The Mihranids were an Iranian family which ruled several regions of Caucasus from 330 to 821. They claimed to be of Sasanian Persian descent but were of Parthian origin.
68-578: Juansher was the Mihranid prince of Caucasian Albania , ruling the principality from 637 to 669. He was the son and successor of Varaz Grigor ( r. 628–637 ). During his reign, Juansher changed his allegiance thrice. He started out as a subject to the Sasanian Empire , under which he fought against the Arab-Islamic invasion of Iran (632–654). Realizing the impending downfall of
136-400: A mowbed of the name of Radui tells him that to kill a king or prophet will bring evil upon him and his son, and is supported in what he says by a holy man of the name of Hormuzd Kharad Shehran, and Mehronush. The miller most unwillingly goes in and stabs him with a dagger in the middle. Mahoe's horsemen all go and see him and take off his clothing and ornaments, leaving him on the ground. All
204-523: A base for resistance in the province of Pars . However, in 650, Abdullah ibn Aamir , the governor of Basra , invaded Pars and put an end to the Persian resistance. Estakhr was made into ruins after the battle and a force of 40,000 defenders including many Persian nobles were killed. After the Arab conquest of Pars, Yazdegerd fled to Kirman while being pursued by an Arab force. Yazdegerd managed to flee from
272-581: A client ruler comparable to Hamazasp IV Mamikonian in Armenia. After the Muslim civil war ended, it took some time before the caliphate established its authority once again north of the Zagros Mountains . Throughout this period, Juansher and the other Southern Caucasian rulers maintained their dominion as Byzantine subjects. Movses praises Juansher for launching a construction initiatives and winning
340-413: A generation earlier briefly conquered Egypt and Asia Minor , even reaching as a far as Constantinople , fell to a force of lightly equipped Arabs that were used to skirmishes and desert warfare. The heavy Sasanian cavalry was too sluggish and systematized to contain them; employing light-armed Arab or East Iranian mercenaries from Khorasan and Transoxiana would have been much more successful. Yazdegerd
408-401: A heavy blow to the empire, which it would never recover from. Furthermore, the fall of Khosrow II also culminated in a civil war lasting four years , with the most powerful members of the nobility gaining full autonomy and starting to create their own government. The hostilities between the Persian ( Parsig ) and Parthian ( Pahlav ) noble-families were also resumed, which split up the wealth of
476-475: A martyred prince; many rulers and officers would later claim being a descendant of him in Islamic Iran. Yazdegerd was well educated and cultured, but his arrogance, pride and inability to compare his demands with the real situation led to him constantly falling out with his governors and his influence diminishing as he, pursued by Arabs, moved from one city to another. At each new place, he behaved as if he
544-401: A miller near Marw, who, however, murdered him in 651. According to Kia, the miller had reportedly killed Yazdegerd in order to obtain his jewelry, whilst The Cambridge History of Iran states that the miller was sent by Mahoe Suri . Mahoe sends the miller to cut off his head on pain of losing his own, and having none of his race left alive. His chiefs hear this and cry out against him, and
612-602: A number of Roman titles to his subjects, and a piece of the True Cross . Juansher's submission to the Byzantines most likely took place before Constans II's campaign to Armenia in the autumn of 653, but was first really implemented during the civil war in the caliphate between 656–661, when Constans II managed to exert his influence over all of the Southern Caucasus. The civil war ended with the dissolution of
680-534: A serious threat that it led Umar to combine the Arab forces of Kufa and Basra under Al-Nu'man ibn Muqrin and send them against the Sasanians with reinforcements from Syria and Oman . The battle is said to have lasted several days. It resulted in major losses on both sides, including the death of al-Nu'man ibn Muqrin and the Iranian generals Mardanshah and Piruz Khosrow . The Battle of Nahavand in 642
748-584: A serious wound, in which the Arabs triumphed. Along with some others, he managed to escape by swimming to the other side of the Euphrates River . When the Arabs later resumed their attacks and besieged Ctesiphon, Juansher led a force 3,000 soldiers on the right side of the Tigris River , being assigned to protect Yazdegerd III so he could move out of the city. The court, ministries, and the majority of
