Editing Shahrbaraz

{{Short description|Shah of the Sasanian Empire in 630}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name               = Shahrbaraz
| title              = [[King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians]]
| image              = ShahrbarazCoinHistoryofIran.jpg
| caption            =
| succession         = [[List of shahanshahs of the Sasanian Empire|Shahanshah]] of the [[Sasanian Empire]]
| reign              = 27 April 630 – 9 June 630
| predecessor        = [[Ardashir III]]
| successor          = {{ubl|[[Boran]] (in [[Ctesiphon]])|[[Khosrow III]] (in [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]])}}
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = 
| death_date         = 9 June 630
| death_place        = Ctesiphon
| burial_date        = 
| burial_place       = 
| spouse             = Mirhran
| issue              = {{ubl|[[Niketas the Persian|Niketas]]|[[Shapur-i Shahrvaraz]]|Nike}}
| royal house        = [[House of Mihran]]
| dynasty            = 
| father             = Ardashir
| mother             = 
| religion           = [[Zoroastrianism]]
| signature          =
}}

'''Shahrbaraz''' (also spelled '''Shahrvaraz''' or '''Shahrwaraz'''; [[New Persian]]: {{lang|fa|شهربراز}}) was [[shah]] (king) of the [[Sasanian Empire]] from 27 April 630 to 9 June 630. He usurped the throne from [[Ardashir III]], and was killed by Iranian nobles after forty days. Before usurping the Sasanian throne he was a ''[[spahbed]]'' (general) under [[Khosrow II]] (590–628). He is furthermore noted for his important role during the climactic [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628]], and the events that followed afterwards.

== Name ==
''{{lang|en|Shahrbaraz}}'' is actually a title, literally meaning "the Boar of the Empire",<ref name=Gyselen /> attesting to his dexterity in military command and his warlike personality, as the boar was the animal associated with the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] [[Yazata|Izad]] [[Verethragna|Vahram]], the epitome of victory. ''Shahrwarāz'' ([[Inscriptional Pahlavi]]: {{lang|pal|𐭱𐭲𐭫𐭥𐭫𐭠𐭰}} štlwlʾc<ref name=Gyselen>{{cite journal |last1=Gyselen |first1=Rika |title=Lorsque l'archéologie rencontre la tradition littéraire. Les titres des chefs d'armée de l'Iran sassanide |journal=Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |date=2001 |volume=145 |issue=1 |pages=447–459 |doi=10.3406/crai.2001.16274}}</ref>) is a [[Middle Persian]] word, with ''shahr'' meaning "country" and ''warāz'' meaning "boar". This word is rendered as ''Shahrbarāz'' ({{lang|fa|شهربراز}}) in [[New Persian]] and as ''Sarvaros'' (Greek: {{lang|grc|Σαρβάρος}}; Latin: ''{{lang|la|Sarbarus}}'') in Byzantine sources.<ref>{{cite book |last1=I. (Constantinopolitanus) |first1=Nicephorus |title=Short History |date=1990 |publisher=Dumbarton Oaks |isbn=9780884021841 |page=65 |language=en}}</ref> [[Ferdowsi]] has used the shortened form ''Gurāz'' ({{lang|fa|گراز}}, literally "boar"), which is from Middle Persian ''warāz''.<ref name=Shahnama />

According to [[al-Tabari]], his real name was ''Farrukhān'' ({{lang|ar|فرخان}}).<ref name=Shahnama /> The name is corrupted as ''Khoream'' in [[Old Armenian|Armenian]] sources<ref name=documents-and-history /> and ''Farāyīn'' ({{lang|fa|فرایین}})  in [[Ferdowsi]]'s ''[[Shahnama]]''. Ferdowsi has split Shahrbaraz's character into two: Farayin who was the usurper, and [[Shahran-Guraz]] who supported [[Bahram Chobin]]'s rebellion.<ref name=Shahnama>{{cite book |title=The Shahnama Of Firdausi VI |date=1912 |publisher=London : Kegan Paul Trench Trubner And Co.Ltd |page=50 |url=https://archive.org/stream/shahnamaoffirdau015797mbp/shahnamaoffirdau015797mbp_djvu.txt |access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>

