Yazdjurd

Yazdjurd in history

Yazdjurd, the last of the Sassanid emperors of Persia is one of the most tragic figures of human history. He was born under an unlucky star; misfortune dogged his steps through out his life. He died young at the age of forty-one. For the first half of his life, he had to live in hiding as an exile. For the second half of his life, though a king in name, he had to run for life from pillar to post, and post to pillar. His death took place under tragic circumstances. He fell a victim to the treachery and disloyalty of his own people. His people even did not allow him a burial.

Chosroes Parwez

Yazdjurd's grandfather was Chosroes Parwez. He was a mighty monarch and during his reign the Sassanids were at the helm of their power. Parwez built a fabulous palace for his favorite Christian wife Shirin, and around it he created an earthly paradise. The name of Shirin is associated with the well known romance of Shirin and Farhad. Historical research has now established that the story of the love affair of Shirin and Farhad is mere fiction which has no founding in fact. Parwez had three thousand women in his harem. He had eighteen children. The eldest boy of these was Shahryar, born of his favorite wife Shirin.

Prediction of the astrologers

The court astrologers predicted that one of his sons would have a son at whose hands the Sassanian empire would come to grief, and Persia would become subject to foreign rule. Parwez felt much perturbed at this prediction. he placed a sexual embargo on his sons and decreed that none of them was to marry. His sons chafed at this decree. Shahryar his eldest son was secretly married by Shirin to a beautiful girl of a noble family. Of this union a son was born who was named Yazdjurd. The birth of the prince was kept a guarded secret.

Restoration and exile of Yazdjurd

Five years passed away and by that time Parwez had forgotten all about the prediction. Availing of the opportunity, Shirin told him about the birth of a grandson. He expressed the desire to see the child. The child was brought and Parwez became fond of him. After some time Parwez recalled the prediction and decided to kill the child. Shirin pleaded for the life of the child. Parwez ultimately agreed to spare the life of the child, provided he was exiled away from the court. Yazdjurd was accordingly exiled to Seestan.

Enthronement of Yazdjurd

Eleven years later, Parwez was overthrown by his second son Sheeruya. Parwez was first put in the dungeon, and later blinded and killed. Sheeruya had all royal princes killed except his son Ardsheer. As Yazdjurd remained in hiding, he escaped from the massacre. To avoid discovery, Yazdjurd moved from Seestan to Persepolis. Sheeruya the regicide could hold the throne for a short period of six months only. He was succeeded by his son Ardsheer who also ruled for a short time. Thereafter there was a succession of some princesses. Their rule was also short-lived. In the absence of any other prince, Yazdjurd was discovered and crowned in 632 C.E. He was a young man of twenty-one at the time.

Misfortunes of Yazdjurd

At the outset of his reign misfortune stalked the footsteps of Yazdjurd. He came to power at the time when the Muslims were poised to burst across the horizon, and embark on their career of conquests. In 633 C.E. the Muslims under Khalid b Walid conquered a greater part of Iraq then under Persian rule.

When Khalid b Walid was transferred to the Syrian front, the Persians were able to recapture most of their territories in Iraq. Under Umar, the Muslims once again launched the attack against the Persians. At the battle of Qadissiyia in 636 C.E. the Persians suffered a decisive defeat. This battle marked the beginning of the end of the Sassanian empire. Yazdjurd vacated Madain the capital of the Persians in Iraq. The Persians suffered another defeat at the battle of Jalula. Thereafter Yazdjurd fell back on Isfahan. The Persians met another reverse at the battle of Nihawand. This battle decided the fate of Persia and Yazdjurd. By 642 C.E. it was clear that the days of the Sassanian empire were numbered and it could not survive.

After the battle of Nihawand the Muslims advanced to Isfahan, and Yazdjurd left for Rayy. At Rayy he realised that the Governor was disloyal to him. With a few followers, Yazdjurd left for Persepolis.

In 643 C.E. the Muslims invaded Fars, Yazdjurd left Persepolis for Kirman. When the Muslims captured Kirman, Yazdjurd fled to Seestan. When the Muslims continued their pursuit and overpowered Seestan, Yazdjurd fled to Merv.

His overwhelming misfortunes made his people lose confidence in his leadership. The people of Merv wanted him to make peace with the Muslims and thereby save whatever little was left of the empire. To this course he did not agree. The people of Merv seized his treasure and drove him away from the city.

The Battle of Merv

Yazdjurd crossed the Oxus and sought refuge with the Khaqan of Farghana. After the death of Umar, the Persians revolted against the Muslims and a greater part of Persia was lost to the Muslims. Availing of this opportunity, Yazdjurd with the help of a Turkish force reoccupied Merv.

Conspiracy against Yazdjurd

In spite of the reoccupation of Merv, Yazdjurd was not able to have a firm hold on administration. Neizak Tarkhan was the strongest and the most powerful chief in Khurasan, and when Yazdjurd wanted to win him over to his side, Neizak demanded that Yazdjurd should marry one of his daughters to him. Yazdjurd considered such demand to be an affront, and he gave a rude reply to Neizak. Thereupon Neizak led a force against Yazdjurd. Mahrweih the Governor of Merv was won over by Neizak. When the battle was at its thickest, and the forces of the Shah appeared to have the upper hand, Mahrweih with a large detachment crossed over to the side of Neizak. That turned the tide of the battle. The forces loyal to Yazdjurd fought heroically, but they were outnumbered, and were soon overpowered.

Death of Yazdjurd

When after his defeat, Yazdjurd wanted to retreat to Merv, he found the gates of the city closed against him. Abandoned by all, Yazdjurd fled to the countryside and sought shelter in a miller's hut. Yazdjurd sent the miller to the market to get some food for him. There he told some of the persons about his guest. The intelligence was carried to Mahrweih the Governor of Merv. He sent a small force to the miller's hut to cut off the head of the guest of the miller who was none other than Yazdjurd. When the force reached the miller's hut, Yazdjurd was identified, and the commander of the force ordered his head to be cut off. Yazdjurd pleaded in vain for mercy. His head was cut off and taken to the Governor. The headless body was thrown in the river Murghab. The dead body was found in the river by some Christian monks. They carried it to the Christian graveyard at Merv and buried it there. That was the end of Yazdjurd, and the Sassanian empire. Thus the prediction of the astrologers of the court of Chosroes Parwez was duly fulfilled.