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Zamasp: the king between his brother’s two reigns
Zamasp (Jāmāsp), son of Peroz, was made king when the nobles and priests deposed his brother Kavad. Three years later, when Kavad came back with Hephthalite troops, Zamasp did not fight and gave up the crown.
- years of reign
- 3
Map: the reign of Zamasp
Administration & economy496 CE (or early 497 CE)1 of 3
Raised to the throne
A rising of nobles and priests, angered by social and religious changes, deposed and imprisoned Kavad and made Zamasp king of kings. Agathias says he was chosen for his calm and fair disposition.
Certainty: Secure (contemporary source)
Sources: J. K. Choksy, Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2008 · N. Schindel, Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2013
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Three separate layers
Each section has three layers: “Historical evidence” is only what the sources say; “Philosophical interpretation” is our reading by the standard of property and liberty; “Modern cultural meaning”. Quotations come only from published translations, with references.
Historical evidencePhilosophical interpretationModern cultural meaning
Dossier · 1
Three years in a time of turmoil
Before Zamasp’s reign Mazdakite influence was growing, Arab tribes raided Asōristān, the Armenians were in revolt and relations with Rome were worsening. Famine also brought hardship. His coins give his name as “Jām”, and his reign standardized the regnal-year notation on coin reverses. No gold coin of his is known.
Choksy suggests the lack of gold coins may reflect a shortage of bullion in hard times. Ṭabari wrongly gives him six years. The name “Jām” may have linked him with Jamšid; that too is Choksy’s guess.
A king the nobles chose to calm the realm stepped aside three years later without a fight. Refusing civil war, whatever the motive, spared many lives. This is our reading.
Sources: J. K. Choksy, Encyclopaedia Iranica · N. Schindel, Encyclopaedia Iranica
Synthesis
Zamasp reigned for three years between his brother Kavad’s two reigns. The sources call him calm and kind. Whether he was pardoned, blinded or killed after Kavad’s return is disputed.
Bibliography
- J. K. Choksy, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Jāmāsp I: reign (2008). https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/jamasp-2/jamasp-i-reign/
- N. Schindel, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Kawād I: reign (2013). https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kawad-i-reign/
- Procopius, tr. H. B. Dewing (Loeb), History of the Wars 1.2–1.18 (1914). https://archive.org/details/procopius00procgoog
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