Adhurgunbadh
Encyclopedia
Adhurgunbadh, rendered in Greek
as Adergoudounbades , was a prominent Sassanid Persian nobleman, general and kanarang
in the reigns of Kavadh I
(r. 488–531), and Khosrau II
(r. 531–579). His life is known only through the work of the Byzantine
historian Procopius
.
Adhurgunbadh first appears in 488. A young man at the time, according to Procopius he already had a reputation as a soldier. In that year, he helped Kavadh rise to the throne against his uncle Balash
. As a reward, Kavadh raised Adhurgunbadh to the important post of kanarang
, governor of the northeastern province of Abarshahr
which adjoined Hephthalite territory, replacing his relative, Gushnaspdad (Gousanastades), who was executed.
Little is known of Adhurgunbadh during the subsequent decades, save that he had considerable success as a general: Procopius reports that he subdued twelve barbarian
tribes to Persian rule. He participated in the Anastasian War
, being involved in the siege and capture of Amida.
When Khosrau ascended the throne in 531, a conspiracy was formed which wanted to overthrow him and elevate his nephew Kavadh, the son of his elder brother Djamasp (Zames), to the throne. The conspiracy was discovered and suppressed, but Kavadh was away from the court, being raised by Adhurgunbadh. Khosrau sent orders to kill Kavadh, but Adhurgunbadh disobeyed and brought him up in secret, until he was betrayed to the shah in 541 by his own son, Bahram (Varranes). Khosrau had him executed, but Kavadh, or someone claiming to be him, managed to flee to the Byzantine Empire.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
as Adergoudounbades , was a prominent Sassanid Persian nobleman, general and kanarang
Kanarang
The kanārang was a unique title in the Sassanid army, given to the commander of the Sassanid Empire's northeasternmost frontier province, Abarshahr...
in the reigns of Kavadh I
Kavadh I
Kavad or Kavadh I was the son of Peroz I and the nineteenth Sassanid king of Persia, reigning from 488 to 531...
(r. 488–531), and Khosrau II
Khosrau II
250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628...
(r. 531–579). His life is known only through the work of the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
historian Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
.
Adhurgunbadh first appears in 488. A young man at the time, according to Procopius he already had a reputation as a soldier. In that year, he helped Kavadh rise to the throne against his uncle Balash
Balash
Balash , the eighteenth Sassanid King of Persia in 484–488, was the brother and successor of Peroz I of Persia , who had died in a battle against the Hephthalites who invaded Persia from the east.- Reign of Balash :Balash was made King of Persia following the death of his...
. As a reward, Kavadh raised Adhurgunbadh to the important post of kanarang
Kanarang
The kanārang was a unique title in the Sassanid army, given to the commander of the Sassanid Empire's northeasternmost frontier province, Abarshahr...
, governor of the northeastern province of Abarshahr
Abarshahr
Abarshahr was a satrapy of the Sassanid Empire. The population was supported by the Hari river, which was used for irrigation. Strabo cited the regions abundant wine-production. Cities in the region were Candac, Artacauan, and Apameia, and Pushang , among others...
which adjoined Hephthalite territory, replacing his relative, Gushnaspdad (Gousanastades), who was executed.
Little is known of Adhurgunbadh during the subsequent decades, save that he had considerable success as a general: Procopius reports that he subdued twelve barbarian
Barbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...
tribes to Persian rule. He participated in the Anastasian War
Anastasian War
The Anastasian War was fought from 502 to 506 between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire. It was the first major conflict between the two powers since 440, and would be the prelude to a long series of destructive conflicts between the two empires over the next century.-Prelude:Several...
, being involved in the siege and capture of Amida.
When Khosrau ascended the throne in 531, a conspiracy was formed which wanted to overthrow him and elevate his nephew Kavadh, the son of his elder brother Djamasp (Zames), to the throne. The conspiracy was discovered and suppressed, but Kavadh was away from the court, being raised by Adhurgunbadh. Khosrau sent orders to kill Kavadh, but Adhurgunbadh disobeyed and brought him up in secret, until he was betrayed to the shah in 541 by his own son, Bahram (Varranes). Khosrau had him executed, but Kavadh, or someone claiming to be him, managed to flee to the Byzantine Empire.