Six Problems of interpretation in the reigns of Pērōz, Balāš, Jāmāsp and Kavād Cover Image

Six Problèmes d’interprétation dans les règnes de Pērōz, Balāš, Jāmāsp et Kavād
Six Problems of interpretation in the reigns of Pērōz, Balāš, Jāmāsp and Kavād

Author(s): Michael Richard Jackson Bonner
Subject(s): History, Archaeology, Diplomatic history, Military history, Ancient World
Published by: Instytut Historii UwS
Keywords: Iran; Sassanids; pre-Islamic History

Summary/Abstract: The period from the fall of Peroz to the rise of Khusraw Anushirvan (484-531) isone of the most befuddling in all Sasanian history. Persian and Arabic sources for the periodin question narrate or hint at Iran’s pacification of Armenia, factional strife at the Persiancourt, the propagation of the Mazdakite heresy, and Kavad’s war with the Romans of 502.Comparison to contemporary, or near contemporary, sources in Greek, Syriac, andArmenian shows that indigenous Iranian sources are full of chronological errors, confusion,embellishment, and perhaps deliberate falsehood. Bonner’s historiographical analysis provesthat we cannot take sources such as Tabari, Dinawari, and Firdawsi at their word, and thatour understanding of the period 484-531 must be substantially revised.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 103-121
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: French