The
Parthian
coins of the took place in Persia at this period which must not
Arsacidae have all Greek inscriptions with nailed be passed over in silence here.
Arsacidae have all Greek inscriptions with nailed be passed over in silence here.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
p.
226.
)
privileges of Persian grandees, who, along with the
SASSANIDAE, the name of a dynasty which Magi, formed a sort of senate ; and the Arsacidae
reigned in Persia from A. D. 226 to A. D. 65). who ruled in Bactria and Armenia remained for
1. Ardishir or ARDSHIR, the ArtaxerXES some time in the undisturbed possession of their
('Aptatép&ns) of the Romans and Greeks, the sovereign power. Ardishir having thus succeeded
founder of the dynasty of the Sassanidae, reigned in establishing his authority at home, turned his
from a. D. 226—240. He was a son of one Babek, riews abroad, and began with a display of over-
an inferior officer, who was the son of Sassan, per- bearing insolence almost unparalleled in history.
haps a person of some consequence, since his royal He sent a menacing embassy to Constantinople,
descendants chose to call themselves after him. demanding from the emperor Alexander Severus
The Persian Zinut-al-Tuarikh makes Sassan a the immediate cession of all those portions of the
descendant from Bahman, who was in his turn de Roman empire that had belonged to Persia in the
scended from one Isfendear, who lived many cen- time of Cyrus and Xerxes, that is, the whole of
turies before Ardishir; but these statements cannot the Roman possessions in Asia, as well as Egypt
be regarded as historical. Some assign a very low Modesty, perhaps, prevented him from claiming
origin to Ardishir, but it seems that his family was the plain of Marathon and the sea of Salamis
rather above than below the middle classes. They also. This absurd demand is remarkable, in
were natives of, and settled in the province of Fars, so far as it showed the national pride of the
or Persia Proper, and they professed the ancient Persians, and the power of their historical re-
faith of Zoroaster and his priests, the Magi. These collections. An immediate war between the
circumstances are of great importance in the life of two empires was the direct consequence. As
Ardishir, as will be seen hereafter. Ardishir the leading events of this war are related in the
served with distinction in the army of Artabanus, life of Alexander Severus (SEVER US) we need only
the king of Parthia, was rewarded with ingratitude, mention here that, notwithstanding an army com-
and took revenge in revolt. He obtained assistance posed, in addition to infantry, of 170,000 horsemen,
from several grandees, and having met with suc- clad in armour, 700 elephants, with towers and
cells, claimed the throne on the plea of being de archers, and 1800 war-chariots, bristling with
scended from the ancient kings of Persia, the scythes, the great king was unable to subdue the
progeny of the great Cyrus. His lofty scheme Romans ; nor could Alexander Severus do more
became popular, and deserved to be so. During the than preserve his own dominions. After a severe
long rule of the Arsacidae, and in consequence of contest and much bloodshed and devastation, peace
their intimate connections with the West, Greek was restored, shortly after the murder of Aler-
customs, principles, arts, literature, and fashions, in ander in 237, each nation retaining the possessions
short a Greek civilisation had gradually spread which they held before the breaking out of the
over the Persian, or, as it was then called from However, the war against king Chosroes of
the ruling tribe, the Parthian empire. This new Armenia, the ally of the Romans, was carried on as
spirit introduced itself even into the religion, for before, till the death of Ardishir in 240. Eastern
although the Arsacidae of Parthia publicly confessed and Western writers coincide in stating that Ar-
the creed of Zoroaster, their faith, and that of the dishir was an extraordinary man, and much could
court party was mixed up with the principles of the be said of his wisdom and kingly qualities, were it
Greek religion and philosophy. The people, how- consistent with the plan of this work to give more
ever, were still firm adherents of the faith, the than condensed sketches of the lives of the Persian
laws, and the customs of their forefathers, and the kings. His reign, however, offers so many subjects
new spirit which came from the West was looked for reflection, and is so startling an event in the his-
upon by them with the same dislike and hatred as, tory of Roman and Greek influence in the East, as to
in modern times, European civilisation is detested deserve the particular attention of the student, who
and despised by the modern Orientals. Ardishirmust henceforth be prepared to witness the decline
appealed to the sympathy of the people, and he of that refined and beautiful spirit whose progress
gained his great object. It seems that he spent beyond the Euplırates he has followed with delight
many years in warlike efforts against Artabanus, ever since the conquest of Alexander the Great.
till at last his progress became so alarming that To sum up the leading facts of this decline, the
the king took the field against him with all his writer quotes the observations which he has made
forces In A. D. 226 Artabanus was defeated, in a in another work. (Biograph. Diction, of the U
decisive battle, in the plain of Hormuz, not far K. S. s. v. Arsaces, xxviii. )
from the Persian Gulf; and Ardishir thereupon “ The accession of Artaxerxes forms a new aera
assumed the pompous, but national title of Shahin- in the history of Persia. During the long reign
shah, or “King of Kings. ” That year is conse of the Arsacidae the influence of Greek civilisation
quently considered as the beginning of the new which was introduced by Alexander and his suc-
SPINION
war.
## p. 715 (#731) ############################################
STEMMA SASSANIDARUM.
715
Sassan,
Babek,
Shapúr.
1. Ardishír Babigán or Artaxerxes, A. D. 226—240.
2. Shapúr or Sapor I. , A. D. 240—273.
1
3. Hórmuz or Hormisdas, A. D. 273—274.
I
4. Bahram or Varancs I. , A. D. 274–277.
5. Bahram or Varanes II. , A. D. 277–294.
6. Bahram or Varancs 111. , A. D. 294.
7. Narsi or Narses, A. D. 294-303.
8. Hormuz or Hormisdas II. , A. D. 303–310.
9. Shapúr or Sapor 'II. , Postumus, A. D. 310–301.
Issue doubtful. See Nos, 11 and 12.
10. Ardíshir or Artaxerxes, prince of royal blood,
A. D. 381-385.
Shapúr Zulaktaf, prince of royal blood.
11. Shapúr or Sapor III. , perhaps, with
his brother Bahram, sons of Sapor II. ,
A. D. 385-390.
12. Bahram or Varanes IV. Kermanshah,
4. D. 390-404.
13. Yezdijird I. Ulathim (the Sinner), or Yezdigerd, son or brother of Bahram IV. , A. D. 404–420.
14. Bahram or Varanes V. , surnamed Gour, or the Wild Ass, A. D, 420—448.
15. Yezdijird or Yezdigerd II. , A. D. 448—458.
16. Hormúz or Hormisdas III. , A. D. 458.
17. Firose or Peroses, A. D. 458_484.
.