Armenian sources also use the title ''Razmyozan'' (also spelled ''Razmiozan'', ''Erazmiozan'', ''Razmayuzan'').<ref name=documents-and-history /><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/destruction-of-the-dur-gu-nasp-temple-in-durb-dag-n-as-a-revenge-for-abduction-of-the-holy-cross-from-jerusalem-in-the-context-of-the-letters-of|title=Destruction of the ādur gušnasp temple in ādurbādagān as a revenge for abduction of the Holy Cross from Jerusalem in the context of the letters of Heraclius|first=Maksymiuk Katarzyna|last=Iwona|date=26 April 2017|journal=Метаморфозы истории|issue=9|pages=109–125 |via=cyberleninka.ru}}</ref> The title is also mentioned as ''Rasmiozdan'', ''Rasmiozan'' ([[Old Georgian language|Georgian]]), ''rsmysa'' ({{langx|ar|رسميسة}}, reading uncertain), ''Rōmēzān'', ''Rūmīzān'', ''Rumbūzān'' ([[al-Tabari]], ''[[Tarikh al-Tabari|Tarikh]]'').<ref name=documents-and-history>{{cite book|title=Documents and the History of the Early Islamic World|date=2014|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789004284340|page=30, footnote 18|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQWjBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA30|language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Shahrbaraz belonged to the [[House of Mihran]],<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=181}}</ref> one of the [[Seven Parthian clans]]; he was the son of a certain Ardashir. During Shahrbaraz's later life, he joined the [[Sasanian army]], where he rose to high offices, and was appointed as ''[[spahbed]]'' of [[Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr#Kusts of Eranshahr|Nēmrōz]]. He was married to the sister of the Sasanian king [[Khosrow II]], Mirhran, with whom Shahrbaraz had one boy named [[Shapur-i Shahrvaraz]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=205}}</ref> Shahrbaraz also had another son named [[Niketas the Persian]], who may be from the same woman or from another.

== War against the Byzantine Empire ==
{{see also|Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628}}
Shahrbaraz is first mentioned when Khosrow II started the last and most devastating of the [[Byzantine–Sasanian wars]], which lasted 26 years. Khosrow II, along with Shahrbaraz and his other best generals, conquered [[Dara (Mesopotamia)|Dara]] and Other cities in 604, and in the north, the Byzantines were driven back to the old, [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591#Aftermath|pre-591 frontier]] before Khosrow II gave them most of Sasanian Armenia, parts of Mesopotamia and western half of the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Iberia]]. After reconquering lost territory, Khosrow II withdrew from the battlefield and handed military operations to his best generals. Shahrbaraz was one of them. In 610, [[Heraclius]], an [[Armenian people|Armenian]]<ref name="Treadgold p. 287">{{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=287}}</ref> of probable [[Parthian Empire|Arsacid]] descent,<ref name = "A. Shapur Shahbazi">{{harvnb|Shapur Shahbazi|2005}}, "Sasanian Dynasty"</ref> revolted against the Byzantine Emperor [[Phocas]] and killed him, crowning himself as Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.<ref name="Olster p. 133">[[#refOlster1993|Olster 1993]], p. 133.</ref> After becoming [[Heraclian dynasty|Byzantine Emperor]], he prepared a major counter-attack against the Sasanians outside [[Antioch]] in 613, but was decisively defeated by Shahrbaraz, who [[Battle of Antioch (613)|inflicted heavy losses]] on the Byzantine army and then captured the city,<ref name="PLRE271">{{harvnb|Martindale|Jones|Morris|1992|p=1278}}</ref>{{sfn|Kaegi|2003|pp=70–71}} giving the Sasanians naval access to the [[Mediterranean Sea]].
[[File:Byzantine-persian campaigns 611-624-mohammad adil rais.PNG|right|thumb|300px|Campaign map from 611 to 624 through [[Syria]], [[Anatolia]], [[United Armenia|Armenia]], and [[Mesopotamia]].]]
After the Byzantine defeat outside Antioch, Heraclius and his brother [[Theodore (brother of Heraclius)|Theodore]], along with [[Nicetas (cousin of Heraclius)|General Nicetas]], combined their armies in [[Syria]], but were defeated by Shahrbaraz and his forces who besieged [[Damascus]] and captured it along with a large number of Byzantine troops as prisoners.{{sfn|Kaegi|2003|pp=75–77}} Furthermore, Shahrbaraz also defeated a Byzantine army near [[Daraa|Adhri'at]]. One of the most important events during his career was when he led the Sasanian army towards [[Palaestina Prima|Palaestina]], and after a bloody siege captured [[Jerusalem]], a city sacred to the [[Christianity|Christians]]. After his conquest of Jerusalem the [[True Cross|Holy Cross]] was carried away in triumph. In 618, Shahrbaraz was ordered by Khosrow II to invade [[Egypt]], and by 619, [[Alexandria]], the capital of [[Diocese of Egypt|Byzantine Egypt]], was in Sasanian hands.<ref>{{harvnb|Dodgeon|Greatrex|Lieu|2002a|pp=196, 235}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Howard-Johnston|2006|pp=10, 90}}</ref>

