Bahram II

Bahram II was the fifth Sasanian King of Kings of Iran. He ruled from 274 to 293. He was the son of Bahram I. He became king while still very young, with help from a powerful Zoroastrian priest named Kartir.

During his rule, Bahram II faced many challenges. His brother Hormizd I Kushanshah started a rebellion in the east. Another rebellion happened in Sakastan, led by Bahram II's cousin Hormizd. There was also trouble in Khuzestan. The Roman emperor Carus attacked Mesopotamia during this time. Bahram II lost his capital, Ctesiphon, but Carus died soon after, and the Roman army left. Later, Bahram II made peace with the Roman emperor Diocletian and settled the problems in the east and Khuzestan.

In the Caucasus, Bahram II made his kingdom stronger. He placed Mirian III from the House of Mihran on the throne of Iberia. Some scholars think he may have been the first Sasanian ruler to put pictures of his family on coins. He also ordered carvings showing his family and noble members.

After Bahram II died, his son Bahram III took over. But he was removed after four months by Narseh, a son of the earlier ruler Shapur I.

Name

The name "Bahram" comes from an old Iranian word meaning victory. It was the name of an ancient Iranian god. Different cultures said the name in their own ways. In Greek, it was said as "Baranes," and in Armenian it was "Vahagn" or "Vrām." The name appears in Georgian as "Baram" and in Latin as "Vararanes."

Background

Bahram II was the eldest son of Bahram I, the fourth king (shah) of the Sasanian dynasty, and the grandson of the important shah Shapur I. The Sasanians became the rulers of Iran in 224 after Ardashir I defeated the last king of the Parthian Arsacid Empire at the Battle of Hormozdgan.

Bahram II was likely born around the year 262. His father, Bahram I, was not the expected heir to the throne because of his mother's background. After Shapur I died in 270, Bahram I became king with help from a powerful Zoroastrian priest named Kartir. To avoid future problems, Bahram I agreed that his brother Narseh could rule the province of Armenia instead of challenging him for the throne.

Governorship and accession

Bahram was put in charge of the southeastern areas called Sakastan, Hind, and Turgistan. These places were far from the main royal city, Ctesiphon, and were often difficult to control. After his father, Bahram I, died in September 274, Bahram II became ruler while he was still very young. He probably had help from a powerful priest named Kartir to become king instead of his relative, Narseh. Narseh was not happy about this because he thought he should be the next king.

Reign

Bahram II had many difficulties when he ruled. His brother, Hormizd I Kushanshah, who ruled part of the empire, rebelled against him. Hormizd wanted a bigger title and got help from nearby groups. There was also a revolt in another area led by someone related to Bahram II.

At the same time, the Roman emperor Carus took advantage of the confusion and attacked. He reached the capital city, Ctesiphon, but soon after, he died, and the Roman army left. Later, Bahram II made peace with the new Roman emperor, Diocletian.

Bahram II also worked to make his empire stronger by placing a loyal noble, Mirian III, in a nearby country. He sent soldiers to protect Mirian III. When Bahram II died in 293, he had stopped the revolts in the east, and his son became governor of one of the areas.

Relations with Kartir and religious policy

Bahram II cared about his religious beliefs and respected the Zoroastrian priest Kartir very much. He treated Kartir like a teacher and gave him important jobs, including being a high-ranking official and the main judge of the empire. Because of this, priests started to take on the role of judges.

Kartir became very powerful during Bahram II's rule. He said he took actions against groups that did not follow Zoroastrianism, but historians are not sure how much of this really happened. Some records from Jewish and Christian groups do not mention any troubles during this time.

Coins

Bahram II was the first Sasanian king shown with earrings on his coins. He also added wings to his crown, inspired by a god's bird called Verethragna. The words on his coins called him "the Mazda-worshiping, divine Bahram, King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians), whose image/brilliance is from the gods."

During his time, many different kinds of coins were made. Some showed just Bahram II. Others showed him with a woman, or with a young man wearing a special hat known as a Median bonnet. On some coins, all three — Bahram II, the woman, and the young man — appeared together. The woman sometimes wore different headpieces with symbols like a boar, griffin, horse, or eagle. The exact meaning of these pictures is not fully understood.

The young man is often thought to be Bahram III, his son and heir, and the woman is usually believed to be his cousin and queen, Shapurdukhtak. The back of the coins always showed a traditional fire altar with two people standing beside it.

Rock reliefs

Bahram II made many rock carvings to show his power and tell stories from his life. One carving at Guyom shows him standing alone. Another at Sar Mashhad shows him hunting lions, with his queen holding his hand for safety. There are also carvings at Sarab-e Bahram, Bishapur, and Naqsh-e Rostam, showing him with important people and scenes from his rule.

Legacy

During Bahram II's time, art in Sasanian Iran grew and improved. Many paintings showed the king and his friends. He was the first and only king to show a woman on his coins, except for a queen who lived much later.

Some historians think Bahram II was not very strong as a ruler, but he did well in battles. He stopped problems in some areas and kept enemies away from important lands. His time as ruler seems to have been calm and careful for the Sasanian leaders.