18. Pallas or Palash (Valens or
Vologeses), A. D. 484-488.
19. Kobad or Cobades,
A. D. 488–498, then
dethroned, and restored
A. D. 502-531.
20. Jamaspes or Zames, usurps
the throne, and loses it again,
A. D. 498-502.
21. Khosrew or Chosroes I. , surnamed Nushírwán, A. D. 531-579.
22. Hormúz or Hormisdas IV. , A. D. 579-590, murdered.
a
23. Bahram or Varanes VI. , a prince of royal blood, usurps the throne, A. D. 590—591.
24. Khosrew or Chosroes II. , Purwíz, son of Hormúz IV. , A. D. 591-628.
1
Merdaza.
25. Shirweh, or Siroes, reigned
8 months, A. D. 628.
27. Purán-Dokht, queen.
29. Arzem-Dokht,
queen.
26. Ardishír, an infant, put to
death a few days after his
· accession ; last of the Sas-
sanidae.
28. Shah-Shenendeh, cousin
and lover of Purán-
Dokht, reigns one
month.
30. Kesra, said to be a Sassanid, put to death.
31. Ferokhzád, said to be a son of Chosroes Purwíz, put to death.
32. Yezdijird or Yesdegerd, murdered A. D. 651, last of the dynasty, but neither he nor Nos. 29.
and 30. were Sassanidae in the male line.
## p. 716 (#732) ############################################
716
SASSANIDAE.
SASSANIDAE.
cessors, became conspicuous among the Parthians in Cappadocia through the treachery of a physician,
and those kindred nations which they had subdued, and after a long and gallant resistance from its
and at the court as well as among the nobles, the commander, the brave Demosthenes, who succeeded
Greek language seems to have been cultivated with in cutting his way through the enemy. But Shapur
success, and became, in some degree, the official did not keep his conquests long. A hero and a
language of the country. The fact of so many heroine, Odenathus and Zenobia, arose in the very
Parthian princes and nobles having been educated, desert, drove the king back beyond the Euphrates,
or having lived for a long time among the Greeks and founded a new empire, over which they ruled
and at Rome, where Greek was cultivated by all at Palmyra. Rome was thus saved ; and the last
educated men, likewise contributed to the intro- years of the reign of Shapur offer nothing of im-
duction of Greek civilisation in Parthia during the portance for Roman history. An event, however,
reign of the Arsacidae.
The Parthian coins of the took place in Persia at this period which must not
Arsacidae have all Greek inscriptions with nailed be passed over in silence here. We allude to the
letters, and the design is evidently after Greek new doctrine of the celebrated Mani, who, endea-
models. With the accession of the first Sassanid vouring to amalgamate the Christian and Zoroas.
the Greek influence was stopped ; the new dynasty trian religions, gave rise to the famous sect of the
was in every respect a national dynasty. The Manichaeans, who spread over the whole East, ex-
Sassanian coins are a proof of this great change: posing themselves to most sanguinary persecutions
the Greek inscriptions disappear and give place from both Christians and fire-worshippers. Shapur I.
to Persian inscriptions in Arianian characters, died in 273.
as Wilson calls them; the design also becomes 3. HORmuz or Hormisdas I. ('Opulodas or
gradually more barbarous, and the costume of the 'Opuíoons), the son of the preceding, an excellent
kings is different from that on the coins of the man, reigned only one year, and died in A. D. 274.
Arsacidae. The change of the alphabet, however, 4. BAHRAM or BAHARAM, VARANES or VA-
which was used for the inscription, was not sudden. RARANES I. (Ovapávns or Oupapávns), the son of
Some coins which have portraits of a Sassanian Hormuz I. , reigned from A. D. 274–277. He
character have names and titles in Nagari letters ; carried on unprofitable wars against Zenobia, and,
some have bilingual inscriptions. Great numbers after her captivity, was involved in a contest with
of Sassanian coins of different periods, though very the victorious emperor Aurelian, which, however,
few only of the earliest period, have been, and are was not attended with any serious results on ac-
still found, at Kabul and at other places in Afgha-count of the sudden death of Aurelian in 275.
nistan. ”
Under him the celebrated Mani (who, be it said
2. Shapur or SAPoR I. (Catons or Labúpns), here, was also a distinguished painter) was put to
the son and successor of Ardishir I. , reigned from death, and both Manichaeans and Christians were
A. D. 240—273. Soon after his succession a war cruelly persecuted. He was succeeded by his son
broke out with the Romans, which was occasioned 5. BAHRAM or VARANES II. , who reigned
by the hostile conduct of Shapur against Ar- A. D. 277–294. Bahram was engaged in a war
menia. The Romans, commanded by the emperor with his turbulent neighbours in the north-east,
Gordian, were at first successful, but afterwards towards the sources of the Indus, when he was
suffered some defeats, and the murder of Gordian, called to the west by a formidable invasion of the
in 244, put a check to their further progress. On emperor Carus. It was near the river Euphrates
the other hand the Persians were unable to subdue that the old hero received a Persian embassy, to
Armenia, which was nobly defended by king Chos- whom he gave audience whilst sitting on the turf
roes, who, however, was assassinated after a re- and dressed in the garb of a common soldier. His
sistance of nearly thirty years. Shapur had con- language, however, soon convinced the luxurious
trived this murder. His son, Tiridates, being an Orientals that this mean-looking person, who was
infant, the Armenians implored the assistance of the making his dinner upon some pease and a piece of
emperor Valerian; but before the Romans appeared bacon, was a monarch of no less power than their
in the field, Armenia was subdued, and Shapur own Shahinshah. He told them that if the king
conquered Mesopotamia (258). Upon this Valerian did not recognise the superiority of the Roman
put himself at the head of his army. . He met empire, he would make Persia as naked of trees as
Sapor near Edessa, on the Euphrates, and a pitched his own head was destitute of hair ; and the Per-
battle was fought, in which, owing to the perfidy sians being little inclined to make peace on such
or incapacity of the Roman minister Macrianus, conditions, he began in earnest to show the good-
the Persians carried the day. Valerian sought ness of his word. Seleucia and Ctesiphon both
refuge within his fortified camp, but was finally yielded to him, and Bahram being compelled to
obliged to surrender with his army, Shapur having keep most of his troops on the Indian frontier was
refused to accept the enormous ransom offered to only saved by the sudden death of Carus (283).
him (260). The conduct of Shapur against Vale- The sons and successors of Carus, Carinus and
rian, who died in captivity, is not to be discussed Numerianus, retreated in consternation, and Dio-
here ; but his political conduct offers a bold stroke cletian, who soon wrested the power from them,
of policy. He caused one Cyriades, a miserable was too busily engaged in the north to follow up
fugitive of Antioch, to be proclaimed Roman em- the success of Carus. Bahram 11. died in 294.
peror, and acknowledged him as such, for the pur- 6. BAHRAM or VARANES III. , the elder son and
pose, as it seems, having a proper person to sign successor of the preceding, died after a reign of
a treaty of peace, through which he hoped to gain eight months only, A. D. 294, and was succeeded
legal possession of the provinces beyond the Taurus. by his younger brother.
