Editing Khosrow II (section)

== Religious policy and beliefs ==
Khosrow II, like all other Sasanian rulers, was an adherent of Zoroastrianism.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=2}} Since the 5th century, the Sasanian monarchs had been made aware of the significance of the religious minorities in the realm, and as a result tried to integrate them into a structure of administration where, according to legal principles, all would be treated straightforwardly as {{Lang|pal-Latn|mard}} / {{Lang|pal-Latn|zan ī šahr}}, i.e. "man/woman [citizen] of the country". [[Jews]] and Christians (but not the persecuted [[Manichaeans]]) had accepted the concept of ''[[Iran (word)|Eranshahr]]'' / ''Iran'' (which had once been inextricable from Zoroastrianism) and considered themselves part of it.{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=56}}

During his reign there was constant conflict between [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] and [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] Christians. Khosrow favored the Monophysites, and ordered all his subjects to adhere to Monophysitism, perhaps under the influence of Shirin and the royal physician [[Gabriel of Sinjar]], who both supported this faith. Khosrow also dispensed money or gifts to Christian shrines.{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=166}} Khosrow's great tolerance to Christianity and friendship with the Christian Byzantines even made some Armenian writers think that Khosrow was a Christian.{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=166}} His positive policy toward Christians (which, however, was probably politically motivated) made him unpopular with the Zoroastrian priests, and also made Christianity greatly spread around the Sasanian Empire.{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=171}} In 591, at the beginning of his reign, Byzantine-Sasanian negotiations resulted in an edict of toleration, based on the understanding that proselytization would be banned. According to [[Nina Garsoïan]], Khosrow "returned to the normal pattern of alternate toleration and repression" of Christians after the death of his ally Maurice in 602. While individual Christians continued to enjoy his favor, a number of prominent Christian officials and prelates were put to death during this period.{{Sfn|Garsoïan|2000|p=586}} During Khosrow's war with the Byzantines, Christian elites and organizations were incorporated into the Sasanian system, as part of his attempt to absorb the Byzantine realm into his expanded empire.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=200}} The condition of the Christian nobility reached its pinnacle under Khosrow.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=168}} [[Mushegh II Mamikonian]], a prominent Armenian ''[[nakharar]]'', is the first and only Christian nobleman that is praised by courtly historiographers, due to his rejection of the enticements of Bahram Chobin. His decision to choose Khosrow over his native Armenia, gained him a place in the ''[[Shahnameh]]'', the national epic of Iran.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=168}} [[Smbat IV Bagratuni]] likewise led an illustrious career under Khosrow, rising to the office of frontier commander of [[Hyrcania|Gurgan]], possibly the most vital and contested area of the Sasanian realm. As a reward for his accomplishments in the east, Smbat was appointed the leader of the military jurisdiction in the Caucasus. Furthermore, his aristocratic house – the [[Bagratuni dynasty|Bagratunis]] – was made the pillar of Sasanian authority in the area.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=168}}

Khosrow also paid attention to the Zoroastrians, and had various [[fire temples]] constructed. However, this did not help the Zoroastrian church, which was in a heavy decline during his reign. According to [[Richard N. Frye]], the Zoroastrian church under Khosrow "was noted for its devotion to luxury more than its devotion to thought."{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=172}}