After the fall of Alexandria, Shahrbaraz and his forces extended Sasanian rule southwards along the [[Nile]].<ref>{{harvnb|Dodgeon|Greatrex|Lieu|2002a|p=196}}</ref> By 621, the [[Sasanian Egypt|province]] was securely in Sasanian hands, and a certain [[Sahralanyozan]] was appointed as its governor.{{sfn|Jalalipour|2014}} In 622, Heraclius counter-attacked against the Sasanian Empire in [[Anatolia]]. Shahrbaraz was sent over there to deal with him, but was eventually defeated by him.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC&pg=PA112 114]}}</ref>

After Heraclius' victory, he marched towards [[Caucasian Albania]] and wintered there.<ref name = "Kaegi128">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=128}}</ref> Shahrbaraz, along with [[Shahin Vahmanzadegan|Shahin]] and [[Shahraplakan]] were later sent by the orders of Khosrow II to trap the forces of Heraclius.<ref name = "Kaegi129">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=129}}</ref> Shahin managed to rout the Byzantine army. Due to jealousy between the Sasanian commanders, Shahrbaraz hurried with his army to take part in the glory of the victory. Heraclius met them at [[Tigranakert (Silvan)|Tigranakert]] and routed the forces of Shahraplakan and Shahin one after the other. After this victory, Heraclius crossed the Araxes and camped in the plains on the other side. Shahin, with the remnants of both his and Shahraplakan's armies joined Shahrbaraz in the pursuit of Heraclius, but marshes slowed them down.<ref name = "Kaegi130" /><ref name="frontier175">{{Harvnb|Dodgeon|Greatrex|Lieu|2002b|p=204}}</ref> At [[Aliovit]], Shahrbaraz split his forces, sending some 6,000 troops to ambush Heraclius while the remainder of the troops stayed at Aliovit. Heraclius launched a surprise night attack on the Sasanian main camp in February 625, destroying it. Shahrbaraz only barely escaped, naked and alone, having lost his [[harem]], baggage, and men.<ref name = "Kaegi130">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=130}}</ref>

Heraclius spent the rest of winter to the north of [[Lake Van]]. In 625, his forces attempted to push back towards the Euphrates. In a mere seven days, he bypassed [[Mount Ararat]] and the 200 miles along the [[Murat River|Arsanias River]] to capture [[Diyarbakr|Amida]] and [[Silvan, Diyarbakır|Martyropolis]], important fortresses on the upper [[Tigris]].<ref name = "Oman210">{{Harvnb|Oman|1893|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=N6A-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA210 210]}}</ref><ref name = "Kaegi131">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=131}}</ref> Heraclius then carried on towards the Euphrates, pursued by Shahrbaraz. According to Arab sources, he was stopped at the Satidama or Batman Su River and defeated; Byzantine sources, however, do not mention this incident.<ref name = "Kaegi131" /> Another minor skirmish between Heraclius and Shahrbaraz took place at the [[Seyhan River|Sarus river]] near [[Adana]].<ref name="Kaegi132">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=132}}</ref> Shahrbaraz stationed his forces across the river from the Byzantines.<ref name = "Norwich91">{{Harvnb|Norwich|1997|p=91}}</ref> A bridge spanned the river, and the Byzantines immediately charged across. Shahrbaraz feigned retreat to lead the Byzantines into an ambush, and the vanguard of Heraclius' army was destroyed within minutes. The Sasanians, however, had neglected to cover the bridge, and Heraclius charged across with the rearguard, unafraid of the arrows that the Sasanians fired, turning the tide of battle against the Sasanians.<ref name = "Norwich92">{{Harvnb|Norwich|1997|p=92}}</ref> Shahrbaraz expressed his admiration at Heraclius to a renegade Greek: "See your Emperor! He fears these arrows and spears no more than would an anvil!"<ref name="Norwich92"/> The [[Battle of Sarus]] was a successful retreat for the Byzantines that [[panegyrists]] magnified.<ref name="Kaegi132" /> In the aftermath of the battle, the Byzantine army wintered at [[Trabzon|Trebizond]].<ref name="Norwich92"/>

