Editing Bahram IV (section)

==Reign==
[[Image:Roman-Persian Frontier, 5th century.png|thumb|Map of the Roman-Iranian frontier]]
During the reign of Shapur III, an [[Peace of Acilisene|agreement]] was made between Iran and Rome to partition [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]].{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=278}}{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}} The boundary stretched through [[Erzurum|Theodosiopolis]] in the north and [[Amida (Mesopotamia)|Amida]] in the south, which meant that most of Armenia remained in Sasanian [[Sasanian Armenia|hands]].{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}} When this treaty exactly took place is unsure; most scholars believe the treaty was made in 387.{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}}{{sfn|Hovannisian|1997|p=92}} The pro-Roman king [[Arshak III]] ({{reign|378|387}}) of the [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid dynasty]] soon died, which made the Romans abolish their branch of the Arsacid monarchy and create the province of [[Byzantine Armenia|Western Armenia]]. The Arsacid monarchy in the Iranian part of Armenia (which became known as Persarmenia){{sfn|Hovannisian|1997|p=92}} was maintained, with [[Khosrov IV of Armenia|Khosrov IV]] ruling the country as a Sasanian vassal.{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}}{{sfn|Lenski|2002|p=185}} Bahram IV began to distrust Khosrov IV, which eventually resulted in Khosrov IV's removal and the succession of his brother [[Vramshapuh]]. The immediate cause of Khosrov IV's removal may have been his appointment of [[Isaac of Armenia|Sahak]] as the [[Catholicos|patriarch]] of Persarmenia without consulting the Iranian court.{{sfn|Hovannisian|1997|p=92}}

In 395, the [[Huns]] invaded the Roman provinces of [[Sophene]], Western Armenia, [[Mesopotamia (Roman province)|Mesopotamia]], [[Syria (region)|Syria]], and [[Cappadocia (Roman province)|Cappadocia]]. They reached as far [[Galatia]], taking many captives. They then [[Hun Invasion of Persia|invaded the Iranian realm]], devastating much of the countryside around the [[Euphrates]] and the [[Tigris]]. A counterattack was soon made, which resulted in the defeat of Hunnic forces and the retrieval of their spoils. Bahram IV allowed the Roman captives to stay at [[Veh-Ardashir]] and [[Ctesiphon]], where they were given rations, which included bread, wine and oil.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|p=17}} Most of the captives were later returned to their own lands. These Hunnic invasions signaled to the Sasanians that areas of Iran that lacked natural defenses had to be better secured.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=95}}

In 399, Bahram IV was killed by an arrow during a hunting expedition. The 9th-century historian [[Abu Hanifa Dinawari|Dinawari]] calls the incident an accident,{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=102 (see note 37)}} while al-Tabari calls the perpetrators "a group of murderous evildoers".{{sfn|Bosworth|1999|p=69}} Modern scholarship agrees that the nobility was behind the murder.{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=157 (see note 106)}}{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604 (see note 3)}} According to the modern historian Scott McDonough, Bahram IV was killed for his attempt to reduce the authority of the powerful [[Parthia]]n noble families (known as the {{lang|pal|[[wuzurgan]]}}) who formed the bulk of the Iranian [[Feudalism|feudal]] army. Centered on the [[Iranian plateau]], they were largely autonomous.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604}} Attempts to curb their authority usually resulted in the {{lang|pal|shahanshah}}'s murder.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604 (see also note 3)}} Ultimately, the Parthian nobility worked for the {{lang|pal|shahanshah}} for personal benefit, personal oath, and, conceivably, a common awareness of the "Aryan" (Iranian) kinship they shared with their [[Persian people|Persian]] overlords.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604}} Bahram IV was succeeded by his brother [[Yazdegerd I]], who, aware of the previous actions of the nobility, strived to restrict their power.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}}