Editing Balash (section)

== Reign ==
In 484, [[Peroz I]] ({{reign|459|484}}) was [[Hephthalite–Sasanian War of 484|defeated and killed]] by a [[Hephthalite]]{{efn|The Hephthalites were a tribal group that was most prominent of the "[[Iranian Huns]]".{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=145}} In the second half of the 5th-century, they controlled [[Tukharistan]] and also seemingly chunks of southern [[Transoxiana]].{{sfn|Daryaee|Rezakhani|2017|p=163}}}} army near [[Balkh]].{{sfn|McDonough|2011|p=305}}{{sfn|Schindel|2013|pp=136–141}} His army was completely destroyed, and his body was never found.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=287}} Four of his sons and brothers had also died.{{sfn|Potts|2018|p=295}} The main Sasanian cities of the eastern region of [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]]−[[Nishapur]], [[Herat]] and [[Merv|Marw]] were now under Hephthalite rule.{{sfn|Schindel|2013|pp=136–141}} [[Sukhra]], a member of the Parthian [[House of Karen]], one of the [[Seven Great Houses of Iran]], quickly raised a new force and stopped the Hephthalites from achieving further success.{{sfn|Payne|2015|p=288}} Peroz' brother, Balash, was elected as shah by the Iranian magnates, most notably Sukhra and the [[House of Mihran|Mihranid]] general [[Shapur Mihran]].{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}}

Immediately after ascending the throne, Balash sought peace with the Hephthalites, which cost the Sasanians a heavy tribute. Little is known about Balash, but he is perceived by eastern sources as a mild and tolerant ruler. He was very tolerant of [[Christianity]], which earned him a reputation among Christian authors, who described him as a mild and generous monarch. Nevertheless, it would seem that Balash was only a nominee of the powerful nobleman and ''[[de facto]]'' ruler Sukhra.{{sfn|Schindel|2013|pp=136-141}}

At the announcement of the death of Peroz, the Iranian nobles of [[Sasanian Armenia]], including the prominent nobleman Shapur Mihran, had become eager to go to the Sasanian capital of [[Ctesiphon]] to elect a new sovereign. This had allowed the [[Armenians]] under [[Vahan Mamikonian]] to proclaim independence from the Sasanians. Given the situation of the weakness in Iran, Balash did not send an army to fight the rebels, which forced him to [[Treaty of Nvarsak|conclude peace]] with the Armenians. The conditions of the peace were: all existing fire-altars in Armenia should be destroyed and no new ones should be constructed;{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=149}} [[Christianity in Armenia|Christians]] in Armenia should have freedom of worship and conversions to [[Zoroastrianism]] should be stopped:{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=149}} land should not be allotted to people who convert to Zoroastrianism; the Iranian shah should, in person, administer Armenia and through the aid of governors or deputies.{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=149}} In 485, Balash appointed Vahan Mamikonian as the ''[[marzban]]'' of Armenia. A few months later, a son of Peroz named [[Zarer]] rose in rebellion. Balash, with the aid of the Armenians, put down the rebellion, captured and killed him.{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=149}} In 488, Balash, who was an unpopular figure among the nobility and clergy, was deposed after a reign of just four years.{{sfn|Chaumont|Schippmann|1988|pp=574–580}} Sukhra played a main role in Balash's deposition,{{sfn|Chaumont|Schippmann|1988|pp=574–580}} and appointed Peroz's son Kavad as the new shah of Iran.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=78}}