He consequently pushed on to obtain possession of 7. Narsi or NARSES (Nápons), who reigned
them, destroyed Antioch, conquered Syria, and from A. D. 294—303. He carried on a formidable
having made himself master of the passes in the war against the emperor Diocletian, which arose
Taurus, laid Tarsus in ashes, and took Caesarcia out of the state of Armenian affairs. As early as
## p. 717 (#733) ############################################
SASSANIDAE.
717
SASSANIDAE.
>
286, in the reign of Bahram II. , Diocletian had mother. This is a strange story, yet we cannot
put Tiridates, the fugitive son of King Chosroes, but admit it as an historical fact. Agathias, the
of Armenia, on the throne of his forefathers, and only Western historian who mentions it (iv. p. 135,
kept him there by his assistance, although not ed. Paris), took it from Eastern sources; and those
without an obstinate resistance on the part of the Persian historians who are known to us, relate the
Persians. Narses succeeded in expelling Tiridates, story with all its details (sce Malcolm, quoted
and re-united his kingdom with Persia. This led below). Zosimus (ii. p. 100, &c. ed. Oxon, 1679)
to an immediate war with Diocletian, who took does not mention the coronation of an unborn
proper measures to put a final check on Persian child, but only of a younger son of Hormuz, the
anıbition in that quarter. Galerius Caesar com elder, who bore his father's name Hormuz, or Hor-
manded the Roman army. In the first campaign misdas, having been excluded from the succession.
in 296, he sustained most signal defeats in Meso- Now this llormuz is agnin a well-known historical
potamia, and tied in disgrace to Antioch. In the person, but we must presume that he was a prince
second campaign Narses was the loser, and among of roynl blood, and not the elder brother of the
the trophies of Galerius was the harem of the infant Shapur. Hormisdns was one of the canses
Persian king, a triumph which the Western arms of the great struggle that took place afterwards
had perhaps not obtained over the Persians since between Sapor and the emperor Constantius, and
the victory of Alexander over Darius at Issus. the matter came to pass in the following way.
In his conduct to his female captives, Galerius Zosimus is here a valuable source, and he is corro-
acted as nobly as Alexander. At Nisibis Diocle- borated by the Persian historians. Once, long
tian and Galerius received Apharban, the ambas- before the birth of Sapor, and during the reign of
sador of Narses, who sued for peace with a dignity Hormisdas II. , Prince Hormisdas, then heir-ap-
becoming the representative of a eat, thongh parent as it seems, spoke of some grandees in &
vanquished monarch, and the Romans sent Sicorius very contemptuous manner, menacing them with
Probus to the camp of Narses with power to con- the fate of Marsyas when he should be their king.
clude a final peace, of which they dictated the Unacquainted with Greek mythology, the nobles
conditions. Probus was not immediately admitted inquired who Marsyas was, and were greatly
to the presence of Narses, who obliged the ambas- alarmed when they heard that they might expect
sador to follow him on various excursions, and to be flayed alive, a punishment which was some-
caused a considerable delay to the negotiations for times inflicted in the administration of the crimical
the evident purpose of collecting his dispersed law in Persia. This explains the election of an
forces, and either avoiding the peace altogether, or unborn baby, and also the fate of Prince Hor-
obtaining more favourable conditions. At last, how- misdas, who was thrown into a dungeon as soon
ever,
that famous treaty was made in which Narses as King Hormisdas was dead. After a captivity
ceded to Diocletian Mesopotamia (the northern of many years, be gained his liberty through a
and north-western portions as far down as Cir- stratagem of his wife, who sent him a fish in
cesium at the junction of the Chaboras and Eu- which she had hidden a file, the most welcome
phrates), five small provinces beyond the Tigris present to any prisoner who finds nothing between
on the Persian side, the kingdom of Armenia, and himself and liberty but a couple of iron bars.
some adjacent Median districts, over which Tiridates Hormisdas accordingly escaped and fled to the
was re-established as king, and lastly, the supre- court of the emperor Constans, whither young
macy over Iberia, the kings of which were hence- Sapor generously sent his wife after him. con-
forth under the protection of Rome. Narses, dis stans received him well, and he afterwards appears
abled from thinking of further conquests west of as an important person on the stage of events.
the Tigris, seems to have occupied himself during (Suidas, s. v. Mapovas, relates the same story, and
the last year of his reign with domestic affairs, and speaks of it as a well-known fact: iotopla onan. )
in 303 he abdicated in favour of his son. It is a The minority of Sapor passed without any remark-
strange coincidence of circumstances that both Narses able event regarding Rome.
We must presume
and Diocletian, the vanquished and the victor, that the Persian aristocracy employed their time
were, through quite opposite causes, filled with dis- well in augmenting their power during that mi-
gust at absolute power, and retreated into private nority. In this time also falls the pretended con-
life. Narses, who, notwithstanding his defeats quest of Ctesiphon by Thair, an Arabic or Himy-
and the inglorious peace of 297, was a man of no aritic king of Yemen; and the minister of Sapor
common means and character, died soon after his issued cruel edicts against the Christians, who,
abdication in the same year, 303.
tired of the state of oppression in which they
8. Hormuz or HORMISDAS II. , the son of lived, sought for an amelioration of their condition
Narses, reigned from A. D. 303–310. During his by addressing themselves to Constantius. For this
reign nothing of importance bappened regarding step they were punished by Sapor, who, however,
Rome. His successor was his son
contented himself with imposing a heavy tax upon
9. SHAPUR Or SAPOR II. POSTUMUS, who reigned them. Symeon, bishop of Seleucia, complained of
from a. D. 310—381, and was crowned in his this additional burthen in so haughty and offensive
mother's womb. His father dying without issue, a manner as to arouse the king's anger, and orders
but leaving his queen pregnant, the princes of the were accordingly given to shut up the Christian
collateral branches of the royal house were elated churches, confiscate the ecclesiastical property, and
with hopes of the succession. The Magi, however, put the priest to death. Some years afterwards.
discovered by means only known to them, that the in 344, the choice was left to the Christians be-
queen was pregnant with a male child, and they tween fire worship and death, and during fifty
prevailed upon the grandees to acknowledge the years the cross lay prostrate in blood and ashes till
unborn child as their lawful sovereign, and the it was once more erected by the Nestorians. After
diadem destined to adorn the future king was the death of King Tiridates and the conquest of
placed with great solemnity upon the body of his his kingdom by Sapor in 342, the same cruelties
:
## p. 718 (#734) ############################################
718
SASSANIDAE.
