Khosrau I
 |
A coin of Khosrau I. |
Khosrau I, (Most commonly known as
Anooshiravan also spelled
Anushirvan,
Persian: انوشيروان meaning
the immortal soul), also known as
Anooshiravan the Just (انوشیروان عادل,
Anooshiravan-e-ādel) (ruled
531–
579), was the favourite son and successor of
Kavadh I (488–531), and the most famous and celebrated of the
Sassanid Kings. He laid foundations of many new cities and magnificent palaces, trade roads were repaired and new bridges and dams were built. During Khosrau I's ambitious reign art and science flourished in Persia and the Sassanid empire was in its peak of glory and prosperity. His rule preceded by his father's and succeeded by
Khosrau II's (590–628) reign altogether is considered the
Second golden era in the history of the Sassanid empire.
According to one account, Khosrau I was Kavadh I's son through a peasant girl, and was originally considered unworthy of inheriting his father's throne. His brothers contested his claim, so Khosrau I had them killed. He had a major influence over his father
Kavadh I of Persia and helped him in worst situations during his rule. He was also behind many of his father's decisions.
|
Silver bowl showing Khosrau I Anushirvan, of the righteous soul seated on his throne. This became a model representation of kingship for Byzantine art and from there, in Carolingian art. |
At the beginning of his reign Khosrau I concluded an "eternal" peace with the
Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527–565), who wanted to have his hands free for the conquest of
Africa and
Sicily. But his successes against the
Vandals and
Goths caused Khosrau I to begin the war again in
540.
He invaded
Syria and carried the inhabitants of
Antioch to his residence, where he built for them a new city near
Ctesiphon under the name of Khosrau-Antioch or Chosro-Antioch. During the next years he fought successfully in Lazica or Lazistan (the ancient
Colchis) in the
Lazic War, on the
Black Sea, and in
Mesopotamia.
The Byzantines, though led by
Belisarius, could do little against him. In
545, an armistice was concluded, but the Lazic War went on till
557. At last, in
562, a peace was concluded for fifty years, in which the Persians left Lazica to the Romans, and promised not to persecute the
Christians, if they did not attempt to make proselytes among the
Zarathustrians; on the other hand, the Romans had again to pay subsidies to Persia.
Meanwhile in the east, the
Hephthalites had been attacked by the
Turks (
Gokturks). Khosrau I united with them and conquered
Bactria, while he left the country north of the
Oxus to the Turks. Many other rebellious tribes were subjected. About
570 the dynasts of
Yemen, who had been subdued by the
Ethiopians of
Axum, applied to Khosrau I for help. The King sent a fleet with a small army under
Vahriz, who expelled the Ethiopians. From that time till the conquests of
Muhammad, Yemen was dependent on Persia, and a Persian governor resided here. In
571 a new war with
Rome broke out about
Armenia, in which Khosrau I conquered the fortress
Dara on the
Euphrates, invaded
Syria and
Cappadocia, and returned with large booty. During the negotiations with the Emperor
Tiberius II (578–582), Khosrau I died in
579, and was succeeded by his son
Hormizd IV (579–590).
Although Khosrau I had in the last years of his father extirpated the
heretical and
communistic Persian sect of the
Mazdakites (see
Kavadh I of Persia), he was a sincere adherent of
Zoroastrian orthodoxy and even ordered that the religion's holy text, the
Avesta be codified, but he was not fanatical or prone to persecution. He tolerated every Christian confession. When one of his sons had rebelled about
550 and was taken prisoner, he did not execute him; nor did he punish the Christians who had supported him.
When Justinian I closed the
Academy of
Athens in
529, the last seat of paganism in the
Roman Empire, the last seven teachers of
Neoplatonism emigrated to Persia. But they soon found out that neither Khosrau I nor his state corresponded to the
Platonic ideal, and Khosrau I, in his treaty with Justinian I, stipulated that they should return unmolested.
Khosrau I introduced a rational system of
taxation, based upon a survey of
landed possessions, which his father had begun, and tried in every way to increase the welfare and the revenues of his empire. In
Babylonia he built or restored the
canals. His army was in discipline decidedly superior to the Romans, and apparently was well paid. He was also interested in
literature and
philosophical discussions. Under his reign,
chess was introduced from
India, and the famous book of
Kalilah and Dimnah was translated. He thus became renowned as a wise prince.
Under Khosrau I's auspices, many books were brought from India and translated into
Pahlavi. Some of these later found their way into the literature of the
Islamic world. His famous minister
Burzoe translated Indian
Panchatantra from
Sanskrit into middle persian language of
Pahlavi and named it
Kelileh va Demneh which later on from its Persian version it transmitted to Arabia and Europe.
*
Burzoe (
The renowned minister of Khosrau)
*
Sassanid Music
* Science and medical academy of Gundishapur*
Khosrau I's reforms* Dr. Abd al-Husayn Zarrin'kub
"Ruzgaran : tarikh-i Iran az aghz ta saqut saltnat Pahlvi" Sukhan, 1999. ISBN 964-6961-11-8
