18 Facts About Bahram II

Bahram II was the fifth Sasanian King of Kings of Iran, from 274 to 293.

Bahram II was met with considerable challenges during his reign, facing a rebellion in the east led by his brother, the Kushano-Sasanian dynast Hormizd I Kushanshah, who assumed the title of King of Kings and possibly laid claims to the Sasanian throne.

Bahram II, who was in the east, was unable to mount an effective coordinated defense at the time, possibly losing his capital of Ctesiphon to the Roman emperor.

Bahram II has been suggested by scholars to be the first Sasanian ruler to have coins minted of his family.

Bahram II ordered the carving of several rock reliefs that unambiguously emphasize distinguished representations of his family and members of the high nobility.

Bahram II was either a minor queen or perhaps even a concubine.

Bahram II then made a settlement with his brother Narseh to give up his entitlement to the throne in return for the governorship of the important frontier province of Armenia, which was constantly the source of conflict between the Roman and Sasanian Empires.

Bahram II was briefly given the governorship of the southeastern provinces of Sakastan, Hind and Turgistan, which Narseh had previously governed.

Bahram II's accession is mentioned in the narratives included in the history of the medieval Iranian historian al-Tabari;.

Bahram II was wont to say: If fortune furthers our designs, we receive this with thankfulness; if the reverse, we are content with our share.

Bahram II was met with considerable challenges during his reign.

Bahram II invaded Mesopotamia while Bahram II was in the east, and even besieged the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon without much fighting.

Bahram II's motive was to strengthen Sasanian authority in the Caucasus and utilize the position of the Iberian capital Mtskheta as an entrance to the important passes through the Caucasus Mountains.

Bahram II sent one of his grandees named Mirvanoz to the country in order to act as the guardian of Mirian III, who was then aged seven.

Bahram II saw him as his mentor, and handed out several honors to him, giving him the rank of grandee, and appointing him as the supreme judge of the whole empire, which implies that thenceforth priests were given the office of judge.

Bahram II is the first shah to have wings on his crown, which refers to the wings of the god's bird, Verethragna.

Bahram II is the first and only shah to have a woman illustrated on his coins, apart from the 7th-century Sasanian queen Boran.

Military wise Bahram II was more successful, putting an end to the disturbances in Khuzestan and the east, and repelling the Romans from Mesopotamia.