Izadgushasp (also spelled Yazdgushnasp), known in

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantin ...

sources as Isdigousnas Zikh, was an

Iranian Iranian may refer to: * Iran, a sovereign state * Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran * Iranian lan ...

nobleman from the

House of Mihran The House of Mihrān or House of Mehrān (Middle Persian: 𐭬𐭨𐭥𐭠𐭭; new Persian: مهران), was a leading Iranian noble family (''šahrdārān''), one of the Seven Great Houses of the Sassanid Persian Empire which claimed descent ...

, who served as one of Khosrow I's ''

vizier A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called '' katib'' (secretary), who was ...

s'' (''

wuzurg framadar ''Wuzurg framadār'' ( pal, 𐭫𐭲𐭬𐭥𐭯 𐭠𐭡𐭫, meaning "the grand lord") was a Sasanian office which was equivalent to the office of Grand Vizier in the later Islamic period. List * Abarsam, active during the reign of Ardashir I. ...

'').

Biography

Izadgushasp is first mentioned during the reign of Khosrow I, as one of the highest dignitaries and most powerful noblemen, being both Khosrow's ''vizier'' and '' chamberlain''. He had a brother named Fariburz (also known as Phabrizus) who also held high offices.

Procopius Procopius of Caesarea ( grc-gre, Προκόπιος ὁ Καισαρεύς ''Prokópios ho Kaisareús''; la, Procopius Caesariensis; – after 565) was a prominent late antique Greek scholar from Caesarea Maritima. Accompanying the Roman ge ...

describes them as: "both holding most important offices ... and at the same time reckoned to be the basest of all Persians, having a great reputation for their cleverness and evil ways." Izadgushasp, along with two other powerful magnates named Chihr-Burzen and

Bahram-i Mah Adhar Bahrām-i Māh Ādhar was a 6th-century Iranian aristocrat who held high military and civil offices under Khosrow I () and Hormizd IV (). Biography Bahram-i Mah Adhar is the name given to this figure by the 10th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi, ...

, were even asked by Khosrow to choose his heir. During the

Lazic War The Lazic War, also known as the Colchidian War or in Georgian historiography as the Great War of Egrisi was fought between the Byzantine Empire and the Sasanian Empire for control of the ancient Georgian region of Lazica. The Lazic War lasted ...

, Izadgushasp and Fariburz played an important role in the capture of

Lazica Lazica ( ka, ეგრისი, ; lzz, ლაზიკა, ; grc-gre, Λαζική, ; fa, لازستان, ; hy, Եգեր, ) was the Latin name given to the territory of Colchis during the Roman/Byzantine period, from about the 1st centur ...

. During the peace negotiations to end the war, Izadgushasp was the spokesman of the Sasanians, and made a treaty with the Byzantines in which they paid a great tribute of gold. In 547, Khosrow I, who was keen to wrest Dara from Byzantine control, tried to trick them in order to capture it; he sent Izadgushasp as a diplomat to

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth ( Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

, but in reality the latter would stop by Dara, and with the aid of his large crew, he would seize the city. However, this plan was prevented by a former of adviser of

Belisarius Belisarius (; el, Βελισάριος; The exact date of his birth is unknown. – 565) was a military commander of the Byzantine Empire under the emperor Justinian I. He was instrumental in the reconquest of much of the Mediterranean ter ...

named George, who demanded that if Izadgushasp should enter the city he should have only twenty members of his crew with him. Izadgushasp then left the city and continued his journey to Constantinople, where he received a friendly welcome from Justinian, who gave him some gifts. In 573, during the

Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591 The Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591 was a war fought between the Sasanian Empire of Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire, termed by modern historians as the Byzantine Empire. It was triggered by pro-Byzantine revolts in areas of the Cauca ...

, Khosrow sent an army under Adarmahan to invade Syria, while he himself, along with Izadgushasp and Fariburz, led an army towards

Dara Dara is a given name used for both males and females, with more than one origin. Dara is found in the Bible's Old Testament Books of Chronicles. Dara �רעwas a descendant of Judah (son of Jacob). (The Bible. 1 Chronicles 2:6). Dara (also know ...

, capturing the city after four months. Adarmahan sacked several cities in Syria, which included Apamea.. The Byzantine emperor

Justin II Justin II ( la, Iustinus; grc-gre, Ἰουστῖνος, Ioustînos; died 5 October 578) or Justin the Younger ( la, Iustinus minor) was Eastern Roman Emperor from 565 until 578. He was the nephew of Justinian I and the husband of Sophia, the ...

reportedly lost his mind after these Byzantine disasters and abdicated. In 579, Khosrow was succeeded by his son

Hormizd IV Hormizd IV (also spelled Hormozd IV or Ohrmazd IV; pal, 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣) was the Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 579 to 590. He was the son and successor of Khosrow I () and his mother was a Khazar princess. During his reign, H ...

, who later ordered the death of 13,600 nobles and religious members, including Izadgushasp, who was first imprisoned and then executed.

References

Sources

* * * *{{Dead link, date=February 2023 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes 6th-century births 580s deaths 6th-century Iranian people Executed military personnel House of Mihran People executed by the Sasanian Empire People of the Roman–Sasanian Wars Khosrow I Viziers of the Sasanian Empire Generals of Khosrow I Lazic War Diplomats of the Sasanian Empire