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#1732773232611816-536: Is known in other languages as; Pahlavi Yazdekert ; New Persian Yazd(e)gerd ; Syriac Yazdegerd , Izdegerd , and Yazdeger ; Armenian Yazkert ; Talmudic Izdeger and Azger ; Arabic Yazdeijerd ; Greek Isdigerdes . Yazdegerd was the son of prince Shahriyar and the grandson of the last prominent shah of Iran, Khosrow II ( r. 590–628 ), who was in 628 overthrown and executed by his own son Kavad II , who proceeded to have all his brothers and half-brothers executed, including Shahriyar. This dealt
884-633: Is uncertain how the Mihranids became Arranshahs (princes of Albania). Their ancestor, Mihran, was said to have received the region of Gardman by the Sasanian monarch Khosrow II ( r. 590–628 ). In c. 600 , the Mihranids who exterminated all of the members of the Aranshahik dynasty with the exception of a certain Zarmihr, who was related to the Mihranids through marriage. This
952-541: The gusank ("ministrels"). A chapter of Movses' book The History of the Caucasian Albanians includes a poem dedicated to Juansher by the 7th-century Armenian poet Davtak Kertogh , which is considered the first long secular poem in Armenian literature . Juansher reportedly married three times. His first wife was the daughter of the prince of Siwnik, who died in c. 659 . His second wife
1020-473: The spahbed (commander-in-chief) of the northern part of the empire. Juansher succeeded his father in 637. When Juansher arrived at the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon in 637 or 638, his position as sparapet (military commander) of the Albanians was officially acknowledged by the Sasanian monarch Yazdegerd III ( r. 632–651 ). During the ensuing Battle of al-Qadisiyyah , Juansher suffered
1088-597: The Battle of the Bridge . In 636, Yazdegerd III ordered Rostam Farrokhzad to subdue the invading Arabs and then told him: "Today you are the [most prominent] man among the Iranians. You see that the people of Iran have not faced a situation like this since the family of Ardashir I assumed power." Envoys then came to Yazdegerd III asking him to consider the dismissal of Rostam in order to replace him with someone around whom
1156-622: The Feast of the Cross by a traitor named Varaznoy, probably due to falling out with the Caliph. He was succeeded by his nephew Varaz-Tiridates I . Albeit a Christian, Juansher still participated in activities related to Zoroastrianism , the official religion of the Sasanian Empire. He notably appears in what is considered to be the first long secular poem in Armenian literature , written by
1224-611: The Rashidun Caliphate , but also instructed Juansher to establish contact with the Byzantine emperor Constans II ( r. 641–668 ) and offer his services. Juansher submitted to the Byzantines, but this was implemented in practice only during the civil war in the caliphate between 656–661, when Constans II managed to exert his influence over all of the Southern Caucasus . In 665, Juansher submitted to
1292-632: The Turks , who eventually left him die under the scorching summer sun. The corpse of Mahoe was then burned at the stake, along with the bodies of his three sons. The monks cursed Mahoe and made a hymn to Yazdegerd, mourning the fall of a "combative" king and the "house of Ardashir I ". Whether this event was factual or not, it emphasizes that the Christians of the empire remained loyal to the Zoroastrian Sasanians, even possibly more than
1360-488: The Umayyad Caliphate , and in 667 reportedly played an important role in counselling Caliph Mu'awiya I ( r. 661–680 ) on how to assassinate Constans II, which took place in 15 July 669. As a reward, Juansher was given control over Siwnik and one third of the tribute collected from Albania by the caliphate, which marked the zenith of Juansher's rule. He was himself assassinated on 14 September 669 during
1428-531: The war with the Byzantines and internal conflict. The circumstances were so chaotic, and the condition of the nation so alarming, that "the Persians openly spoke of the imminent downfall of their empire, and saw its portents in natural calamities." In May 633, the Muslims defeated a Sasanian force under Azadbeh near the important strategic Sasanian city of Hira , which was shortly afterwards occupied. After
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#17327732326111496-524: The winter solstice in order to ambush flocks and herds from Ayrarat and Siwnik on the winter pastures of the Araxes and Kura rivers. They gained much loot from the attack, which their king later returned after making peace with Juansher during a summit meeting. In the same year, Juansher submitted to the Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya I ( r. 661–680 ) after being summoned by him. In 667/68, Juansher
1564-404: The 7th century were Varaz Grigor , his son Javanshir , and Varaz-Tiridates I . Mihranids assumed a Persian title of Arranshahs (i.e. shahs of Arran , Persian name of Albania). The family's rule came to an end after the assassination of Varaz-Tiridates II by Nerseh Pilippean in 822–23. Subsequently Sahl Smbatean , a descendant of the aforementioned Arranshahik (Eṙanšahik) family, assumed
