During the early formation of the Safavid state, the consolidation of political and religious authority faced serious challenges from political, military, and religious elites. As the founder of the Safavid state, Shah Ismail I adopted a distinct penal policy toward elite crimes, relying on violence, demonstrative punishments, and the elimination of political opponents. Using a historical-analytical approach and drawing upon primary Safavid sources, this study examines the nature of elite crimes and the methods of punishment during the reign of Shah Ismail I. The findings indicate that elite crimes in this period mainly consisted of political and security-related offenses, including military rebellion, treason, tribal disobedience, and religious opposition. Furthermore, Shah Ismail's penal policy was less based on fixed judicial principles and more oriented toward consolidating political authority, reinforcing religious legitimacy, and creating political deterrence. Punishments such as execution, mutilation, and burning served not only to eliminate opponents but also fulfilled symbolic and political functions. The study concludes that penal violence under Shah Ismail I was not a random phenomenon but a structural component of Safavid state-building.