Editing Khosrow I (section)

== Accession ==
=== The Eternal Peace of 532 ===
[[Image:King Khusraw Anushirvan Enthroned- Page from a Manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdawsi LACMA M.73.5.18.jpg|thumb|upright|14th-century ''[[Shahnameh]]'' illustration of Khosrow I seated on his throne]]
In 531, while the Iranian army was [[Siege of Martyropolis (531)|besieging Martyropolis]], Kavad became ill and died.{{sfn|Chaumont|Schippmann|1988|pp=574–580}} Khosrow succeeded him, but due to his domestic position being insecure, he wanted to make peace with the Byzantines, who themselves under Emperor [[Justinian I]] (r. 527–565) were perhaps already more focused on recovering the lost [[Western Roman Empire|western half]] of the [[Roman Empire]] than on pursuing war against Iran.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|p=96}} The Byzantine envoys [[Rufinus (Roman official)|Rufinus]], [[Hermogenes (magister officiorum)|Hermogenes]], Alexander and Thomas found Khosrow in a more conciliatory disposition than his father, and an agreement was soon reached. Justinian would pay 110 ''[[quintal|centenaria]]'' (11,000 pounds) of gold, ostensibly as a contribution to the defence of the [[Caucasus]] passes against the barbarians living beyond, and the base of the ''[[dux Mesopotamiae]]'' would be withdrawn from the fortress of [[Dara (Mesopotamia)|Dara]] to the city of [[Constantia (Osrhoene)|Constantina]]. The two rulers would recognize once again each other as equal and pledged mutual assistance.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|p=96}}{{sfn|Maas|2005|p=488}} Khosrow initially refused to hand back the two [[Lazica|Lazic]] forts, while demanding the return of the two other forts the Byzantines had captured in Sasanian Armenia. Justinian at first agreed, but soon changed his mind, causing the agreement to be broken off.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|pp=96–97}} In summer 532, however, a new embassy by Hermogenes and Rufinus managed to persuade Khosrow for a full exchange of the occupied forts, as well as for allowing the exiled [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberian]] rebels to either remain in the Byzantine Empire or return safely to their homes.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|pp=96–97}}

=== Consolidation of power ===
Sometime during the early reign of Khosrow, he had to deal with his eldest brother [[Kawus]], who ruled as governor-king of the northern province of [[Padishkhwargar]].<ref>{{harvnb|Daryaee|2014|p=28}}; {{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|pp=288–289}}</ref> Unlike Khosrow, he was a Mazdakite (or at least had strong Mazdakite sympathies) and thus had their support as the candidate for the throne.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=288-289}} Kawus asserted that he was the legitimate heir to the throne due to his older age.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=288-289}} He was, however, defeated by Khosrow's forces and taken to [[Ctesiphon]], where Khosrow summoned the priests and urged Kawus to make confessions and ask for forgiveness so that he could be released.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=289}} Kawus refused, preferring death, forcing Khosrow to have him killed.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=289}} Khosrow reportedly "cursed the fortunes" for "forcing him to kill a brother like Kawus."{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=289}}

Another danger to Khosrow's rule was that of his uncle [[Bawi]], who, along with other members of the Iranian aristocracy, became involved in a conspiracy to overthrow Khosrow and make Kavad, the son of Khosrow's brother Jamasp, the shah of Iran.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=111}} Upon learning of the plot, Khosrow executed all his brothers and their offspring, along with Bawi and the other aristocrats who were involved.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=111}} Khosrow also ordered the execution of Kavad, who was still a child and was away from the court, being raised by [[Adergoudounbades]]. Adergoudounbades disobeyed Khosrow's orders to kill Kavad and brought him up in secret, until he was betrayed to the shah in 541 by his own son, Bahram. Khosrow had him executed, but Kavad, or someone claiming to be him, managed to flee to the Byzantine Empire.<ref>{{harvnb|Martindale|1992|pp=16, 276}}; {{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|pp=268–269}}; {{harvnb|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|p=112}}.</ref>