SASSANIDAE.
were perpetrated against the Christians in that Great ; but according to the Persian historians,
country also ; and the hostility which had existed who, in matters of genealogy, deserve full credit,
between Rome and Persia ever since the death of he was the son of one Shapur Zulak tıf, a royal
Constantine, was now changed into a war of exter- prince. Shapur was anxious to be on good terms
mination. An account of these wars has been with the emperor Theodosius the Great, and sent
given in the lives of the enı perors Constantius II. a solemn embassy with splendid presents to him at
and his successors. We shall therefore only men- Constantinople, which was returned by a Greek
tion a few additional facts. Prince Hormisdas embassy headed by Stilicho going to Persia Owing
mentioned above was in the Roman army, and to these diplomatic transactions, an arrangement
fought valiantly against his countrymen, whence was made in 384, according to which Armenia and
we may conclude that, had Constantius reaped Iberia recovered their independence.
laurels instead of thistles in this war, he would 12. Bahram or Varases IV. , reigned from
have put the fugitive prince on the throne of A. D. 390—404, or perhaps not so long. He was
Persia. Sapor, although victorious in the open the brother of Sapor III. , and founded Kerman-
field, could do nothing against the strong bulwarks shah, still a flourishing town. This is recorded in
of Nisibis and other fortresses, and consequently an inscription on a monument near Kermanshah,
derived no advantages from his victories. The which has been copied by European travellers, and
conquest of Armenia was his only trophy ; in his translated by Silvestre de Sacy.
bloody zeal against the Christians in that country, 13. Y EZDIJIRd, or JespigerD I. ('lodovépons),
he went so far as to order all Armenian and Greek surnamed ULATHIM, or the SINNER, the son or
books to be burnt, but even the barbarous murder brother of the preceding, reigned from A. D. 404,
of his (only ? ) son, who had accidentally been or earlier, to 420 or 421. He is commonly called
made a prisoner by the Romans, and was put to Yesdigerd. He stood on friendly terms with the
death by order of Constantius, could not justify emperor Arcadius, who, it is said, appointed him
the still more savage conduct of Sapor inst so the guardian of his infant son and successor,
many innocent and defenceless Christians. Theodosius the Younger. We refer to the life of
In 358, Constantius sued for peace, but was Arcadius for more information respecting this
startled when the Persian ambassador, Narses, de- strange story. Yesdigerd is described by the
livered in Constantinople the conditions of Sapor, Eastern writers as a cruel and extravagant man,
who demanded only Mesopotamia, Armenia, and whose death was hailed by his subjects as a bless.
the five provinces beyond the Tigris, although ing, but the Western writers speak of him as a
as the legitimate successor of Cyrus, he said that model of wisdom and moderation. If the latter
he had a right to all Asia and Europe as far as the are right, they had perhaps in view the peace of a
river Strymon in Macedonia. Constantius en hundred years, which, through the instrumentality
deavoured to obtain better terms; but the negotia of the empress Pulcheria, Arcadius is said to have
tions of his ambassadors in Persia were frustrated concluded with him. But if we admit the correctness
through intrigue and perfidy; and the war was of the former opinion, we are at a loss to explain ih,
continued as before, and with the same disadvan- unless we presume that the Persian fireworship-
tage to the Romans. In 359, Sapor took Amida pers cast disgrace upon the name of their sovereign
by storm, and Singara, Berabde, and other places because he showed himself cruel against the Chris-
yielded to him in the following year. The death tians, and this we can hardly adnit. It is more
of Constantius and the accession of Julian made probable that he was represented as a tyrant, in
no change. The fate of Julian is known. He consequence of having dealt severely with the
might have avoided it by accepting the proposals of powerful aristocratic party. As to the Christians,
peace which Sapor made him immediately after his he was for several years their decided friend, till
accession, but he nobly rejected them, and caused Abdas, bishop of Susa, wantonly destroyed a fire-
his ruin although he did not deserve it. Jovian, temple, and haughtily refused to rebuild it when
to secure his own accession, made that famous the king ordered him to do so. His punishment
treaty with Sapor for which he has been blamed so was death, and one or two (Sozom. ix. 4) persecu-
much, and ceded to him the five provinces beyond tions ensued against the Christians.
the Tigris, and the fortresses of Nisibis, Singara, 14. Bahram or VARANES V. , surnamed GOUR,
&c. Iberia and Armenia were left to their fate ; or the “ Wild Ass,” on account of his passion for
and were completely reduced by Sapor in 365, and the chase of that animal, reigned from a. D. 420 or
the following year. A war with the Caucasian 421 till 440. He was the eldest son of Yesdi-
nations, occasioned through the subjugation of Ar- gerd I. , and inherited from him the hatred of the
menia, and another with the Arsacidae in distant aristocracy, who tried, but in vain, to fix the
Bactria, which might have had its cause in the diadem on the head of Chosroes or Khosrew, a royal
same circumstance, filled the latter years of the prince. In their civil contest Bahram was vic-
reign of Sapor, who died in 381. Sapor has been torious. The persecutions against the Christians
surnamed the Great, and no Persian king had ever were continued by him to such an extent, that
caused such terror to Rome as this monarch. thousands of his subjects took refuge within the
10. ARDISHIR or ARTAXERXES II. , the suc- Roman dominions. He showed the same intole-
cessor of Sapor the Great, reigned from A. D. 381 rant and fanatical spirit towards the Arsacid
-385. He was a prince of royal blood, but his Ardishir or Artaxerxes, whom he had put on the
descent is doubtful, and he was decidedly no son of throne of Armenia, and whom he endeavoured to
Sapor. The peace of 363 being strictly kept by the convert by compulsion. Seeing his dominions de-
Romans, he had no pretext for making war upon populated by a constant tide of emigration, he
them, if he felt inclined to do so, and we pass on to claimed his fugitive subjects back from Constan-
11. Shapur or SAPOR III. , who reigned from tinople, a demand which Theodosius nobly declined
A. D. 385-390. According to Agathias (iv. to comply with. The consequence was a war,
p. 136, ed. Paris) he was the son of Sapor the which broke out in 421, or at least shortly after
## p. 719 (#735) ############################################
SASSANIDAE
719
SASSANIDAE.
