Kawus
Encyclopedia
Kawus was the eldest son of Kavadh I
, the Sasanian emperor of Iran.
Kawus might have initially been the heir presumptive to the Sasanian throne. However, following the outbreak of the Mazdakite revolt, Kawus was accused of supporting Mazdak
and adhering to his heresy. His younger brother, Khosrau I
Anusheruwan who was known for his support of orthodox Zoroastrianism
, was favoured by the nobles and the Zoroastrian clerics. As a result, Kawus was passed over as the heir and the throne was offered to Khosrau.
A few sources suggest that Kawus was given the governorship of the northern province of Padishkhwargar
and lived there honourably. He is also allegedly the ancestor of the Bavand Dynasty
of Tabaristan who ruled that region for many centuries after the advent of Islam
.
Kawus was probably named after the mythical/legendary king Kay Kawus (Avestan Kauui Usan). The names of his father and his brothers also suggest a renewed late Sasanian interest in the Iranian legendary history and particularly the Kayanid Dynasty
.
Kavadh I
Kavad or Kavadh I was the son of Peroz I and the nineteenth Sassanid king of Persia, reigning from 488 to 531...
, the Sasanian emperor of Iran.
Kawus might have initially been the heir presumptive to the Sasanian throne. However, following the outbreak of the Mazdakite revolt, Kawus was accused of supporting Mazdak
Mazdak
Mazdak was a proto-socialist Persian reformer and religious activist who gained influence under the reign of the Sassanian Shahanshah Kavadh I...
and adhering to his heresy. His younger brother, Khosrau I
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
Anusheruwan who was known for his support of orthodox Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
, was favoured by the nobles and the Zoroastrian clerics. As a result, Kawus was passed over as the heir and the throne was offered to Khosrau.
A few sources suggest that Kawus was given the governorship of the northern province of Padishkhwargar
Padishkhwargar
Padishkhwārgar or Patishkhwāgar which later orthographically morphed into Farshwārdgar is the Middle Persian name of a vassal and later satrapy of the Sassanid Empire....
and lived there honourably. He is also allegedly the ancestor of the Bavand Dynasty
Bavand Dynasty
The Bavandi Dynasty was an Iranian dynasty that started in the early seventh century, as an independent group of rulers, reigning over Tabaristan in what is now northern Iran....
of Tabaristan who ruled that region for many centuries after the advent of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Kawus was probably named after the mythical/legendary king Kay Kawus (Avestan Kauui Usan). The names of his father and his brothers also suggest a renewed late Sasanian interest in the Iranian legendary history and particularly the Kayanid Dynasty
Kayanian dynasty
The Kayanian, also Kays or Kayanids or Kaianids, are a dynasty of Greater Iranian tradition and folklore. Considered collectively, the Kayanian kings are the heroes of the Avesta, the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, and of the Shahnameh, Iran's national epic.As an epithet of kings and the reason...
.