Bahram Chobin

Lore & Background

In 590, Hormizd IV had his prominent general Bahram Chobin disgraced and dismissed. Infuriated, Bahram responded by rebelling, and due to his noble status and great military knowledge, was joined by his soldiers and many others. He appointed a new governor for Khorasan and set out for the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon. The legitimacy of the House of Sasan was based on acceptance that the halo of kingship, the farr, was given to the first Sasanian emperor, Ardashir I and his family. This was now disputed by Bahram Chobin, marking the first time in Sasanian history that a Parthian dynast challenged the legitimacy of the Sasanian family by rebelling. Meanwhile, Hormizd was overthrown by his brothers-in-law Vistahm and Vinduyih, who blinded him and put Khosrow II on the throne. Sometime in the summer of 590, the two brothers then had Hormizd killed. Nevertheless, Bahram Chobin continued his march to Ctesiphon, now with the pretext of claiming to avenge Hormizd. Khosrow sent a message to Bahram stressing his rightful claim to the Sasanian kingship, but Bahram ignored his warning. A few days later, he reached the Nahrawan Canal near Ctesiphon, where he fought Khosrow's men. Khosrow's men eventually began losing their morale and were defeated by Bahram's forces. Khosrow, together with his two uncles, his wives, and a retinue of 30 nobles, fled to Byzantine territory, while Ctesiphon fell to Bahram Chobin. Bahram Chobin declared himself king of kings in the summer of 590, asserting that the first Sasanian king Ardashir I had usurped the throne of the Arsacids, and that he now was restoring their rule. He tried to support his cause with the Zoroastrian apocalyptic belief that by the end of Zoroaster's millennium, chaos and destructive wars occur, and then a saviour would appear. The Sasanians had misidentified Zoroaster's era with that of the Seleucid Empire (312 BCE), which put Bahram's life almost at the end of Zoroaster's millennium; he was therefore hailed by many as the promised savior, Kay Bahram Varjavand. He started minting coins, on the front of which he is depicted as an exalted figure, bearded and wearing a crenellation-shaped crown with two crescents of the moon, whilst the reverse shows the traditional fire altar flanked by two attendants. Khosrow II requested help from the Byzantine emperor Maurice, who agreed in return for sovereignty over several cities and cessation of Iranian intervention in Iberia and Armenia. In 591, Khosrow invaded Mesopotamia with Byzantine support; Nisibis and Martyropolis quickly defected, and Bahram's commander Zatsparham was defeated and killed. Another commander, Bryzacius, was captured in Mosul, had his nose and ears cut off, and was sent to Khosrow, where he was killed. Khosrow and the Byzantine general Narses seized Dara and then Mardin in February, where Khosrow was re-proclaimed king. At the same time, a force of 8,000 Iranians under Vistahm and Vinduyih and 12,000 Armenians under Mushegh II Mamikonian invaded Adurbadagan. Bahram tried to disrupt the force by writing a letter to Mushegh promising the Armenians partnership in a new Iranian empire ruled by a Parthian dynastic family, but Mushegh rejected the offer. Bahram was then defeated at the Battle of Blarathon, forcing him to flee with 4,000 men eastwards. He marched towards Nishapur, where he defeated a pursuing army as well as an army led by a Karenid nobleman at Qumis.

Reader's Guide

Bahram Chobin's significance lies in his rebellion against Hormizd IV, which led to the overthrow of the king and the brief usurpation of the Sasanian throne. His revolt was the first time a Parthian dynast challenged the legitimacy of the Sasanian family. He used Zoroastrian apocalyptic beliefs to support his cause, being hailed as the promised savior Kay Bahram Varjavand. His defeat at the Battle of Blarathon by Khosrow II and his Byzantine and Armenian allies ended his rule, and he fled eastward with 4,000 men. It also does not mention his legacy in Persian literature or the Shahnameh.

Did You Know?

• Bahram Chobin's rebellion was the first time in Sasanian history that a Parthian dynast challenged the legitimacy of the Sasanian family.
• He was hailed by many as the promised Zoroastrian savior Kay Bahram Varjavand, based on a misidentification of Zoroaster's era with the Seleucid Empire.
• Bahram minted coins showing himself bearded and wearing a crenellation-shaped crown with two crescents of the moon.
• At the Battle of Blarathon, Bahram was defeated by a force of 8,000 Iranians under Vistahm and Vinduyih and 12,000 Armenians under Mushegh II Mamikonian.
• After his defeat, Bahram fled eastward with 4,000 men and defeated a pursuing army as well as a Karenid nobleman's army at Qumis.