the accession of Bahram. In the province of 19.
privileges of Persian grandees, who, along with the
SASSANIDAE, the name of a dynasty which Magi, formed a sort of senate ; and the Arsacidae
reigned in Persia from A. D. 226 to A. D. 65). who ruled in Bactria and Armenia remained for
1. Ardishir or ARDSHIR, the ArtaxerXES some time in the undisturbed possession of their
('Aptatép&ns) of the Romans and Greeks, the sovereign power. Ardishir having thus succeeded
founder of the dynasty of the Sassanidae, reigned in establishing his authority at home, turned his
from a. D. 226—240. He was a son of one Babek, riews abroad, and began with a display of over-
an inferior officer, who was the son of Sassan, per- bearing insolence almost unparalleled in history.
haps a person of some consequence, since his royal He sent a menacing embassy to Constantinople,
descendants chose to call themselves after him. demanding from the emperor Alexander Severus
The Persian Zinut-al-Tuarikh makes Sassan a the immediate cession of all those portions of the
descendant from Bahman, who was in his turn de Roman empire that had belonged to Persia in the
scended from one Isfendear, who lived many cen- time of Cyrus and Xerxes, that is, the whole of
turies before Ardishir; but these statements cannot the Roman possessions in Asia, as well as Egypt
be regarded as historical. Some assign a very low Modesty, perhaps, prevented him from claiming
origin to Ardishir, but it seems that his family was the plain of Marathon and the sea of Salamis
rather above than below the middle classes. They also. This absurd demand is remarkable, in
were natives of, and settled in the province of Fars, so far as it showed the national pride of the
or Persia Proper, and they professed the ancient Persians, and the power of their historical re-
faith of Zoroaster and his priests, the Magi. These collections. An immediate war between the
circumstances are of great importance in the life of two empires was the direct consequence. As
Ardishir, as will be seen hereafter. Ardishir the leading events of this war are related in the
served with distinction in the army of Artabanus, life of Alexander Severus (SEVER US) we need only
the king of Parthia, was rewarded with ingratitude, mention here that, notwithstanding an army com-
and took revenge in revolt. He obtained assistance posed, in addition to infantry, of 170,000 horsemen,
from several grandees, and having met with suc- clad in armour, 700 elephants, with towers and
cells, claimed the throne on the plea of being de archers, and 1800 war-chariots, bristling with
scended from the ancient kings of Persia, the scythes, the great king was unable to subdue the
progeny of the great Cyrus. His lofty scheme Romans ; nor could Alexander Severus do more
became popular, and deserved to be so. During the than preserve his own dominions. After a severe
long rule of the Arsacidae, and in consequence of contest and much bloodshed and devastation, peace
their intimate connections with the West, Greek was restored, shortly after the murder of Aler-
customs, principles, arts, literature, and fashions, in ander in 237, each nation retaining the possessions
short a Greek civilisation had gradually spread which they held before the breaking out of the
over the Persian, or, as it was then called from However, the war against king Chosroes of
the ruling tribe, the Parthian empire. This new Armenia, the ally of the Romans, was carried on as
spirit introduced itself even into the religion, for before, till the death of Ardishir in 240. Eastern
although the Arsacidae of Parthia publicly confessed and Western writers coincide in stating that Ar-
the creed of Zoroaster, their faith, and that of the dishir was an extraordinary man, and much could
court party was mixed up with the principles of the be said of his wisdom and kingly qualities, were it
Greek religion and philosophy. The people, how- consistent with the plan of this work to give more
ever, were still firm adherents of the faith, the than condensed sketches of the lives of the Persian
laws, and the customs of their forefathers, and the kings. His reign, however, offers so many subjects
new spirit which came from the West was looked for reflection, and is so startling an event in the his-
upon by them with the same dislike and hatred as, tory of Roman and Greek influence in the East, as to
in modern times, European civilisation is detested deserve the particular attention of the student, who
and despised by the modern Orientals. Ardishirmust henceforth be prepared to witness the decline
appealed to the sympathy of the people, and he of that refined and beautiful spirit whose progress
gained his great object. It seems that he spent beyond the Euplırates he has followed with delight
many years in warlike efforts against Artabanus, ever since the conquest of Alexander the Great.
till at last his progress became so alarming that To sum up the leading facts of this decline, the
the king took the field against him with all his writer quotes the observations which he has made
forces In A. D. 226 Artabanus was defeated, in a in another work. (Biograph. Diction, of the U
decisive battle, in the plain of Hormuz, not far K. S. s. v. Arsaces, xxviii. )
from the Persian Gulf; and Ardishir thereupon “ The accession of Artaxerxes forms a new aera
assumed the pompous, but national title of Shahin- in the history of Persia. During the long reign
shah, or “King of Kings. ” That year is conse of the Arsacidae the influence of Greek civilisation
quently considered as the beginning of the new which was introduced by Alexander and his suc-
SPINION
war.
## p. 715 (#731) ############################################
STEMMA SASSANIDARUM.
715
Sassan,
Babek,
Shapúr.
1. Ardishír Babigán or Artaxerxes, A. D. 226—240.
2. Shapúr or Sapor I. , A. D. 240—273.
1
3. Hórmuz or Hormisdas, A. D. 273—274.
I
4. Bahram or Varancs I. , A. D. 274–277.
5. Bahram or Varanes II. , A. D. 277–294.
6. Bahram or Varancs 111. , A. D. 294.
7. Narsi or Narses, A. D. 294-303.
8. Hormuz or Hormisdas II. , A. D. 303–310.
9. Shapúr or Sapor 'II. , Postumus, A. D. 310–301.
Issue doubtful. See Nos, 11 and 12.
10. Ardíshir or Artaxerxes, prince of royal blood,
A. D. 381-385.
Shapúr Zulaktaf, prince of royal blood.
11. Shapúr or Sapor III. , perhaps, with
his brother Bahram, sons of Sapor II. ,
A. D. 385-390.
12. Bahram or Varanes IV. Kermanshah,
4. D. 390-404.
13. Yezdijird I. Ulathim (the Sinner), or Yezdigerd, son or brother of Bahram IV. , A. D. 404–420.
14. Bahram or Varanes V. , surnamed Gour, or the Wild Ass, A. D, 420—448.
15. Yezdijird or Yezdigerd II. , A. D. 448—458.
16. Hormúz or Hormisdas III. , A. D. 458.
17. Firose or Peroses, A. D. 458_484.
.
18. Pallas or Palash (Valens or
Vologeses), A. D. 484-488.
