Seven Parthian clans
Encyclopedia
The Seven Parthian clans or Seven Houses ( Haft Xândân - UniPers) were seven purportedly "Parthian" feudal aristocracies allied with the Sassanid court.
Only two of the seven - the House of Suren and the House of Karen
- are actually attested in sources dateable to the Arsacid period. The placement of the remaining five in Parthian times is "in all probability not in accordance with reality." "It may be that [...] members of them made up their own genealogies in order to emphasize the antiquity of their families."
During Sassanid times, the seven feudal houses were all members in the Dahae Confederacy, and several played a significant role at the Sassanid court. Bahram Chobin
, a famed military commander of Khosrau II
, was from the House of Mihran.
The seven houses with their respective main fiefs and ruling-family seats were:
Only two of the seven - the House of Suren and the House of Karen
House of Karen
The House of Karen were an aristocratic feudal family of Hyrcania...
- are actually attested in sources dateable to the Arsacid period. The placement of the remaining five in Parthian times is "in all probability not in accordance with reality." "It may be that [...] members of them made up their own genealogies in order to emphasize the antiquity of their families."
During Sassanid times, the seven feudal houses were all members in the Dahae Confederacy, and several played a significant role at the Sassanid court. Bahram Chobin
Bahram Chobin
General Bahrām Chobin was a famous Eran spahbod during the late 6th century in Persia, usurping the Sassanid throne for a year as Bahram VI .- Life :...
, a famed military commander of 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...
, was from the House of Mihran.
The seven houses with their respective main fiefs and ruling-family seats were:
- the House of Aspahapet, of Apartvaticene (Yazd)YazdYazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families....
- the House of Dahae, of Astabene (Kuchan)QuchanQuchan is a city in and capital of Quchan County, in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. It is located due south of the border city of Ashgabat. At the 2006 census, its population was 96,953, in 25,066 families.-Population:...
- the House of KarenHouse of KarenThe House of Karen were an aristocratic feudal family of Hyrcania...
, of Hyrcania (Gorgan)GorganGorgan Some east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan Airport was opened in September 2005.-Etymology:... - the House of MihranHouse of MihranThe House of Mihrān was a leading Iranian noble family , one of the Seven Great Houses of the Sassanid Persian Empire which claimed descent from the earlier Arsacid dynasty...
, of Comisene (Semnan) - the House of Parni, of Parthyene (Parthaunis)
- the House of Sohae, of Margiane (Merv)MervMerv , formerly Achaemenid Satrapy of Margiana, and later Alexandria and Antiochia in Margiana , was a major oasis-city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, located near today's Mary in Turkmenistan. Several cities have existed on this site, which is significant for the interchange of...
- the House of Suren, of Sakestan (Sistan)SakastanSakastan or Sakaistan or Sakasthan is a term indicating certain regions of the South Asia where the Scythians or Sakas settled around 100 BC. Sakastan region includes southern Afghanistan; Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh provinces of Pakistan; also includes Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and...
See also
- Iranian society under Sassanids