1632-470: The 7th-century Armenian poet Davtak Kertogh . Juansher belonged to Mihranid dynasty . Despite the dynasty's Parthian origin, they claimed to be descended from the Sasanian monarchs of Iran, who had held authority over Caucasian Albania since 252/3. It is uncertain how the Mihranids became Arranshahs (princes of Albania). Their ancestor, Mihran, was said to have received the region of Gardman by
1700-469: The Arab force in a snowstorm at Bimand. After arriving at Kirman, Yazdegerd became unfriendly with the marzban (general of a frontier province, " margrave ") of Kirman, and then left Kirman for Sakastan . Another Basran army later arrived which defeated and killed the marzban of Kirman in a bloody fight. When Yazdegerd arrived at Sakastan he lost the support of the governor of Sakastan by demanding tax from him. Yazdegerd then headed for Merv to join
1768-513: The Arabs, he again sent envoys to China, in 647 and 648, in order to “seek assistance from the Chinese court with the hope to form a new army". Some form of help would only arrive in 661, after Peroz III , the son of Yazdegerd, again sent envoys in 654 and 661. The Chinese established a "Persian military commandery" (波斯都督府) in the city of Zābol (疾陵城 Jilingcheng ) in Tokharistan , and Peroz
1836-697: The Arabs. When Yazdegerd arrived in Marw (in what is today's Turkmenistan ) he demanded tax from the marzban of Marw, losing also his support and making him ally with Nezak Tarkan , the Hephthalite ruler of Badghis , who helped him defeat Yazdegerd and his followers. After Yazdegerd III started to suffer from the onslaught of the Muslim Arabs, he soon sent an envoy to the Chinese court in 639 "for offering tribute”. As he continued to suffer defeats from
1904-518: The Iranian nobles who had deserted Yazdegerd. Indeed, there were close links between the late Sasanian rulers and Christians, whose conditions had greatly improved compared to that of the early Sasanian era. Yazdegerd's wife was according to folklore a Christian, whilst his son and heir, Peroz III was seemingly an adherent of Christianity, and even had a church built in Tang China , where he had taken refuge. Yazdegerd became remembered in history as
1972-485: The Rashidun Caliphate, now replaced by the Umayyad Caliphate . Movses depicts Juansher as a prominent local ruler during this period. When Juansher visited to see Constans II in person twice during his Southern Caucasian advance in 660–661, he received clear signs of favor on both occasions. He was officially anointed as king of "all the eastern peoples" at his second audience in the spring of 661, making him
2040-516: The Sasanian Empire, realizing its impending downfall. While he was still in Adurbadagan, Juansher alienated Farrukhzad by turning down a marriage alliance. After that, he rebelled against the Sasanians. Although the Albanian lowlands and its capital, Partaw , were swiftly taken back by Sasanian forces, Juansher's guerrilla warfare proved to be extraordinarily effective, especially after he won
2108-440: The Sasanian monarch Khosrow II ( r. 590–628 ). In c. 600 , a Mihranid prince conquered all of Albania and assumed the title of Arranshah . The head of the family's full titulature was thus "Lord of Gardman and Prince of Albania". Juansher was the second eldest of the four sons of the Albanian prince Varaz Grigor ( r. 628–637 ). His name is derived from Persian Juwānshēr , meaning "young lion". He
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2176-415: The Sasanians, he withdrew to Albania, where he rebelled. Although he briefly lost control over the Albanian lowlands and its capital, Partaw , his guerrilla warfare forced the Sasanians to grant him more autonomy. Following the fall of the Sasanian Empire in 651, Juansher's father seemingly became the leader of Albania once more, due to his seniority. He took the safe route by acknowledging the suzerainty of
2244-722: The admiration of the adjacent rulers. However, the Byzantine-supported peace in the area was short-lived. The Khazars , who were expanding their dominance in the Kuban and Terek steppes, launched a series of raids into the Caucasus in 662. In 665, the Caucasus was attacked again, this time by the North Caucasian Huns , who were likely proxies of the Khazars. The Huns planned their invasion to coincide with
2312-401: The balance of power was still shifting in his favour. During this period (most likely during the end of the 640s), as other spahbeds gained more control over their own territories, the Sasanian Empire was fragmenting into a network of regional rulerships that would not necessarily form a united front against the Muslim invaders. In 651, Yazdegerd III was killed by a local miller, thus marking
2380-458: The battle. The Arabs then marched towards the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon without meeting any resistance. Yazdegerd took his treasury, and along with 1,000 of his servants fled to Hulwan in Media , leaving Rostam Farrokhzad's brother Farrukhzad in charge of Ctesiphon. Farrukhzad, however, did not attempt any resistance and also went to Hulwan. The Arabs subsequently reached Ctesiphon, besieged