19. Kobad or Cobades,
A. D. 488–498, then
dethroned, and restored
A. D. 502-531.
20. Jamaspes or Zames, usurps
the throne, and loses it again,
A. D. 498-502.
21. Khosrew or Chosroes I. , surnamed Nushírwán, A. D. 531-579.
22. Hormúz or Hormisdas IV. , A. D. 579-590, murdered.
a
23. Bahram or Varanes VI. , a prince of royal blood, usurps the throne, A. D. 590—591.
24. Khosrew or Chosroes II. , Purwíz, son of Hormúz IV. , A. D. 591-628.
1
Merdaza.
25. Shirweh, or Siroes, reigned
8 months, A. D. 628.
27. Purán-Dokht, queen.
29. Arzem-Dokht,
queen.
26. Ardishír, an infant, put to
death a few days after his
· accession ; last of the Sas-
sanidae.
28. Shah-Shenendeh, cousin
and lover of Purán-
Dokht, reigns one
month.
30. Kesra, said to be a Sassanid, put to death.
31. Ferokhzád, said to be a son of Chosroes Purwíz, put to death.
32. Yezdijird or Yesdegerd, murdered A. D. 651, last of the dynasty, but neither he nor Nos. 29.
and 30. were Sassanidae in the male line.
## p. 716 (#732) ############################################
716
SASSANIDAE.
SASSANIDAE.
cessors, became conspicuous among the Parthians in Cappadocia through the treachery of a physician,
and those kindred nations which they had subdued, and after a long and gallant resistance from its
and at the court as well as among the nobles, the commander, the brave Demosthenes, who succeeded
Greek language seems to have been cultivated with in cutting his way through the enemy. But Shapur
success, and became, in some degree, the official did not keep his conquests long. A hero and a
language of the country. The fact of so many heroine, Odenathus and Zenobia, arose in the very
Parthian princes and nobles having been educated, desert, drove the king back beyond the Euphrates,
or having lived for a long time among the Greeks and founded a new empire, over which they ruled
and at Rome, where Greek was cultivated by all at Palmyra. Rome was thus saved ; and the last
educated men, likewise contributed to the intro- years of the reign of Shapur offer nothing of im-
duction of Greek civilisation in Parthia during the portance for Roman history. An event, however,
reign of the Arsacidae.
The Parthian coins of the took place in Persia at this period which must not
Arsacidae have all Greek inscriptions with nailed be passed over in silence here. We allude to the
letters, and the design is evidently after Greek new doctrine of the celebrated Mani, who, endea-
models. With the accession of the first Sassanid vouring to amalgamate the Christian and Zoroas.
the Greek influence was stopped ; the new dynasty trian religions, gave rise to the famous sect of the
was in every respect a national dynasty. The Manichaeans, who spread over the whole East, ex-
Sassanian coins are a proof of this great change: posing themselves to most sanguinary persecutions
the Greek inscriptions disappear and give place from both Christians and fire-worshippers. Shapur I.
to Persian inscriptions in Arianian characters, died in 273.
as Wilson calls them; the design also becomes 3. HORmuz or Hormisdas I. ('Opulodas or
gradually more barbarous, and the costume of the 'Opuíoons), the son of the preceding, an excellent
kings is different from that on the coins of the man, reigned only one year, and died in A. D. 274.
Arsacidae. The change of the alphabet, however, 4. BAHRAM or BAHARAM, VARANES or VA-
which was used for the inscription, was not sudden. RARANES I. (Ovapávns or Oupapávns), the son of
Some coins which have portraits of a Sassanian Hormuz I. , reigned from A. D. 274–277. He
character have names and titles in Nagari letters ; carried on unprofitable wars against Zenobia, and,
some have bilingual inscriptions. Great numbers after her captivity, was involved in a contest with
of Sassanian coins of different periods, though very the victorious emperor Aurelian, which, however,
few only of the earliest period, have been, and are was not attended with any serious results on ac-
still found, at Kabul and at other places in Afgha-count of the sudden death of Aurelian in 275.
nistan. ”
Under him the celebrated Mani (who, be it said
2. Shapur or SAPoR I. (Catons or Labúpns), here, was also a distinguished painter) was put to
the son and successor of Ardishir I. , reigned from death, and both Manichaeans and Christians were
A. D. 240—273. Soon after his succession a war cruelly persecuted. He was succeeded by his son
broke out with the Romans, which was occasioned 5. BAHRAM or VARANES II. , who reigned
by the hostile conduct of Shapur against Ar- A. D. 277–294. Bahram was engaged in a war
menia. The Romans, commanded by the emperor with his turbulent neighbours in the north-east,
Gordian, were at first successful, but afterwards towards the sources of the Indus, when he was
suffered some defeats, and the murder of Gordian, called to the west by a formidable invasion of the
in 244, put a check to their further progress. On emperor Carus. It was near the river Euphrates
the other hand the Persians were unable to subdue that the old hero received a Persian embassy, to
Armenia, which was nobly defended by king Chos- whom he gave audience whilst sitting on the turf
roes, who, however, was assassinated after a re- and dressed in the garb of a common soldier. His
sistance of nearly thirty years. Shapur had con- language, however, soon convinced the luxurious
trived this murder. His son, Tiridates, being an Orientals that this mean-looking person, who was
infant, the Armenians implored the assistance of the making his dinner upon some pease and a piece of
emperor Valerian; but before the Romans appeared bacon, was a monarch of no less power than their
in the field, Armenia was subdued, and Shapur own Shahinshah. He told them that if the king
conquered Mesopotamia (258). Upon this Valerian did not recognise the superiority of the Roman
put himself at the head of his army. . He met empire, he would make Persia as naked of trees as
Sapor near Edessa, on the Euphrates, and a pitched his own head was destitute of hair ; and the Per-
battle was fought, in which, owing to the perfidy sians being little inclined to make peace on such
or incapacity of the Roman minister Macrianus, conditions, he began in earnest to show the good-
the Persians carried the day. Valerian sought ness of his word. Seleucia and Ctesiphon both
refuge within his fortified camp, but was finally yielded to him, and Bahram being compelled to
obliged to surrender with his army, Shapur having keep most of his troops on the Indian frontier was
refused to accept the enormous ransom offered to only saved by the sudden death of Carus (283).
him (260). The conduct of Shapur against Vale- The sons and successors of Carus, Carinus and
rian, who died in captivity, is not to be discussed Numerianus, retreated in consternation, and Dio-
here ; but his political conduct offers a bold stroke cletian, who soon wrested the power from them,
of policy. He caused one Cyriades, a miserable was too busily engaged in the north to follow up
fugitive of Antioch, to be proclaimed Roman em- the success of Carus. Bahram 11. died in 294.
peror, and acknowledged him as such, for the pur- 6. BAHRAM or VARANES III. , the elder son and
pose, as it seems, having a proper person to sign successor of the preceding, died after a reign of
a treaty of peace, through which he hoped to gain eight months only, A. D. 294, and was succeeded
legal possession of the provinces beyond the Taurus. by his younger brother.
