Editing Shahrbaraz (section)

== Usurping the throne ==
[[File:Southwestern part of the Sasanian Empire.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Map of [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] [[Mesopotamia]] and its surroundings]]
After the death of Kavad II, Heraclius sent Shahrbaraz a letter saying: {{blockquote|''Now that the Iranian king is dead, the throne and the kingdom has come to you. I bestow it on you, and on your offspring after you. If an army is necessary, I shall send to your assistance as many [troops] as you may need.''<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=177}}</ref>}}

On 27 April 630,<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=182}}</ref> Shahrbaraz [[Siege of Ctesiphon (629)|besieged Ctesiphon]] with a force of 6,000 men.<ref name="Pourshariati 2008 180">{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=180}}</ref> He was, however, unable to capture the city, and then made an alliance with Piruz Khosrow, the leader of the ''Parsig'' (Persian) faction, and the previous minister of the Empire during the reign of Ardashir's father, Kavad II. He also made an alliance with Namdar Gushnasp, who had succeeded him as the ''spahbed'' of Nēmrōz in 626.<ref name="Pourshariati 2008 180"/> Shahrbaraz, with the aid of these two powerful figures, captured Ctesiphon, and executed Ardashir III along with many Sasanian nobles, including Ardashir's minister [[Mah-Adhur Gushnasp]]. Shahrbaraz then became the new ''[[shah]]'' (king) of the Sasanian Empire,<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|pages=181, 183}}</ref> and killed Kardarigan, who opposed Shahrbaraz after his usurpation of the Sasanian throne.<ref name="PLREA271">{{harvnb|Martindale|Jones|Morris|1992|p=271}}</ref>

Heraclius also acknowledged Shahrbaraz's Christian son [[Niketas the Persian|Niketas]], as his heir. An Iranian Christian as the heir of the Sasanian Empire opened the chances of the Christianization of Iran.<ref name="Kaegi1911">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|pp=188–189, 206}}</ref> After some time, Shahrbaraz had Shamta, the son of the former financial minister [[Yazdin]], crucified on a church in [[Marga (East Syrian diocese)|Margha]].{{sfn|Morony|2005|p=188}} The reason of this execution was reportedly because the latter had insulted Shahrbaraz during the reign of Khosrow II.{{sfn|Kaegi|2003|p=176}} Forty days later, 9 June 630, during a ceremony, Shahrbaraz was killed by a javelin thrown by [[Farrukh Hormizd]], who then helped [[Boran]], the daughter of Khosrow II, to ascend the throne.<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=184}}</ref>{{sfn|Morony|2005|p=92}}