Beginning of the End

Anushervan was succeeded by his son Hormozd IV after long reign (531-579). After Hormozd’s death in 590, the commander-in-chief (Arteshtaaran-e Saalaar) of Sasanian armies, Vahram-i Chuvineh (Bahram the Wooden Stick!) from the famous Mehran family, claimed the throne. In a period of a year and a half, 5 wars were fought between Vahram VI and Khosro II, Hormozd’s son and successor. In 591, Khosro II Aparvizh finally got his throne with the help of the Byzantine emperor, Mauricius, whose daughter Mary, Khosro married. Khosro’s reign was relatively peaceful and prosperous, but it also was the time of incredible decadence in the Sasanian society. It was during his long reign (590-628) that Prophet Mohammad declared his message in Arabia. It was also under him that Iranian troops invaded Egypt and Syria, and kingdom of Yemen became a Sasanian vassal.

Khosro was assassinated in bed by his eldest son, Shirooye, who took the throne for a year as Kavad II in 628. He was assassinated in term by the courtiers who were fed up with his cruelty. From 628 till the reign of Yazdgerd III in 632, the country fell into a state of complete chaos, in which seven monarchs took the throne, including two daughters of Khosro II, and even a Hun nobleman called Sharbaraz.

In 632, Yazdgerd III, grandson of Khosro II and a very educated man, became the emperor of chaotic Sasanian lands. Although very able, Yazdgerd’s effort in restoring the country to a state of stability was halted by several elements. These elements could be counted as general uproar in the country, rise of local powers such as rule of Bavandis (descendants of Kavad I’s Mazdaki son Kavus), and corruption in the court. On the other hand, all these was overshadowed by a greater incident, the rise of Arab armies and their constant attacks on the western borders of the country.