He consequently pushed on to obtain possession of 7. Narsi or NARSES (Nápons), who reigned
them, destroyed Antioch, conquered Syria, and from A. D. 294—303. He carried on a formidable
having made himself master of the passes in the war against the emperor Diocletian, which arose
Taurus, laid Tarsus in ashes, and took Caesarcia out of the state of Armenian affairs. As early as
## p. 717 (#733) ############################################
SASSANIDAE.
717
SASSANIDAE.
>
286, in the reign of Bahram II. , Diocletian had mother. This is a strange story, yet we cannot
put Tiridates, the fugitive son of King Chosroes, but admit it as an historical fact. Agathias, the
of Armenia, on the throne of his forefathers, and only Western historian who mentions it (iv. p. 135,
kept him there by his assistance, although not ed. Paris), took it from Eastern sources; and those
without an obstinate resistance on the part of the Persian historians who are known to us, relate the
Persians. Narses succeeded in expelling Tiridates, story with all its details (sce Malcolm, quoted
and re-united his kingdom with Persia. This led below). Zosimus (ii. p. 100, &c. ed. Oxon, 1679)
to an immediate war with Diocletian, who took does not mention the coronation of an unborn
proper measures to put a final check on Persian child, but only of a younger son of Hormuz, the
anıbition in that quarter. Galerius Caesar com elder, who bore his father's name Hormuz, or Hor-
manded the Roman army. In the first campaign misdas, having been excluded from the succession.
in 296, he sustained most signal defeats in Meso- Now this llormuz is agnin a well-known historical
potamia, and tied in disgrace to Antioch. In the person, but we must presume that he was a prince
second campaign Narses was the loser, and among of roynl blood, and not the elder brother of the
the trophies of Galerius was the harem of the infant Shapur. Hormisdns was one of the canses
Persian king, a triumph which the Western arms of the great struggle that took place afterwards
had perhaps not obtained over the Persians since between Sapor and the emperor Constantius, and
the victory of Alexander over Darius at Issus. the matter came to pass in the following way.
In his conduct to his female captives, Galerius Zosimus is here a valuable source, and he is corro-
acted as nobly as Alexander. At Nisibis Diocle- borated by the Persian historians. Once, long
tian and Galerius received Apharban, the ambas- before the birth of Sapor, and during the reign of
sador of Narses, who sued for peace with a dignity Hormisdas II. , Prince Hormisdas, then heir-ap-
becoming the representative of a eat, thongh parent as it seems, spoke of some grandees in &
vanquished monarch, and the Romans sent Sicorius very contemptuous manner, menacing them with
Probus to the camp of Narses with power to con- the fate of Marsyas when he should be their king.
clude a final peace, of which they dictated the Unacquainted with Greek mythology, the nobles
conditions. Probus was not immediately admitted inquired who Marsyas was, and were greatly
to the presence of Narses, who obliged the ambas- alarmed when they heard that they might expect
sador to follow him on various excursions, and to be flayed alive, a punishment which was some-
caused a considerable delay to the negotiations for times inflicted in the administration of the crimical
the evident purpose of collecting his dispersed law in Persia. This explains the election of an
forces, and either avoiding the peace altogether, or unborn baby, and also the fate of Prince Hor-
obtaining more favourable conditions. At last, how- misdas, who was thrown into a dungeon as soon
ever,
that famous treaty was made in which Narses as King Hormisdas was dead. After a captivity
ceded to Diocletian Mesopotamia (the northern of many years, be gained his liberty through a
and north-western portions as far down as Cir- stratagem of his wife, who sent him a fish in
cesium at the junction of the Chaboras and Eu- which she had hidden a file, the most welcome
phrates), five small provinces beyond the Tigris present to any prisoner who finds nothing between
on the Persian side, the kingdom of Armenia, and himself and liberty but a couple of iron bars.
some adjacent Median districts, over which Tiridates Hormisdas accordingly escaped and fled to the
was re-established as king, and lastly, the supre- court of the emperor Constans, whither young
macy over Iberia, the kings of which were hence- Sapor generously sent his wife after him. con-
forth under the protection of Rome. Narses, dis stans received him well, and he afterwards appears
abled from thinking of further conquests west of as an important person on the stage of events.
the Tigris, seems to have occupied himself during (Suidas, s. v. Mapovas, relates the same story, and
the last year of his reign with domestic affairs, and speaks of it as a well-known fact: iotopla onan. )
in 303 he abdicated in favour of his son. It is a The minority of Sapor passed without any remark-
strange coincidence of circumstances that both Narses able event regarding Rome.
We must presume
and Diocletian, the vanquished and the victor, that the Persian aristocracy employed their time
were, through quite opposite causes, filled with dis- well in augmenting their power during that mi-
gust at absolute power, and retreated into private nority. In this time also falls the pretended con-
life. Narses, who, notwithstanding his defeats quest of Ctesiphon by Thair, an Arabic or Himy-
and the inglorious peace of 297, was a man of no aritic king of Yemen; and the minister of Sapor
common means and character, died soon after his issued cruel edicts against the Christians, who,
abdication in the same year, 303.
tired of the state of oppression in which they
8. Hormuz or HORMISDAS II. , the son of lived, sought for an amelioration of their condition
Narses, reigned from A. D. 303–310. During his by addressing themselves to Constantius. For this
reign nothing of importance bappened regarding step they were punished by Sapor, who, however,
Rome. His successor was his son
contented himself with imposing a heavy tax upon
9. SHAPUR Or SAPOR II. POSTUMUS, who reigned them. Symeon, bishop of Seleucia, complained of
from a. D. 310—381, and was crowned in his this additional burthen in so haughty and offensive
mother's womb. His father dying without issue, a manner as to arouse the king's anger, and orders
but leaving his queen pregnant, the princes of the were accordingly given to shut up the Christian
collateral branches of the royal house were elated churches, confiscate the ecclesiastical property, and
with hopes of the succession. The Magi, however, put the priest to death. Some years afterwards.
discovered by means only known to them, that the in 344, the choice was left to the Christians be-
queen was pregnant with a male child, and they tween fire worship and death, and during fifty
prevailed upon the grandees to acknowledge the years the cross lay prostrate in blood and ashes till
unborn child as their lawful sovereign, and the it was once more erected by the Nestorians. After
diadem destined to adorn the future king was the death of King Tiridates and the conquest of
placed with great solemnity upon the body of his his kingdom by Sapor in 342, the same cruelties
:
## p. 718 (#734) ############################################
718
SASSANIDAE.