2448-463: The capital of Ctesiphon . He argues that the conspiring aristocrats and the population of Ctesiphon, "do not appear to have been too successful or eager in bringing Yazdgerd to the capital." The empire was also at the same time invaded on all fronts; by the Göktürks in the east, and by Khazars in the west, who raided Armenia and Adurbadagan . The Sasanian army had been heavily weakened due to
2516-499: The daughter of Khosrow II, Boran , on the throne. She was deposed a year later, and a succession of rulers followed one another, until Boran was sovereign once more in 631, only to be killed the following year, seemingly by the Parsig leader Piruz Khosrow . The most powerful magnates in the empire, Rostam Farrokhzad and Piruz Khosrow, now threatened by their own men, eventually agreed to work together, and installed Yazdegerd III on
2584-482: The end of the Sasanian Empire. Following the fall of the Sasanian Empire, the local rulers in the Southern Caucasus had to choose whether to cooperate with the nascent, but possibly momentary Rashidun Caliphate , or the Byzantine Empire , which had survived the Muslim conquests. Juansher's father seemingly became the leader of Albania once more, due to his seniority. He took the safe route by acknowledging
2652-529: The fall of Ctesiphon "the people... were about to go their separate ways, they started to incite one another: 'If you disperse now, you will never get together again; this is a spot that sends us in different directions'." In April 637, the Arabs defeated another Sasanian army at the Battle of Jalula . After this defeat, Yazdegerd fled deeper into Media . He subsequently raised a new army and send it to Nahavand to retake Ctesiphon and prevent any further Muslim advances. The army that Yazdegerd sent seemed such
2720-401: The fall of Hira, Yazdegerd began to pay greater attention to the Muslims; Rostam Farrokhzad sent an army under the Persian military officer Bahman Jadhuyih and the Armenian military officer Jalinus against the Muslims. Rostam is known to have told Bahman secretly that: "if Jalinus returns to the like of his defeat, then cut off his head." The Sasanian army managed to defeat the Muslims at
2788-469: The foot of it. When morning came, the birds looked around and saw that he was watching them. Whenever a bird became separated from the rest, the eagle snatched him. The worst thing that could happen to them would be that all would escape save one. However, the Sasanian army suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah , with Rostam , Bahman , Jalinus and two Armenian princes named Grigor II Novirak and Mushegh III Mamikonian being killed during
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2856-577: The governors of the empire had proclaimed independence and carved out their own kingdom. The governors of the provinces of Mazun and Yemen had already asserted their independence during the civil war of 628–632, thus resulting in the disintegration of Sasanian rule in the Arabian Peninsula , which was uniting under the banner of Islam . The Iranologist Khodadad Rezakhani argues that the Sasanians had most likely lost much of their possessions after Khosrow II's execution in 628. The empire
2924-543: The leader of the Turks . However, when he arrived in Khorasan the inhabitants did not agree with Yazdegerd's decision to continue waging war and told him that it was better if he made peace with the Arabs; Yazdegerd, however, refused. Sakastan was later taken by the Arab forces after a bloody fight around 650–652. Yazdegerd was also supported by the Principality of Chaghaniyan , which sent him troops to aid him against
2992-460: The nation. A few months later, a devastating plague swept through the western Sasanian provinces, killing half of its population including Kavad II. He was succeeded by his eight-year-old son Ardashir III , who was killed two years later by the distinguished Sasanian general Shahrbaraz , who was in turn murdered forty days later in a coup by the Pahlav leader Farrukh Hormizd , who installed
3060-434: The nobles curse Mahoe and wish him the same fate. Regardless, the death of Yazdegerd marked the end of the Sasanian Empire, and made it less difficult for the Arabs to conquer the rest of Iran. All of Khorasan was soon conquered by the Arabs, who would use it as a base to attack Transoxiana . The death of Yazdegerd thus marked the end of the last pre-Islamic Iranian empire after more than 400 years of rule. An empire–which had
3128-481: The official religion of Albania and held significant political power, Zoroastrianism —the official religion of the Sasanian Empire—exerted a significant influence, particularly between the 6th and middle of the 7th-century. Despite being a Christian, Juansher continued to take part in the traditional Zoroastrian New Year's Feast of Nawasard with his personal bodyguards, and delight in the pagan performances of
