter.
None of the previous Shia dynasties were as vigorous and enthusiastic about converting as the Safavids were. Which is why I picked them specifically.