SASSANIDAE.
were perpetrated against the Christians in that Great ; but according to the Persian historians,
country also ; and the hostility which had existed who, in matters of genealogy, deserve full credit,
between Rome and Persia ever since the death of he was the son of one Shapur Zulak tıf, a royal
Constantine, was now changed into a war of exter- prince. Shapur was anxious to be on good terms
mination. An account of these wars has been with the emperor Theodosius the Great, and sent
given in the lives of the enı perors Constantius II. a solemn embassy with splendid presents to him at
and his successors. We shall therefore only men- Constantinople, which was returned by a Greek
tion a few additional facts. Prince Hormisdas embassy headed by Stilicho going to Persia Owing
mentioned above was in the Roman army, and to these diplomatic transactions, an arrangement
fought valiantly against his countrymen, whence was made in 384, according to which Armenia and
we may conclude that, had Constantius reaped Iberia recovered their independence.
laurels instead of thistles in this war, he would 12. Bahram or Varases IV. , reigned from
have put the fugitive prince on the throne of A. D. 390—404, or perhaps not so long. He was
Persia. Sapor, although victorious in the open the brother of Sapor III. , and founded Kerman-
field, could do nothing against the strong bulwarks shah, still a flourishing town. This is recorded in
of Nisibis and other fortresses, and consequently an inscription on a monument near Kermanshah,
derived no advantages from his victories. The which has been copied by European travellers, and
conquest of Armenia was his only trophy ; in his translated by Silvestre de Sacy.
bloody zeal against the Christians in that country, 13. Y EZDIJIRd, or JespigerD I. ('lodovépons),
he went so far as to order all Armenian and Greek surnamed ULATHIM, or the SINNER, the son or
books to be burnt, but even the barbarous murder brother of the preceding, reigned from A. D. 404,
of his (only ? ) son, who had accidentally been or earlier, to 420 or 421. He is commonly called
made a prisoner by the Romans, and was put to Yesdigerd. He stood on friendly terms with the
death by order of Constantius, could not justify emperor Arcadius, who, it is said, appointed him
the still more savage conduct of Sapor inst so the guardian of his infant son and successor,
many innocent and defenceless Christians. Theodosius the Younger. We refer to the life of
In 358, Constantius sued for peace, but was Arcadius for more information respecting this
startled when the Persian ambassador, Narses, de- strange story. Yesdigerd is described by the
livered in Constantinople the conditions of Sapor, Eastern writers as a cruel and extravagant man,
who demanded only Mesopotamia, Armenia, and whose death was hailed by his subjects as a bless.
the five provinces beyond the Tigris, although ing, but the Western writers speak of him as a
as the legitimate successor of Cyrus, he said that model of wisdom and moderation. If the latter
he had a right to all Asia and Europe as far as the are right, they had perhaps in view the peace of a
river Strymon in Macedonia. Constantius en hundred years, which, through the instrumentality
deavoured to obtain better terms; but the negotia of the empress Pulcheria, Arcadius is said to have
tions of his ambassadors in Persia were frustrated concluded with him. But if we admit the correctness
through intrigue and perfidy; and the war was of the former opinion, we are at a loss to explain ih,
continued as before, and with the same disadvan- unless we presume that the Persian fireworship-
tage to the Romans. In 359, Sapor took Amida pers cast disgrace upon the name of their sovereign
by storm, and Singara, Berabde, and other places because he showed himself cruel against the Chris-
yielded to him in the following year. The death tians, and this we can hardly adnit. It is more
of Constantius and the accession of Julian made probable that he was represented as a tyrant, in
no change. The fate of Julian is known. He consequence of having dealt severely with the
might have avoided it by accepting the proposals of powerful aristocratic party. As to the Christians,
peace which Sapor made him immediately after his he was for several years their decided friend, till
accession, but he nobly rejected them, and caused Abdas, bishop of Susa, wantonly destroyed a fire-
his ruin although he did not deserve it. Jovian, temple, and haughtily refused to rebuild it when
to secure his own accession, made that famous the king ordered him to do so. His punishment
treaty with Sapor for which he has been blamed so was death, and one or two (Sozom. ix. 4) persecu-
much, and ceded to him the five provinces beyond tions ensued against the Christians.
the Tigris, and the fortresses of Nisibis, Singara, 14. Bahram or VARANES V. , surnamed GOUR,
&c. Iberia and Armenia were left to their fate ; or the “ Wild Ass,” on account of his passion for
and were completely reduced by Sapor in 365, and the chase of that animal, reigned from a. D. 420 or
the following year. A war with the Caucasian 421 till 440. He was the eldest son of Yesdi-
nations, occasioned through the subjugation of Ar- gerd I. , and inherited from him the hatred of the
menia, and another with the Arsacidae in distant aristocracy, who tried, but in vain, to fix the
Bactria, which might have had its cause in the diadem on the head of Chosroes or Khosrew, a royal
same circumstance, filled the latter years of the prince. In their civil contest Bahram was vic-
reign of Sapor, who died in 381. Sapor has been torious. The persecutions against the Christians
surnamed the Great, and no Persian king had ever were continued by him to such an extent, that
caused such terror to Rome as this monarch. thousands of his subjects took refuge within the
10. ARDISHIR or ARTAXERXES II. , the suc- Roman dominions. He showed the same intole-
cessor of Sapor the Great, reigned from A. D. 381 rant and fanatical spirit towards the Arsacid
-385. He was a prince of royal blood, but his Ardishir or Artaxerxes, whom he had put on the
descent is doubtful, and he was decidedly no son of throne of Armenia, and whom he endeavoured to
Sapor. The peace of 363 being strictly kept by the convert by compulsion. Seeing his dominions de-
Romans, he had no pretext for making war upon populated by a constant tide of emigration, he
them, if he felt inclined to do so, and we pass on to claimed his fugitive subjects back from Constan-
11. Shapur or SAPOR III. , who reigned from tinople, a demand which Theodosius nobly declined
A. D. 385-390. According to Agathias (iv. to comply with. The consequence was a war,
p. 136, ed. Paris) he was the son of Sapor the which broke out in 421, or at least shortly after
## p. 719 (#735) ############################################
SASSANIDAE
719
SASSANIDAE.
the accession of Bahram. In the province of 19.
