23 Facts About Hormuzan

Hormuzan was a Persian aristocrat who served as the governor of Khuzestan, and was one of the Sasanian military officers at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah.

Hormuzan was later taken prisoner by the Muslims after the fall of Shushtar in 642.

Hormuzan was a wealthy aristocrat native to Mihragan-kadag, a district in Media, and belonged to one of the seven Parthian clans of the Sasanian Empire.

Hormuzan had a brother named Shahriyar, who was the governor of Susa.

Hormuzan ruled his birthplace Mihragan-kadag as a part of his family domain, and all of Khuzistan, one of the richest provinces of the Sasanian Empire.

Hormuzan is first mentioned in 609 as one of the Sasanian officers who participated in the Battle of Dhi Qar.

Hormuzan managed to survive, and along with Nakhiragan, Mihran Razi and Piruz Khosrow, including the rest of the survivors, regrouped at Bavel, where they tried to repel the Arab army, but were defeated.

Hormuzan then fled to Hormizd-Ardashir in Khuzestan, which he used as his base in his raids in Meshan against the Arabs.

Hormuzan then withdrew to Hormizd-Ardashir, where he chose to stay in case the Arabs should invade his domains.

Hormuzan continued his raids into Meshan and began raiding Iraq.

Hormuzan repelled the Kurds who had been making incursions into Pars and Khuzestan.

Hormuzan shortly clashed with an Arab army to the west of Hormizd-Ardashir, but was easily defeated and thus retreated back to the city, where he sued for peace.

Hormuzan fled to Ram-Hormizd, and sought a peace treaty, which he was granted in return for tribute.

Sometime later in 641, after a defeat at Ram-Hormizd, Hormuzan fled to Shushtar, and was defeated near the city, which cost him the lives of 900 of his men, while 600 were captured and would later be executed.

Fortunately for Hormuzan, Shushtar was well fortified due to the rivers and canals that surrounded it on almost all sides.

Hormuzan then retreated to the citadel and continued his resistance.

The surviving men of Hormuzan who were in citadel along with him, killed their own family members and threw their property into the river rather than let the Arabs take them.

The brother of Hormuzan, Shahriyar, is said to have been a part of the Asawira.

Nevertheless, it is known that Hormuzan was after his surrender taken by the Arabs and brought to their capital Medina.

Hormuzan, on obtaining an audience, pretended thirst and asked for a cup of water, which was given him; he then looked suspiciously around, as if he expected to be stabbed while drinking.

At that point Hormuzan asked for some water, claiming that it would be cruel to kill him while thirsty.

Immediately afterwards, Hormuzan converted to Islam, explaining that he had not wanted it said that he'd converted for fear of death.

However, in 644, Hormuzan was killed by Umar's son Ubayd Allah, after an involvement in a plot which killed Umar.