== Siege of Constantinople ==
{{main|Siege of Constantinople (626)}}
Shahrbaraz, along with a smaller army, later managed to slip through Heraclius' flanks and bee-lined for [[Chalcedon]], the Sasanian base across the [[Bosphorus]] from [[Constantinople]]. Khosrow II coordinated with the [[Khagan]] of the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]] so as to launch a coordinated attack on Constantinople from both European and Asiatic sides.<ref name = "Oman210" /> The army of Shahrbaraz stationed themselves at Chalcedon, while the Avars placed themselves on the European side of Constantinople and destroyed the [[Valens Aqueduct|Aqueduct of Valens]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=nYbnr5XVbzUC&pg=PA297 297]}}</ref> Because of the [[Byzantine navy]]'s control of the Bosphorus strait, however, the Sasanians could not send troops to the European side to aid their ally.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=133}}</ref><ref name="Kaegi140">{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=140}}</ref> This reduced the effectiveness of the siege, because the Sasanians were experts in siege warfare.<ref name="frontier179">{{Harvnb|Dodgeon|Greatrex|Lieu|2002b|pp=179–181}}</ref> Furthermore, the [[Sasanians]] and Avars had difficulties communicating across the guarded Bosphorus—though undoubtedly, there was some communication between the two forces.<ref name = "Oman210" /><ref name="Kaegi140" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=134}}</ref>
[[File:Constantinople area map.svg|300px|thumb|Map of the environs of Constantinople in Byzantine times.]]
On 7 August, a fleet of Sasanian rafts ferrying troops across the Bosphorus was surrounded and destroyed by Byzantine ships. The [[Slavs]] under the Avars attempted to attack the sea walls from across the [[Golden Horn]], while the main Avar host attacked the land walls. Patrician Bonus' galleys rammed and destroyed the Slavic boats; the Avar land assault from 6 to 7 August also failed.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=137}}</ref> With the news that Theodore had decisively triumphed over Shahin (supposedly leading Shahin to die from depression), the Avars retreated to the [[Balkan]] hinterland within two days, never to threaten Constantinople seriously again. Even though the army of Shahrbaraz was still encamped at Chalcedon, the threat to Constantinople was over.<ref name = "Oman211">{{Harvnb|Oman|1893|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=N6A-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA211 211]}}</ref><ref name="Norwich93">{{Harvnb|Norwich|1997|p=93}}</ref>

Disappointed by Shahrbaraz's failure, Khosrow II sent a messenger bearing a letter to [[Kardarigan (7th century)|Kardarigan]], who was the second-in-command of the Sasanian army. The letter said that Kardarigan should kill Shahrbaraz and take his army back to [[Ctesiphon]], but the bearers of the letter were intercepted in [[Galatia]] by Byzantine soldiers, who gave the letter to the future emperor [[Constantine III (Byzantine emperor)|Constantine III]] who in turn gave it to Heraclius. After reading the letter, he offered to show the letter to Shahrbaraz in a meeting at Constantinople. Shahrbaraz accepted his proposal and met Heraclius at Constantinople, where he read the letter and switched over to Heraclius' side.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=148}}</ref> Shahrbaraz then changed the contents of the letter, making it state that Khosrow II wanted 400 officers killed, ensuring that Kardarigan and the rest of the army remained loyal to him.<ref name="frontier171">{{Harvnb|Dodgeon|Greatrex|Lieu|2002b|p=205}}</ref>

Shahrbaraz then moved his army to northern Syria, where he could easily decide to support either Khosrow or Heraclius at a moment's notice. Still, with the neutralization of Khosrow's most skilled general, Heraclius deprived his enemy of some of his best and most experienced troops, while securing his flanks prior to his invasion of [[Iran]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|p=151}}</ref>

