Busbuhra was a local ruler of

Aramean The Arameans, or Aramaeans (; ; , ), were a tribal Semitic people in the ancient Near East, first documented in historical sources from the late 12th century BCE. Their homeland, often referred to as the land of Aram, originally covered ce ...

origin, who shifted alliance between the

Rashidun Caliphate The Rashidun Caliphate () is a title given for the reigns of first caliphs (lit. "successors") — Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali collectively — believed to Political aspects of Islam, represent the perfect Islam and governance who led the ...

and the

Sasanian Empire The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranian peoples, Iranians"), was an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, th ...

, to remain on his throne.

Biography

An Aramean ''

dehqan The ''dehqân'' (; , ''dihqân'' in Classical Persian) or ''dehgân'' (; ) were a class of land-owning magnates during the Sasanian The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranians"), was an Iranian empire that w ...

'' native to the Sasanian province of

Asoristan Asoristan ( ''Asōristān'', ''Āsūristān'') was the name of the Sasanian province of Assyria and Babylonia from 226 to 637. Name The Parthian name ''Asōristān'' (; also spelled ''Asoristan'', ''Asuristan'', ''Asurestan'', ''Assuristan'') ...

, Busbuhra was the son of a certain Saluba ibn Nistuna, who, as a Sasanian subject, held the title of "lord" and owned land near

al-Hira Al-Hira ( Middle Persian: ''Hērt'' ) was an ancient Lakhmid Arabic city in Mesopotamia located south of what is now Kufa in south-central Iraq. The Sasanian government established the Lakhmid state (Al-Hirah) on the edge of the Arabian Desert ...

, the former capital of the

Lakhmids The Lakhmid kingdom ( ), also referred to as al-Manādhirah () or as Banū Lakhm (), was an Arab kingdom that was founded and ruled by the Lakhmid dynasty from to 602. Spanning Eastern Arabia and Sawad, Southern Mesopotamia, it existed as a d ...

, who were vassals of the Sasanians, but had been removed from power in 602. During the beginning of the

Arab invasion of Iran As part of the early Muslim conquests, which were initiated by Muhammad in 622, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Sasanian Empire between 632 and 654. This event led to the decline of Zoroastrianism, which had been the official religion of ...

, Busbuhra (or his father) made peace with the Arabs by agreeing to pay them and aid them against the Sasanians. Busbuhra is later mentioned regarding construction of a bridge which would allow the Arabs to move deeper into Sasanian territory. However, the Arabs were eventually defeated at the

battle of the Bridge The Battle of the Bridge or the Battle of al-Jisr (; ) was fought at the bank of the Euphrates river between Arab Muslims led by Abu Ubaid al-Thaqafi, and the Persian Sasanian forces led by Bahman Jaduya. It is traditionally dated to the year ...

. This made Busbuhra change his allegiance back to the Sasanians. He shortly confronted the Arabs at Burs, but was defeated and routed, while also wounded by a spear. He then fled to Bavel (

Babylon Babylon ( ) was an ancient city located on the lower Euphrates river in southern Mesopotamia, within modern-day Hillah, Iraq, about south of modern-day Baghdad. Babylon functioned as the main cultural and political centre of the Akkadian-s ...

) and regrouped with Sasanian troops and officers, who had survived another battle with the Arabs at al-Qadisiya. Busbuhra, however, died due to his wounds after the

battle of Burs The Battle of Burs was a minor engagement in 636 AD at Burs or Birs Nimrud, now in central Iraq, during the Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire. The Rāshidūn commander, Zuhra ibn al-Ḥawiyya, defeated Busbuhra, the Sassanid commander o ...

before he could confront the Arabs once more. Busbuhra is known to have had two sons, Khalid and Jamil, who instead of serving their family overlords, the Sasanians, served the Arabs.

References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Busbuhra Dehqans People of the Muslim conquest of Persia Year of birth unknown 637 deaths Military personnel killed in action Vassal rulers of the Sasanian Empire Arameans 7th-century military personnel