Episodes
The Sassanian Royal Road: Trade, War, and Empire
Before the Silk Road, before the Pony Express, the Sassanian Empire built a royal road network that held their realm together. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the routes from Ctesiphon to the frontiers, the rest-houses called virag, the mounted couriers who galloped between them, and the tolls that funded it all. They follow a caravan of Bactrian camels hauling silk and spices across the Iranian plateau, and a royal messenger racing a declaration of war from the king to the army commander…
The Sassanian Game of Polo: Royal Sport and Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore polo's deep roots in Sassanian Persia, a sport that was far more than aristocratic entertainment. From its probable origins among Central Asian horsemen to its codification at the Sassanian court, polo was a display of cavalry skill, a mirror of military tactics, and a stage for royal drama. They trace the game's evolution through the reigns of Shapur II and Khosrow II Parviz, examining how the sport reinforced class hierarchies, sharpened the savaran's…
The Sassanian Fire Temples: Where Flame Met Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Sassanian Empire's sacred fires were not just religious symbols but the administrative skeleton of a state. From the three Great Fires — Adur Farnbag, Adur Gushnasp, and Adur Burzen-Mihr — to the meticulous protocols of the mobads and the terrifying trial by fire, we trace how fire defined Persian identity for four centuries. We learn how Shapur I used fire temples to legitimize his rule after defeating Rome, how Khosrow I balanced Zoroastrian…
The Sassanian Siege of Amida: 73 Days in 359 CE
In 359 CE, Shapur II's army shattered a fortress city in Roman Mesopotamia. The siege of Amida was a 73-day ordeal of sappers, elephants, and a Roman deserter's warning. This episode takes you inside the walls with Ammianus Marcellinus, the Roman historian who survived the fall and left us the most vivid account of Sassanian warfare ever written. We walk through the desperate defense, the failed relief efforts, the monstrous siege engines, and the final night assault that broke the gates. We…
The Sassanian Empire's War Elephants: Beasts of Battle
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the role of war elephants in the Sassanian Empire, from their origins in Indian military tactics to their deployment on the battlefields of the ancient world. They discuss how the Sassanians acquired and trained these formidable animals, the logistics of maintaining them, and their psychological impact on enemies. The conversation covers key battles like the Battle of Carrhae and the Siege of Edessa, and touches on their decline in…
The Sassanian Empire's Last Stand: The Battle of Nahavand
In 642 CE, the Sassanian Empire faced its final major battle against the Arab Muslim forces at Nahavand, a name that would echo through Persian memory as 'the Victory of Victories' for the conquerors and a devastating blow for the Persians. This episode tells the story of that battle, its aftermath, and the collapse of a 400-year-old empire. We follow the young king Yazdegerd III, the spahbed Piruz Khosrow, and the fateful decisions that led to the empire's last stand. We explore the tactics…
The Sassanian Hunt: Royal Lions, Hawking, and the Hunt as Power
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the Sassanian royal hunt — a spectacle of power, skill, and divine favor. From the great lion hunts immortalized in silver plates and rock reliefs to the falconry that adorned the courts of Khosrow I and Khosrow II, the hunt was more than sport; it was a display of the Shahanshah's mastery over nature and his claim to the khvarenah, the royal glory. Lucas digs into the evidence: the Taq-e Bostan reliefs showing a king hunting boar and…
The Quiet Century: Sassanian-Roman Diplomacy After Shapur
Between the great wars of Shapur I and the devastating campaigns of Khosrow I, the Sassanian Empire and Rome spent nearly a century in uneasy peace. This episode follows the diplomats, hostages, and marriage alliances that kept the Euphrates frontier stable — until the Sasanian king Narseh gambled it all away at the Battle of Satala in 298. We look at the Treaty of Nisibis, the fate of the Roman hostage prince Galerius, and how the young king Shapur II grew up in a world where the two…
The Last Fire: The Sasanian Collapse at al-Qadisiyya
In 636, the Sasanian Empire faced its most decisive battle at al-Qadisiyya. This episode follows the lead-up to that clash, the rivalries within the Persian high command, and the fatal mistakes that led to the empire's unraveling. Lucas and Luna discuss the weakness of Yazdegerd III's court, the role of Rostam Farrokhzad, the strategic importance of the Euphrates crossing, and the cavalry tactics that had once made the savaran feared. They also consider how internal strife, religious tension…
