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Hormizd I

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Hormizd I
𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣
King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran[a]
Drachmaof Hormizd I
King of Armenia
Reignc. 252– 270
PredecessorTiridates II(Arsacid dynasty)
SuccessorNarseh
Shahanshahof theSasanian Empire
ReignMay 270 – June 271
PredecessorShapur I
SuccessorBahram I
DiedJune 271
IssueHormozdak
HouseHouse of Sasan
FatherShapur I
Motherunnamed daughter ofMihrak
ReligionZoroastrianism

Hormizd-Ardashir,better known by his dynastic name ofHormizd I(also spelledHormozd IorOhrmazd I;Middle Persian:𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣), was the thirdSasanianKing of Kings(shahanshah) ofIran,who ruled from May 270 to June 271. He was the third-born son ofShapur I(r. 240–270), under whom he was governor-king ofArmenia,and also took part in his father's wars against theRoman Empire.Hormizd I's brief time as ruler of Iran was largely uneventful. He built the city of Hormizd-Ardashir (present-dayAhvaz), which remains a major city today in Iran. He promoted theZoroastrianpriestKartirto the rank of chief priest (mowbed) and gave theManichaeanprophetManipermission to continue his preaching.

It was under Hormizd I that the title of "King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran" became regularized inSasanian coinage;previously, the royal titulary had generally been "King of Kings of Iran". Hormizd I was succeeded by his eldest brotherBahram I.

Etymology[edit]

The name of Hormizd (also spelledŌhrmazd,Hormozd) is theMiddle Persianversion of the name of the supreme deity inZoroastrianism,known inAvestanasAhura Mazda.[1]TheOld Persianequivalent isAuramazdā,whilst theGreektransliteration isHormisdas.[1][2]The name is attested inArmenianasOrmizdand inGeorgianasUrmizd.[3][4]His personal name was "Hormizd-Ardashir", a combination of "Hormizd" and "Ardashir", the latter being the Middle Persian form of the Old PersianṚtaxšira(also spelledArtaxšaçā), meaning "whose reign is through truth (asha) ".[5][6]

Background[edit]

Hormizd was the third-born son ofShapur I(r. 240–270).[7]According to folklore, Hormizd's mother was a daughter of theParthiandynastMihrak.[8]His two elder brothers wereBahram(the eldest) andShapur Meshanshah,whilstNarsehwas his younger brother.[7]Hormizd had two sisters namedAdur-AnahidandShapurdukhtak.[9][10]His grandfather wasArdashir I,the founder of the Sasanian Empire.[11]The Sasanians had supplanted theArsacid Empireas the sovereigns of Iran in 224, when Ardashir I defeated and killed the last ArsacidKing of KingsArtabanus IV(r. 213–224) at theBattle of Hormozdgan.[11]

Rise[edit]

Gold dinarofShapur I

Hormizd is first mentioned during the wars of Shapur I against theRoman Empire.[1]He was made the king ofArmeniaafter its conquest by Shapur I in 252.[1]Hormizd is believed to be many modern historians to have taken part in Shapur I's second Roman expedition, which took place in the Roman provinces ofSyria,Cilicia,andCappadocia,and which lasted from 253 to 256.[1]This is supported by the reports of the Cappadocian conquests.[1]Cappadocia does not appear to have been the only area that Hormizd fought in: according to theScriptores Historiae Augustae,the Roman rebelCyriadesassisted Shapur I and a certain Odomastes in the conquest ofAntioch.[1]The nameOdomastesis an incorrect transliteration of Hormizd, and may thus suggest that after plundering Cappadocia, Hormizd took part in thesiege of Antioch in 253.[1]

Hormizd is mentioned in aninscriptionon the wall of theKa'ba-ye ZartoshtatNaqsh-e RostamnearPersepolisin southern Iran, which Shapur I had created in order to praise his sons by citing their names and titles.[12][1]In the inscription, Hormizd is given the title ofWuzurg Šāh Arminān( "Great King of the Armenians" ).[1][13]The 4th-century Armenian historianAgathangelosstates that this title was only given to the heir of theshahanshah.[13]

When Shapur I was on his deathbed, he crowned Hormizd as the newshahanshahof Iran, in May 270.[14][11]

Reign[edit]