3196-463: The people would rally. Yazdegerd III asked Rostam for an assessment of the Arab forces since they had camped at Qadisiyyah. Rostam Farrokhzad stated that the Arabs were "a pack of wolves, falling upon unsuspecting shepherds and annihilating them." Yazdegerd III responds to Rostam by saying It is not like that. The Arabs and the Persians are comparable to an eagle who looked upon a mountain where birds take shelter at night and stay in their nests at
3264-441: The populace of the city likely went along with Yazdegerd III. For several more years, Juansher fought under Farrukhzad , the brother and successor of Rostam. He participated in another crucial battle, which the 10th-century author Movses Kaghankatvatsi described as "a cruel defeat" for the Sasanians. In 644/45, Juansher went back to Albania through Adurbadagan (in present-day northwestern Iran), most likely due to losing faith in
3332-541: The regions of the southwest ( Xwarwarān ) and southeast ( Nēmrōz ), where the Parsig was based. The Pahlav , who were mainly based in the northern portion of the empire, refused to mint coins of him. Even in the south Yazdegerd's rule was not seemingly secure; a Sasanian claimant to the throne, Khosrow IV , minted coins at Susa in Khuzestan around this time, which he would do till 636. According to Rezakhani, Yazdegerd seemingly did not control Mesopotamia , including
3400-406: The support of prominent figures in the neighbouring Principality of Iberia . Farrukhzad was thus forced to pursue a more accommodative course of action. With the help of Juansher's father-in-law, the prince of Siwnik, they came to an agreement that gave Juansher considerable autonomy. The quick military response Juansher gave to a later Sasanian attempt to regain control over Albania demonstrated that
3468-467: The suzerainty of the caliph , but also instructed Juansher to establish contact with the Byzantine emperor and offer his services. Juansher sent a letter to the Byzantine emperor Constans II ( r. 641–668 ), in which he offered to become his vassal. The latter accepted his offer, bestowing Juansher with the high-ranking title of protopatrikios . Juansher was also given the authority to assign
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#17327732326113536-400: The thought of sharing responsibility for killing the senior Christian ruler appointed by God to manage earthly affairs. More probably he simply knew too much about the conspiracy against Constans. Whatever the reason, it seems likely that he had forfeited the trust of the caliph and paid for it with his life." Juansher was succeeded by his nephew Varaz-Tiridates I . Although Christianity was
3604-508: The throne, thus putting an end to the civil war. He was crowned in the Anahid fire-temple in Istakhr , where he had been hiding during the civil war. The temple was the very place where the first Sasanian shah Ardashir I ( r. 224–242 ) had crowned himself, indicating that the reason behind Yazdegerd's coronation at the same place was due to hopes for a rejuvenation of the empire. He
3672-447: The title of Arranshah and ruled significant part of Caucasian Albania. Yazdegerd III Yazdegerd III ( Middle Persian : 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 ; also Romanized Yazdgerd , Yazdgird ) was the last Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 632 to 651. His father was Shahriyar and his grandfather was Khosrow II . Ascending the throne at the age of eight, the young shah lacked authority and reigned as figurehead , whilst real power
3740-406: The tribute collected from Albania by the caliphate. This marked the zenith of Juansher's rule. On 14 September 669, while celebrating the Feast of the Cross at Partaw, he was assassinated by a traitor named Varaznoy. The English historian James Howard-Johnston notes that this assassination, like that of Constans II, seemed to be "carefully planned." He also adds that "Perhaps Juanšer had baulked at
3808-478: The vain hope of raising an army. Yazdegerd met his end at the hands of a miller near Marw in 651, bringing an end to the last pre-Islamic Iranian empire after more than 400 years of rule. The name of Yazdegerd is a combination of the Old Iranian yazad yazata - "divine being" and -karta "made", and thus stands for "God-made", comparable to Iranian Bagkart and Greek Theoktistos . The name of Yazdegerd
3876-482: The western parts of the city, and soon occupied all of it. The Iranian defeat at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah has often been described as a turning point in the Arab invasion of Iran. However, in reality, it was far from it. The battle served as a wake-up call for the Iranian armies, who became conscious that persistent factionalism could result in their inevitable destruction. Al-Tabari emphasizes this, stating that after
