Babak was a 6th-century Sasanian officeholder known for his major role in the reformation of the Sasanian military during

Khosrow I Khosrow I (also spelled Khosrau, Khusro or Chosroes; pal, 𐭧𐭥𐭮𐭫𐭥𐭣𐭩; New Persian: []), traditionally known by his epithet of Anushirvan ( [] "the Immortal Soul"), was the Sasanian Empire, Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from ...

's reign.

Name

His name has been recorded as "Babak, son of ʾlbyrwʾn ( ar, البيروان)" by

al-Tabari ( ar, أبو جعفر محمد بن جرير بن يزيد الطبري), more commonly known as al-Ṭabarī (), was a Muslim historian and scholar from Amol, Tabaristan. Among the most prominent figures of the Islamic Golden Age, al-Tabari ...

. This Arabic corruption is reconstructed as ''Bērawān'' by Theodor Nöldeke and ''Behruwān'' () by Ahmad Tafazzoli. Mohammad-Taqi Bahar explains it as "Babak, son of Bīrū ( fa, بیرو)", which could be an alternative form of ''Wīrū'' (), a Persian male given name mentioned in ''

Vis o Ramin Vis, ViS, VIS, and other capitalizations may refer to: Places * Vis (island), a Croatian island in the Adriatic sea ** Vis (town), on the island of Vis * Vis (river), in south-central France * Vis, Bulgaria, a village in Haskovo Province * Vis ...

''. The final ''-ān'' would be the suffix meaning "son of". '' Bābak'' is the Arabic and New Persian form of the Middle Persian ''Pābag''.

Career

Al-Tabari ( ar, أبو جعفر محمد بن جرير بن يزيد الطبري), more commonly known as al-Ṭabarī (), was a Muslim historian and scholar from Amol, Tabaristan. Among the most prominent figures of the Islamic Golden Age, al-Tabari ...

describes Babak as "a man of noble birth known for his magnanimous qualities and capability". He is mentioned as a secretary, but according to the '' Shahnameh'', Babak was a priest ('' mowbed''). In an effort for reforming the military and establishing a standing army, King

put Babak in charge of the Department of the Warriors ( Middle Persian: ''Dīwān ī Gund''). A "list" for the pieces of equipment for the '' aswaran'' cavalry was written. There is an account in

's '' Tarikh al-Tabari'' and

Ferdowsi Abul-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi ( fa, ; 940 – 1019/1025 CE), also Firdawsi or Ferdowsi (), was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a sin ...

's '' Shahnameh'', describing a military parade of the fully armed Sasanian cavalrymen before Babak in order to present themselves for inspection after the military reforms. As they appeared before Babak, he sent them away, demanding that "everyone", including a properly armed King

, be present on the following day. Failing this, the king would not receive his annual salary, which was based on the 4,000

dirham The dirham, dirhem or dirhm ( ar, درهم) is a silver unit of currency historically and currently used by several Arab and Arab influenced states. The term has also been used as a related unit of mass. Unit of mass The dirham was a un ...

s received by a cavalry officer, plus one extra dirham. Khosrow I acquiesced, and participated, fully armed, in the parade next day; this story demonstrated that everyone, including the king, was subject to the royal law.

References

{{reflist 6th-century Iranian people Generals of Khosrow I Officials of the Sasanian Empire Reformers Military reforms