== Overthrow of Khosrow II ==
{{see also|Sasanian civil war of 628–632}}
In 627, Khosrow sent Shahrbaraz a letter, which said that he should send his army to Ctesiphon. Shahrbaraz, however, disobeyed, and moved to [[Asuristan]], where he set up a camp in [[Ardashir Khurrah]]. Khosrow then sent [[Farrukhzad]] to negotiate with him. However, Farrukhzad made a secret conspiracy against Khosrow and joined Shahrbaraz.<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=147}}</ref>

One year later, the feudal families of the Sasanian Empire, who were tired of war against the Byzantines and Khosrow's oppressive policies, freed Khosrow's son Sheroe, who had been imprisoned by his own father. The feudal families included: Shahrbaraz himself, who represented the Mihran family; the [[House of Ispahbudhan]] represented by ''spahbed'' [[Farrukh Hormizd]] and his two sons [[Rostam Farrokhzad]] and Farrukhzad; the Armenian faction represented by [[Varaztirots II Bagratuni]]; and finally the ''[[kanarang]]'' [[Kanadbak]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|p=173}}</ref> In February, Sheroe, along with [[Aspad Gushnasp]], captured Ctesiphon and imprisoned Khosrow II. Sheroe then proclaimed himself as king of the Sasanian Empire on 25 February, assuming the regnal name of [[Kavadh II]]. With the aid of [[Piruz Khosrow]], he executed all his brothers and half-brothers, including Khosrow II's favorite son [[Mardanshah (Sasanian prince)|Mardanshah]]. Three days later, he ordered [[Mihr Hormozd]] to execute his father. With the agreement of the nobles of the Sasanian empire, Kavad II then made peace with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius; under the terms of this peace, the Byzantines regained all their lost territories, their captured soldiers, a [[war indemnity]], along with the True Cross and other relics that were lost in Jerusalem in 614.<ref name = "Oman212">{{Harvnb|Oman|1893|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=N6A-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA212 212]}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Kaegi|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC&pg=PA178 178], [https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC&pg=PA189 189–190]}}</ref>

Following the loss of territory required for the peace treaty, the embittered aristocracy started forming independent states within the Sasanian Empire. This divided the resources of the country. Furthermore, dams and canals became derelict, and [[Plague of Sheroe|a devastating plague]] erupted in the western provinces of Iran, killing half of the population along with Kavad II, who was succeeded by [[Ardashir III]].<ref name = "A. Shapur Shahbazi" />

== 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}}

== Legacy ==
Shahrbaraz had played an important role in the [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628]], and the events that occurred after the war; his mutiny against Khosrow II caused the Sasanian Empire to fall into a civil war. After the death of Shahrbaraz, his son [[Shapur-i Shahrvaraz]] deposed Boran and became king of the Sasanian Empire. His reign, however, did not last long, and he was shortly deposed by the Sasanian nobles.<ref>{{harvnb|Pourshariati|2008|pages=204, 205}}</ref> During the same period, Niketas entered in the service of the Byzantines, and would later appear as one of the Byzantine generals at the [[Battle of Yarmouk]] during the [[Arab–Byzantine wars]].<ref name="PLRE911">{{harvnb|Martindale|Jones|Morris|1992|p=943}}</ref>

A detailed saga of heroism and romance evolved around Shahrbaraz later. In the Islamic period, it was transferred into the legend of Umar ibn al-Numan and his sons which became included in the ''[[One Thousand and One Nights]]'', itself influencing the late Byzantine epic of [[Digenes Akritas]].{{sfn|Shapur Shahbazi|1990|pp=588-599}} In the [[Syriac Literature|Syriac]] ''Life of [[Simeon of the Olives]]'', which takes place at the end of the seventh century, Sharbaraz appears anachronistically as ruler or "king of [[ Sisauranon|Sīrwān]]".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hoyland |first1=Robert G. |last2=Brunner |first2=Kyle B. |last3=Tannous |first3=Jack Boulos Victor |title=The Life of Simeon of the Olives: An Entrepreneurial Saint of Early Islamic North Mesopotamia |date=2021 |publisher=Gorgias Press LLC |isbn=978-1-4632-4346-3 |pages=41, 59–60 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZV-XzgEACAAJ |access-date=16 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Citations ==
{{reflist}}

