Editing Peroz I (section)

=== Revolts in Armenia and Iberia ===
[[File:Map of Persian Armenia and its surroundings.svg|right|300px|thumb|Map of the [[Caucasus]]{{sfn|Hewsen|2001|p=85}}]]
Besides Caucasian Albania, the two other Iranian provinces in the Caucasus—Armenia and [[Sasanian Iberia|Iberia]]—were also dissatisfied with Zoroastrian Sasanian rule. In Armenia, Yazdegerd II's policy of integrating the Christian nobility into the bureaucracy by forcing them to convert to Zoroastrianism had resulted in a large-scale rebellion in 451, led by the Armenian military leader [[Vardan Mamikonian]]. Although the Sasanians defeated the rebels at the [[Battle of Avarayr]], the impact of the rebellion was still felt, and tensions continued to grow.{{sfn|Sauer|2017|p=192}}{{sfn|Avdoyan|2018}}{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=133}} Meanwhile, in Iberia, Peroz had favoured [[Varsken]], the viceroy ({{transliteration|pal|[[bidaxsh]]}}) of the Armeno-Iberian frontier region of [[Gugark]]. A member of the [[Mihranids of Gugark]], Varsken was born a Christian, but when he travelled to the Iranian court in 470, he converted to Zoroastrianism and shifted his allegiance from the Christian [[Chosroid dynasty|Iberian monarchy]] to the Sasanian Empire.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=38, 45, 67}}{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=191}} As a reward for his conversion, he was given the viceroyalty of Albania and a daughter of Peroz in marriage.{{sfn|Toumanoff|1961|p=101}} Espousing his pro-Iranian position, he attempted to force his family to convert to Zoroastrianism, including his first wife [[Shushanik]] (a daughter of Vardan), whom he eventually killed, which made her a [[martyr]].{{sfn|Toumanoff|1961|p=101}}{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=45}}{{sfn|Suny|1994|p=23}} Varsken's policies were unacceptable to the Iberian king [[Vakhtang I of Iberia|Vakhtang I]] ({{reign|447/49|502/22}}), who had him killed and then revolted against Iran in 482.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=134}} Almost simultaneously, the Armenians rebelled under the leadership of [[Vahan Mamikonian]], a nephew of Vardan.{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}}

In the same year, the {{transliteration|pal|marzban}} of Armenia, [[Adhur Gushnasp]] was defeated and killed by Vahan's forces, who installed [[Sahak II Bagratuni]] as the new {{transliteration|pal|marzban}}.{{sfn|Grousset|1947|pp=216–218}}{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=192}} Peroz sent an army under [[Zarmihr Hazarwuxt]] of the [[House of Karen]] to Armenia, while another army led by the Sasanian general Mihran, of the Mihranid family, was sent to Iberia.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=73}} During the summer, an army led by Shapur Mihran, the son of Mihran, inflicted a defeat on a combined Armenian-Iberian army at Akesga, resulting in the death of Sahak II Bagratuni and Vahan's brother Vasak,{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=193}}{{sfn|Grousset|1947|pp=221–222}} while Vakhtang fled to Byzantine-controlled [[Lazica]].{{sfn|Suny|1994|p=23}} The role of Shapur Mihran in command of the army in Iberia implies that Peroz may have recalled his father, Mihran, to participate in his Hephthalite war.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=75}}

Vahan retreated with the rest of his forces to the mountains in [[Tayk]], from where they engaged in [[guerrilla warfare]].{{sfn|Grousset|1947|pp=221–223}} Shapur Mihran restored Sasanian rule in Armenia, but was summoned to the court in Ctesiphon, resulting in Vahan regaining control of over the Armenian capital of [[Dvin (ancient city)|Dvin]], where he fortified himself.{{sfn|Grousset|1947|pp=219, 221–223}} In 483, Iranian reinforcements arrived under Zarmihr Hazarwuxt, who laid siege to Dvin. Heavily outnumbered, Vahan mounted a surprise attack on the Iranians, defeating them at the Battle of Nerseapate, near [[Maku, Iran|Maku]].{{sfn|Grousset|1947|p=220}} Vahan retreated to the mountains once more, close to the Byzantine border.{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=193}}{{sfn|Grousset|1947|p=223}} He hoped that the Iranians would not pursue and attack him there, in order to avoid risking a conflict with the Byzantines. However, after a night march, Zarmihr Hazarwuxt attacked the Armenian camp and managed to capture several princesses. Vahan and most of his men withdrew further into the mountains.{{sfn|Grousset|1947|p=223-224}}

An unexpected turn of events changed the tide of the war: Peroz's death in 484 during his war with the Hephthalites caused the Iranian army to withdraw from Armenia.{{sfn|Dédéyan|2007|p=193}} Peroz's brother and successor, Balash, made peace with Vahan, and appointed him as {{transliteration|pal|[[Hazarbed|hazarapet]]}} (minister) and later as {{transliteration|pal|marzban}} of Armenia.{{sfn|Chaumont|Schippmann|1988|pp=574–580}} Peace was likewise made in Iberia, where Vakhtang was able to resume his rule.{{sfn|Suny|1994|pp=23–25}}