Hormizd I Kushanshah
| Hormizd I Kushanshah | |
|---|---|
 Coin of Hormizd I Kushanshah,Marwmint | |
| Kushanshahof theKushano-Sasanian Kingdom | |
| Reign | 275–300 |
| Predecessor | Peroz I Kushanshah |
| Successor | Hormizd II Kushanshah |
| Died | 300 |
| Father | Bahram I |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Hormizd I KushanshahwasKushanshahof theKushano-Sasanian Kingdomfrom 275 to 300. His reign was marked by his rebellion against his brother and suzerain theSasanianKing of KingsBahram 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 namesakeHormizd II Kushanshah.
Etymology[edit]
Hormizd(also spelledŌhrmazd,Hormozd) is theMiddle Persianversion of the name of the supremedeityinZoroastrianism,known inAvestanasAhura Mazda.[1]TheOld Persianequivalent isAuramazdā,while theGreektransliterationisHormisdas.[1][2]
Background[edit]
Like the previous Kushano-Sasanians, Hormizd I Kushanshah was, in effect, a governor of the eastern portion of theSasanian Empire,which included theTukharistanregion,KabulistanandGandhara.[3][4]The Kushano-Sasanians, in the same manner as theKushan Empire,used the title ofKushanshah( "Kushan King" ), thus demonstrating a continuum with their predecessors.[4]Hormizd I Kushanshah was probably a son of the Sasanian kingBahram I(r. 271–274), who died in 274 and was succeeded by another son,Bahram II(r. 274–293).[5]It was during the reign of his brother that Hormizd I Kushanshah choose to rebel.[5]
Reign[edit]
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 theSakastanis,Gilaks,and Kushans.[7]Another revolt also occurred in Sakastan, led by Hormizd I Kushanshah's cousinHormizd of Sakastan,who has been suggested to be the same person as him.[5]However, according toRezakhani,this proposal must now be disregarded.[6]At the same time, a revolt led by a high-priest (mowbed) occurred in the province ofKhuzestan,which was seized by the latter for a period.[8]
Meanwhile, theRomanemperorCarus,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 invadedMesopotamiawhile Bahram II was in the east, and even besieged the Sasanian capital ofCtesiphonwithout 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 byDiocletian,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 heirBahram IIIbeing appointed the governor of Sakastan, receiving the title ofsakanshah( "King of the Saka" ).[10][9]Hormizd I Kushanshah ruled till 300, and was succeeded by his namesakeHormizd II Kushanshah.[12]
Coinage[edit]
Coins of Hormizd I Kushanshah were minted atKabul,Balkh,Herat,andMarw.[5]The synchronicity of the Kushano-Sasanians with the rulers of the Kushan Empire is rather well established, as a large quantity of the early copper coins of Hormizd I Kushanshah from the south of theHindu-Kushwere overstruck by the Kushan EmperorVasudeva II(r. 275–300).[13]Some of Hormizd I Kushanshah's coins imitate Kushan coinage, with king standing in Kushan military dress on the obverse, and the deityOeshoon the reverse.[5]Other coins however follow more closely the Sasanian pattern, with him being portrayed in the Sasanian style, and withfire altaror deity on the reverse.[5]
On the obverse of the coins, Hormizd I Kushanshah is wearing a crown shaped as the head of a lion.[14]The lion was a symbol ofNana,the eastern counterpart toAnahita,the goddess of fertility, and was a derivative of the Mesopotamian goddessInanna.[14]Lions, along with leopards and cats were regarded as evil animals in Zoroastrianism, and were thus disfavoured.[14]Nevertheless, the lion may have been chosen as the symbol of Nana/Anahita by the Kushano-Sasanians, regardless of its unfavorable implication.[14]
A couple of overstrikes on coins of Hormizd I by theParatarajaruler Datayola are known.[15]
References[edit]
- ^abShayegan 2004,pp. 462–464.
- ^Vevaina & Canepa 2018,p. 1110.
- ^Payne 2016,p. 6.
- ^abRezakhani 2017,p. 72.
- ^abcdefghShahbazi 2004.
- ^abcRezakhani 2017,p. 81.
- ^Daryaee 2014,p. 11.
- ^Daryaee 2014,pp. 11–12.
- ^abcDaryaee 2014,p. 12.
- ^abcdShahbazi 1988,pp. 514–522.
- ^abPotter 2013,p. 26.
- ^Rezakhani 2017,p. 81–82.
- ^Cribb 2018,p. 21.
- ^abcdCurtis 2007,p. 433.
- ^*Tandon, Pankaj (2021)."The Paratarajas"(PDF).In Piper, Wilfried (ed.).Ancient Indian Coins: A Comprehensive Catalogue.Nasik, India: IIRNS Publications. p. 14.ISBN9789392280016.
Sources[edit]
- Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh (2007)."Religious iconography on ancient Iranian coins".Journal of Late Antiquity.London: 413–434.
- Daryaee, Touraj(2014).Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire.I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–240.ISBN978-0857716668.
- Potter, David(2013).Constantine the Emperor.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0199755868.
- Frye, Richard Nelson(1984).The History of Ancient Iran.C.H.Beck. pp.1–411.ISBN9783406093975.
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,The Cambridge History of Iran,vol. 3, Cambridge University Press,ISBN978-0-521-20092-9
- 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.ISBN9781474400305.
- 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.).The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity.Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-866277-8.
- 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.doi:10.1353/jla.2016.0011.S2CID156673274.