Little is known of Hormizd's reign.[1]He reportedly gave the Zoroastrian priestKartirclothes that were worn by the upper class, the cap and belt (kulāfud kamarband) and appointed him as the chief priest (mowbed).[15][1]Like his father, Hormizd also granted theManichaeanprophetManipermission to continue his preaching.[16]It is unclear why Hormizd supported Kartir and Mani, both of whom represented a different religion.[17]TheIranologistTouraj Daryaeehas suggested that it was possibly part of his attempt to control both religions, which were both seeking to become the main religion in the empire.[17]According to the IranologistProds Oktor Skjaervo,Hormizd was like his two predecessors, a "lukewarm Zoroastrian".[18]Hormizd is usually given the epithet ofnēworyaxī/yaxē(both meaning "brave" ) in ManicheanMiddle Iraniansources, possibly indicating his accomplishments in warfare.[1]It was seemingly under Hormizd that the two New Year festivals (Nowruz) in the month ofFarwardinwere linked together to design a festival that lasted six days.[19]In primary sources, Hormizd is credited as the founder of the city of Hormizd-Ardashir (present-dayAhvaz), however, in some instances Ardashir I is also attributed as its founder.[1]Modern historians (citingŠahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr) usually consider Hormizd to be its actual founder.[1]He also founded the city of Ram-Hormizd-Ardashir (meaning "Ardashir's peace of Hormizd" ), abbreviated asRam-Hormizd.[20]He refounded the city ofArtemitaasDastagird,whose royal residence would later serve as an important place for theshahanshahsKhosrow I(r. 531–579) andKhosrow II(r. 590–628).[21][22]Hormizd was not succeeded by his son Hormozdak, but by his brother Bahram (who became known asBahram I), who ascended the throne with the aid of Kartir.[7][11]According to local folklore, Hormizd was buried in Ram-Hormizd.[21]

Coinage and imperial ideology[edit]

Drachmaof Hormizd I

While Ardashir I and Shapur I generally used the title of "King of Kings of (Iran)ians" on their coinage, Hormizd had the title slightly modified, adding the phrase "and non-Iran(ians)".[23][24]His full title thus read "the Mazda-worshiping, divine Hormizd, King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians), whose image/brilliance is from the gods".[23][24][b]The phrase "and non-Iran(ians)" had already been in use in the inscriptions of Shapur I,[25]and in rare cases his coin mints,[26]but was first regularized under Hormizd.[25]The extended title demonstrates the incorporation of new territory into the empire, however what was precisely seen as "non-Iran(ian)" (aneran) is not certain.[1]The reverse of Hormizd's coin portrayed two attendants, an addition that was first made by Shapur I, on whose coinage both attendants are depicted wearingmural crowns,whilst looking away from thefire templebetween them.[27]They most likely represented the shah.[27]In the coinage of Hormizd, the attendants face the temple and are wearing different crowns.[27]The figure on the left side represents Hormizd, whilst the figure on the right—depending on its portrayal—represents the Iranian deitiesMithraorAnahita.[28]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Also spelled "King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians".
  2. ^InMiddle Persian:Mazdēsn bay Ōhrmazd šāhān šāh Ērān ud Anērān kēčihr az yazdān.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghijklmnopShayegan 2004,pp. 462–464.
  2. ^Vevaina & Canepa 2018,p. 1110.
  3. ^Schmitt & Bailey 1986,pp. 445–465.
  4. ^Rapp 2014,p. 341-343.
  5. ^Schmitt 1986,pp. 654–655.
  6. ^Wiesehöfer 1986,pp. 371–376.
  7. ^abcShahbazi 1988,pp. 514–522.
  8. ^Pourshariati 2008,pp. 46–47.
  9. ^Brosius 2000.
  10. ^Gignoux 1983,p. 472.
  11. ^abcdShahbazi 2005.
  12. ^Kia 2016,p. 233.
  13. ^abWeber 2016.
  14. ^Al-Tabari 1985–2007,v. 5: pp. 39, 43.
  15. ^Daryaee 2014,p. 76.
  16. ^Kia 2016,p. 246.
  17. ^abDaryaee 2014,p. 10.
  18. ^Skjærvø 2012.
  19. ^Stausberg, Vevaina & Tessmann 2015,p. 383.
  20. ^Jalalipour 2015,pp. 15–16.
  21. ^abBadiyi 2020,p. 210.
  22. ^Brunner 1983,p. 758.
  23. ^abcSchindel 2013,p. 836.
  24. ^abShayegan 2013,p. 805.
  25. ^abCurtis & Stewart 2008,p. 21.
  26. ^Curtis & Stewart 2008,p. 23.
  27. ^abcSchindel 2013,p. 835.
  28. ^Curtis & Stewart 2008,p. 24.

Sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

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Hormizd I
Died:June 271
Preceded by King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran
270–271 		Succeeded by
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