3944-774: Was a certain Xosrovanush, and his third was a daughter of the North Caucasian Hun king, whom he married in 665. Mihranids The dynasty was founded when a certain Mihran, a distant relative of Sasanian, settled in the region of Gardman in Utik . He was probably a member of a branch of the Mihranid family which was listed among the Seven Great Houses of Iran , and whose two other lines ruled Iberia ( Chosroid Dynasty ) and Gogarene / Gugark . It
4012-607: Was according to tradition buried by Christian monks in a tall tomb that was situated in a garden decorated with silk and musk. His funeral and the construction of a mausoleum for his body near Merv was organized by the Nestorian bishop Elijah - in memory of the fact that the Shahanshah's grandmother Shirin was a Christian. Mahoe , for his part in the murder of the Sassanian king, had his arms, legs, ears and nose cut off by
4080-510: Was almost the last living member of the House of Sasan . Most scholars agree that Yazdegerd was eight years old at his coronation. Yazdegerd, however, did not have the authority required to bring stability to his extensive empire, which was swiftly falling apart due to ceaseless internal conflicts between the army commanders, courtiers, and powerful members of the aristocracy, who were fighting amongst themselves and wiping each other out. Many of
4148-457: Was amongst the figures summoned by Mu'awiya I to seek counsel on how to assassinate Constans II, who was in Sicily at the time. Juansher reportedly played an important role in the decision (Constans II was assassinated on 15 July 669), being in return rewarded with many gifts, and with Siwnik added to his domain. He was also offered rule of Adurbadagan, but declined and instead received one third of
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#17327732326114216-472: Was appointed as Military Commander (都督 Dudu ). Only in 679 would a Chinese army accompany Narsieh , the exiled son of Peroz, in order to restore him to the Sasanian throne, but the army stopped in Tokharistan and instead repelled the invasion of Western Turkic Khan Ashina Duzhi , leaving Narsieh to fight against the Muslim Arabs for the next twenty years. After his defeat, Yazdegerd sought refuge at
4284-527: Was due to the Aranshahiks still having some authority in Albania, which they had originally ruled until their overthrow in the 1st-century. The Mihranids then conquered all of Albania and assumed the title of Arranshah , but without embracing its royal status. The head of the family's full titulature was thus "Lord of Gardman and Prince of Albania". The most prominent representatives of the family in
4352-473: Was in the hands of the army commanders, courtiers, and powerful members of the aristocracy, who engaged in internecine warfare. The Sasanian Empire was weakened severely by these internal conflicts, resulting in invasions by the Göktürks from the east, and Khazars from the west. Yazdegerd was unable to contain the Rashidun conquest of Iran , and spent most of his reign fleeing from one province to another in
4420-478: Was most likely fluent in Middle Persian and Armenian , familiar with Albanian , and acquainted with some Greek and likely a small degree of Arabic . During the Arab-Islamic invasion of Iran (632–654), Juansher was summoned to lead the Albanian contingent. Along with contingents from the neighbouring Sasanian-ruled regions of Siwnik and Armenia , Juansher was part of the army of Rostam Farrokhzad ,
4488-568: Was starting to look more like the Parthian feudal system before the fall of the Arsacid Empire . Yazdegerd, although being acknowledged as the rightful monarch by both the Parsig and Pahlav factions, does not seem to have held sway over all of his empire. Indeed, during the first years of his rule coins were only minted in Pars , Sakastan , and Khuzestan , approximately corresponding to
4556-444: Was still the all-powerful monarch of the kingdom, and not an outcast running away from enemies, which, combined with his military failures, turned many of his most loyal subjects away from him. The Zoroastrian religious calendar , which is still in use today, uses the regnal year of Yazdegerd III as its base year, and its calendar era (year numbering system) is accompanied by a Y.Z. suffix. Magians took Yazdegerd III's death as
4624-511: Was the second military disaster for the Sasanians after the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah. After the Sasanian disaster, Yazdegerd fled to Isfahan , and raised a small army under a certain military officer named Siyah, who had lost his property to the Arabs. However, Siyah and the rest of the army mutinied against Yazdegerd, and agreed to help the Arabs in return for places to live. Meanwhile, Yazdegerd had arrived in Estakhr , where he tried organizing
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