In 1508, during the reign of the first Safavid ruler, Shah Ismail I (r. 1501–1524), Basra and the Moshasha became part of the Safavid Empire.[1][lower-alpha 1] The Moshasha proved to be valuable allies to the Safavids, often acting as Safavid proxies in campaigns against the Arabs of southern Iraq and Basra, led by a Safavid-appointed governor. Although nominally Safavid subjects, they had broad autonomy, and their territory served as a buffer zone between the Safavids and the Ottomans.[2][5]