Hormizd I Kushanshah
Hormizd I Kushanshah | |
---|---|
Kushanshah of the Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom | |
Reign | 275–300 |
Predecessor | Peroz I Kushanshah |
Successor | Hormizd II Kushanshah |
Died | 300 |
Father | Bahram I |
Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Hormizd I Kushanshah was Kushanshah of the Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom from 275 to 300. His reign was marked by his rebellion against his brother and suzerain the Sasanian King of Kings Bahram II (r. 274–293).
Hormizd I Kushanshah was notably the first Kushano-Sasanian ruler to claim the title of "Great Kushan King of Kings" instead of the traditional "Great Kushan King". This displays a noteworthy transition in Kushano-Sasanian ideology and self-perception and possibly a direct dispute with the ruling branch of the Sasanian family. By the time of Bahram II's death in 293, Hormizd I Kushanshah's rebellion had been suppressed; he continued to rule until his death in 300, and was succeeded by his namesake Hormizd II Kushanshah.
Etymology
Hormizd (also spelled Ōhrmazd, Hormozd) is the Middle Persian version of the name of the supreme deity in Zoroastrianism, known in Avestan as Ahura Mazda.[1] The Old Persian equivalent is Auramazdā, while the Greek transliteration is Hormisdas.[1][2]
Background
Like the previous Kushano-Sasanians, Hormizd I Kushanshah was, in effect, a governor of the eastern portion of the
Reign
Hormizd I Kushanshah was the first Kushano-Sasanian ruler to mint coins with the title of "Great Kushan King of Kings" instead of the traditional "Great Kushan King".[6] The Kushano-Sasanian king, now laying claims to the title of King of Kings, which had originally also been used by the Kushan Empire, displays a noteworthy transition in Kushano-Sasanian ideology and self-perception and possibly a direct dispute with the ruling branch of the Sasanian family.[6]
Hormizd I Kushanshah was supported in his efforts by the
Meanwhile, the Roman emperor Carus, hearing of the civil war occurring in the Sasanian Empire, chose to take advantage of the situation by making a campaign into the empire in 283.[5] He invaded Mesopotamia while Bahram II was in the east, and even besieged the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon without facing much fighting.[9][10] The Sasanians, due to facing severe internal problems, were unable to mount an effective coordinated defense at the time; Carus and his army may have captured Ctesiphon.[11] However, Carus shortly died afterwards, reportedly being struck by lightning.[11] The Roman army as a result withdrew, and Mesopotamia was re-conquered by the Sasanians.[10] The following year, Bahram II made peace with the Romans, now ruled by Diocletian, who was faced with internal issues of his own.[10][9]
By the time of Bahram II's death in 293, the revolts in the east had been suppressed, with his son and heir Bahram III being appointed the governor of Sakastan, receiving the title of sakanshah ("King of the Saka").[10][9] Hormizd I Kushanshah ruled till 300, and was succeeded by his namesake Hormizd II Kushanshah.[12]
Coinage
Coins of Hormizd I Kushanshah were minted at
On the obverse of the coins, Hormizd I Kushanshah is wearing a crown shaped as the head of a lion.
A couple of overstrikes on coins of Hormizd I by the
References
- ^ a b Shayegan 2004, pp. 462–464.
- ^ Vevaina & Canepa 2018, p. 1110.
- ^ Payne 2016, p. 6.
- ^ a b Rezakhani 2017, p. 72.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shahbazi 2004.
- ^ a b c Rezakhani 2017, p. 81.
- ^ Daryaee 2014, p. 11.
- ^ Daryaee 2014, pp. 11–12.
- ^ a b c Daryaee 2014, p. 12.
- ^ a b c d Shahbazi 1988, pp. 514–522.
- ^ a b Potter 2013, p. 26.
- ^ Rezakhani 2017, p. 81–82.
- ^ Cribb 2018, p. 21.
- ^ a b c d Curtis 2007, p. 433.
- ISBN 9789392280016.
Sources
- Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh (2007). "Religious iconography on ancient Iranian coins". Journal of Late Antiquity. London: 413–434.
- ISBN 978-0857716668.
- ISBN 978-0199755868.
- ISBN 9783406093975.
The history of ancient iran.
- Shahbazi, A. Shapur (1988). "Bahrām II". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 5. pp. 514–522.
- Frye, R. N. (1983), "Chapter 4", The political history of Iran under the Sasanians, ISBN 978-0-521-20092-9
- Shahbazi, A. Shapur (2004). "Hormozd Kusansah". Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 1–256. ISBN 9781474400305.
- Cribb, Joe (2018). Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art: Proceedings of the First International Workshop of the Gandhāra Connections Project, University of Oxford, 23rd–24th March, 2017. University of Oxford The Classical Art Research Centre Archaeopress.
- Shayegan, M. Rahim (2004). "Hormozd I". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. XII, Fasc. 5. pp. 462–464.
- Vevaina, Yuhan; Canepa, Matthew (2018). "Ohrmazd". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8.
- Payne, Richard (2016). "The Making of Turan: The Fall and Transformation of the Iranian East in Late Antiquity". Journal of Late Antiquity. 9. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press: 4–41. S2CID 156673274.