The Last Sassanian King: Yazdegerd III's Flight
In this episode, we follow the tragic final years of Yazdegerd III, the last king of the Sassanian Empire, whose reign was consumed by the Arab-Muslim conquests. From his hurried coronation at Ctesiphon to the crushing defeat at the Battle of Qadisiyya, we trace his desperate flight eastward, the shifting loyalties of his nobles, and the crumbling of Eranshahr. We also explore his son Peroz III's exile in Tang China and the strange afterlife of the Sassanian court in the East — a story that…
The Sassanian Postal System: Riders, Roads, and Empire
Before the Pony Express, before the Inca chasquis, the Sassanian Empire ran one of the most efficient postal networks in antiquity. This episode explores the angarium, the imperial courier service that let Khosrow I send orders from Ctesiphon to the far reaches of Eranshahr in days, not weeks. We trace the roads, the relay stations, the horses, and the riders who kept the empire's veins pumping. We talk about the āvārān, the official pass that authorized travel, and the virag, the courier who…
The Sasanian Mint: Coins, Propaganda, and the Economy of an Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Sasanian mint, the empire's sophisticated monetary system that underpinned its economy and projected its power. They follow the journey of a silver drachm from the royal mines to the bustling markets of Ctesiphon, examining how each coin carried the image of the shahanshah and the sacred fire of Ahura Mazda, reinforcing the legitimacy of the dynasty. The conversation traces the reforms of Khosrow I Anushirvan, who standardized the weight of the drachm…
The Sassanian Empire's Silk Road Legacy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Sassanian Empire controlled the Silk Road, shaping trade between East and West. They discuss the diplomatic missions to China, the Sogdian merchants who dominated commerce, and the strategic cities like Ctesiphon and Merv. The conversation covers the state's role in regulating trade, the goods exchanged—from silk and spices to horses and glass—and the cultural exchange that followed, including the spread of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. They also…
Shapur I's Rock Reliefs: Sassanian Propaganda in Stone
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore how the Sassanian king Shapur I used monumental rock reliefs to project power, commemorate victories, and shape his legacy. They discuss the famous reliefs at Bishapur and Naqsh-e Rostam, including the triumph over Emperor Valerian, the depiction of Roman emperors kneeling before him, and the trilingual inscription at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht. The conversation weaves in the political context, the art of propaganda, and the reliefs' role in…
The Sound of Sassanian Persia: Music in the Court of Kings
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna journey into the forgotten soundscape of Sassanian Persia. From the court of Khosrow II Parviz to the verses of the Shahnameh, they explore the role of music in Zoroastrian ritual, royal celebrations, and the legendary musicians Barbad and Nakisa. Discover how the Sassanians developed a sophisticated musical system, how stringed instruments like the barbat and chang were played, and how the tradition influenced later Islamic and Central Asian…
The Sassanian Postal System: Riders, Roads, and Empire
Long before the Pony Express, the Sassanian Empire ran one of the ancient world's most sophisticated postal networks. In this episode, Lucas and Luna follow the royal couriers who galloped across Eranshahr, carrying sealed dispatches from Ctesiphon to the far corners of Persia. We trace the system's origins back to the Achaemenid angarium, see how Shapur I expanded it after his campaigns against Rome, and hear how Khosrow I's reforms tied the postal relays to his tax collection and intelligence…
The Great Fire of Ctesiphon and the Sassanian Religious Architecture
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of fire temples and sacred architecture in the Sassanian Empire, focusing on the Great Fire of Ctesiphon, the Adur Burzen-Mihr, and the political symbolism of royal fires. They discuss how the Sassanian kings used religious monuments to legitimize their rule, the connection between fire and kingship, and the architectural legacy that influenced later Islamic buildings. Along the way, they touch on the role of the mobads, the concept of khvarenah…
Ctesiphon: The Sprawling Sassanian Capital on the Tigris
