The Historians' History of the World 08

502 Kobad begins an exhausting war with Rome, which opens the way for the Arabian conquests. He seizes Theodosiopolis, capital of Roman Armenia.

503 Fall of Amida, and terrible massacre of the inhabitants. The Romans recover it the following year.

506 Peace concluded with Rome. The Romans build the great fortress at Dara.

521 War renewed with Rome. Belisarius first comes to the front as a general. Narses and his brother desert Kobad, and join the army of Justin.

529 Mundhir of Hira invades Syria. Kobad massacres the Mazdukites, who have become too powerful.

531 Kobad makes campaign in Syria. Belisarius compels him to turn back. Defeat of Belisarius at Rakka. Persian successes in Mesopotamia. Death of Kobad and truce with Rome. Khosrau or Chosroes (I) the Just, his son, succeeds. His wise internal government benefits the kingdom greatly.

532 “A Perpetual Peace” made with Rome.

540 Chosroes, jealous of Belisarius’ conquests in Africa and Italy, goes to war with the empire. He invades Syria, Antioch taken, Dara laid under tribute. Ctesiphon is captured.

541 Chosroes takes Petra in Lazistan.

546 Rome buys a truce for a large sum.

551 The son of Chosroes rebels in Susiana. He is taken and partially blinded.

560 The Turks take the right bank of the Oxus from the White Huns. Bactria becomes a part of Chosroes’ kingdom.

562 Fifty years’ peace made with the Romans.

570 Chosroes sends an expedition against the Christian Abyssinians in Yemen. He puts them under tribute.

571 War breaks out with Rome, over the threatened loss of Pers-Armenia.

573 Chosroes takes Dara. The war continues.

579 Death of Chosroes, succeeded by his son, Hormuz or Hormisdas IV. He makes a severe but just ruler. The war with Rome and a severe one with the Turks fill his reign.

589 The general Bahram, defeated by the Romans in the Caucasus. He is removed by Hormuz, and revolts. The king’s son, Chosroes, joins the rebels.

590 Hormuz is deposed, and shortly afterwards put to death. His son, Khosrau or Chosroes (II) Parvez, succeeds. Bahram contests the crown, and seizes it. Bahram or Varanes VI puts down an insurrection in Ctesiphon.

591 Chosroes recovers the throne, with help of the emperor Maurice. Bahram flees to the Turks, and is murdered. Chosroes strengthens his position, and puts his brother, Bindoe to death. Another brother, Bistam, escapes to Media and makes himself king.

595 or 596 Death of Bistam.

604 War breaks out with Rome, over usurpation of Phocas. Dara captured by Chosroes.

606-608 The Persians invade Asia Minor. They advance as far as Chalcedon.

610 Chosroes abolishes the kingdom of Hira.

614 The Persians capture Damascus.

615 The Persians capture Jerusalem and the holy cross.

616 Persian invasion of Egypt.

617 The Persians occupy Chalcedon.

622 Heraclius proceeds in person against the Persians, and gradually wins back the Persian conquests.

628 Heraclius reaches Ctesiphon but is unable to take it. Rebellion in Ctesiphon. Chosroes and most of his family are slain. His eldest son Kavadh (Kobad) II, or Siroes, is made king. He murders most of his brothers, and sues for peace from the Roman Empire. A terrible pestilence breaks out and Kobad dies. His infant son, Ardashir III, succeeds. He is the last male Sassanid. The throne is disputed by many claimants. Chosroes, a son of Kobad II, makes himself king in Khorasan, but is soon slain.

629 The holy cross is returned to Heraclius. The general Shahrbaraz is supported in a claim to the throne by Heraclius. He takes Ctesiphon.

630 Murder of Ardashir, followed by that of Shahrbaraz. Boran or Puran, a daughter of Chosroes II, takes the throne. She makes a treaty with Heraclius.

631 Boran succeeded by Peroz (Peroses) II, who rules but a short time; then Azarmidokht, sister of Boran, takes the throne. Hormuz V, grandson of Chosroes II, maintains a rule over a portion of the country for a short time.

632 Azarmidokht dethroned by Rustem, hereditary marshal of Khorasan. Ferrukhzadh reigns a short time in Ctesiphon.

632 or 633 Yezdegerd III, grandson of Chosroes II, is put forward by some of the nobles and crowned. Ferrukhzadh is slain and Yezdegerd acknowledged as sole king. He declines to accept the Mohammedan religion at invitation of Abu Bekr, and the Moslems invade Persia.

636 Persian defeat by the Moslems at Cadesia, or Kadisiya.

640 or 642 The “Victory of Victories” by the Arabs over the Persians at Nehavend. The last great Persian army is shattered. The nobles gradually yield to the Arab chiefs. Yezdegerd is driven from place to place, continually shorn of more and more power until he is murdered in 651, and Persia becomes part of the Mohammedan dominions. THE ARABS

THE PRE-MOHAMMEDAN ERA

Before the Mohammedan conquests, Arabia is divided into a number of local monarchies. In these we recognise two distinct origins.