== General and cited sources ==
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* {{cite book|last=Jalalipour|first=Saeid|title=Persian Occupation of Egypt 619–629: Politics and Administration of Sasanians|url=http://www.sasanika.org/wp-content/uploads/GradPaper10-Persian-Occupation-of-Egypt-619-6291.pdf|year=2014|publisher=Sasanika|access-date=11 January 2015|archive-date=26 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526201456/http://www.sasanika.org/wp-content/uploads/GradPaper10-Persian-Occupation-of-Egypt-619-6291.pdf|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book | last = Kaegi| first =Walter Emil | author-link=Walter Kaegi | title =Heraclius: Emperor of Byzantium| publisher =Cambridge University Press| year =2003|isbn = 0-521-81459-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC}}
* {{cite book | last1=Martindale | first1=John R.| last2=Jones | first2=A. H. M.| last3=Morris | first3=John | title=The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire – Volume III, AD 527–641 | year=1992 | publisher=Cambridge University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OERKQEACAAJ| isbn=0-521-20160-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Morony|first=Michael G.|author-link=Michael Morony|title=Iraq After the Muslim Conquest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uhjSiRAwGuEC|year=2005|orig-year=1984|publisher=Gorgias Press LLC|isbn=978-1-59333-315-7}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite book |last=Norwich |first=John Julius |title=A Short History of Byzantium|publisher= Vintage Books |year=1997 |isbn=0-679-77269-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ElLZK1EOjHsC|author-link=John Julius Norwich}}
* {{cite book | last = Olster, David Michael| title = The Politics of Usurpation in the Seventh Century: Rhetoric and Revolution in Byzantium |year= 1993| publisher = A.M. Hakkert}}
* {{cite book | last = Oman| first =Charles|author-link= Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman| title =Europe, 476–918, Volume 1| publisher =Macmillan| year =1893|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6A-AAAAYAAJ}}
* {{cite book | last = Payne | first = Richard E. | title = A State of Mixture: Christians, Zoroastrians, and Iranian Political Culture in Late Antiquity |publisher=Univ of California Press|year=2015|isbn=9780520961531|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtjsCQAAQBAJ&q=false | pages = 1–320 }}
* {{cite book|last=Pourshariati|first=Parvaneh|title=Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran|location=London and New York|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2008|isbn=978-1-84511-645-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I-xtAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | last =  Shapur Shahbazi | first = A. |author-link=Alireza Shapour Shahbazi | article = Byzantine-Iranian relations | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. IV, Fasc. 6 | pages = 588–599 | year = 1990 | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/byzantine-iranian-relations}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | last = Shapur Shahbazi | first  = A. |author-link=Alireza Shapour Shahbazi | title = Sasanian Dynasty | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/sasanian-dynasty | year = 2005 | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition | access-date = 4 January 2014}}
* {{cite book|title=A History of the Byzantine State and Society|last=Treadgold |first=Warren T. |year=1997 |publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=0-8047-2630-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nYbnr5XVbzUC}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Hämeen-Anttila |first1=Jaakko |title=The Letters of Shahrbarāz and Middle Persian Historiography on the Last Great War of Late Antiquity |journal=Journal of Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine Studies |date=2022 |volume=1 |issue=1–2 |pages=65–93|doi=10.3366/jlaibs.2022.0005 |s2cid=263274105 |url=https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/256768278/H_meen_Anttila2022JLAIBSTheLettersOfShahrbaraz.pdf }}
* {{Cite encyclopedia | last = Howard-Johnston | first  = James | title = Ḵosrow II | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/khosrow-ii | year = 2010 | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition | access-date = 23 February 2013}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Mihran]]||||June 630}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Ardashir III]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran]]|years=27 April 630 – 9 June 630}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Boran]] (in [[Ctesiphon]])<br>[[Khosrow III]] (in [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]])}}
{{S-end}}
{{Sasanian Rulers}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:630 deaths]]
[[Category:7th century in Byzantine Egypt]]
[[Category:7th-century Iranian people]]
[[Category:7th-century murdered monarchs]]
[[Category:7th-century Sasanian monarchs]]
[[Category:Deaths by javelin]]
[[Category:Generals of Khosrow II]]
[[Category:House of Mihran]]
[[Category:Medieval rebels]]
[[Category:Murdered Persian monarchs]]
[[Category:People of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628]]
[[Category:Rebellions against the Sasanian Empire]]
[[Category:Governors of Egypt]]
[[Category:Governors of the Sasanian Empire]]
[[Category:Sasanian Egypt]]
[[Category:Shahnameh characters]]
[[Category:Spahbeds]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]