Ctesiphon was no ordinary capital. For over four centuries it served as the beating heart of the Sassanian Empire, a sprawling metropolis stretching along the Tigris River that dwarfed Rome and Constantinople. This episode follows the city's rise from a Parthian outpost to a global hub of trade, faith, and power. We walk the halls of the Taq-e Kasra, the grand arched palace that still stands today, and meet the merchants, magi, and monarchs who shaped its destiny. From its multi-ethnic…
Ardashir I and the Battle of Hormozdgan: Founding the Sassanian Empire
This episode goes back to the very beginning of the Sassanian Empire: the rise of Ardashir I. We trace his journey from a vassal king in Persis to the rebel who defeated the last Parthian shah, Artabanus IV, at the Battle of Hormozdgan in 224 AD. Lucas explains how Ardashir claimed descent from the Achaemenids, revived the title Shahanshah, and built the ideological and political foundations of Eranshahr—the Empire of Iranians. We look at his religious reforms, the construction of his new…
Mazdakite Movement: Social Revolution in Sassanian Persia
In the late 5th century, a Zoroastrian priest named Mazdak sparked a radical social movement in Sassanian Persia, preaching communal property, free love, and an end to inequality. King Qobad I embraced the teachings, leading to chaos and a noble revolt. When Khosrow I came to power, he brutally suppressed the Mazdakites but adopted some of their ideas in his famous reforms. This episode explores the origins, doctrines, and legacy of the Mazdakite movement, drawing on sources like al-Tabari and…
Gundeshapur The Sassanian Academy That Shaped Medieval Medicine
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise and legacy of Gundeshapur, the Sassanian Empire's great academy and medical center. Founded by Shapur I and expanded by Shapur II, it flourished under Khosrow I Anushirvan, becoming a hub for Nestorian Christian physicians, translators of Greek and Indian texts, and the birthplace of the teaching hospital. We discuss the Bokehtisho family, the bimaristan, and how Gundeshapur's blend of Persian, Greek, and Syriac knowledge influenced the later…
The King's Game: How Chess Came to the Sassanian Court
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the arrival of the ancient Indian game of chess—chatrang—at the court of Khosrow I Anushirvan. Drawing on the Persian epic Shahnameh and the Middle Persian work Wuzurgmihr's Explanation of Chess, they unpack the legendary story of an Indian embassy bearing a game meant to test Sassanian wisdom. They discuss how the game was adapted, renamed, and embedded into Sassanian courtly life, and how board games like chess reflected the empire's…
The Two Queens of Sassanian Persia Boran and Azarmidokht
In the final, desperate years of the Sassanian Empire, two women briefly sat on the throne of Eranshahr: Boran and Azarmidokht, daughters of Khosrow II Parviz. This episode explores their remarkable yet tragic reigns amid civil war, plague, and the looming Arab conquest. We follow Boran's efforts to restore the shattered savaran cavalry, her tax reforms, and the coinage bearing her image as Shahbanu. Then we turn to Azarmidokht's short, violent rule and her death at the hands of the spahbed…
Sassanian Silk Road Merchants and Maritime Trade
Beyond its famous armies and rock reliefs, the Sasanian Empire was the commercial linchpin of the ancient world. This episode follows the flow of silk, spices, and ideas across the Sasanian realm—from the caravanserais of the Silk Road to the bustling ports of the Persian Gulf. Lucas and Luna explore the state-backed network of royal merchants (the wāzārbed), the silver dirhams that greased trade from China to Byzantium, and the Sogdian middlemen who carried Sasanian goods to the far east. They…
Shirin: The Christian Queen of Sassanian Persia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Shirin, the Christian wife of Khosrow II Parviz, one of the most powerful Sassanian shahs. Shirin was not merely a queen consort; she wielded significant political influence, particularly in matters of religion and succession. Born a Christian in Beth Aramaye (modern-day Iraq), she became a patron of the Church of the East and was deeply involved in court politics. Her story, immortalized in Persian poetry and the Shahnameh…
Khosrow I Anushirvan: The Reformer King of Sassanian Persia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the transformative reign of Khosrow I Anushirvan (531–579 CE), the Sassanian shah who rebuilt Persia after the Mazdakite uprising. They unpack his sweeping tax reforms, which replaced arbitrary levies with a fixed land tax and a poll tax, funding a standing army of elite savaran cavalry. They discuss his construction of the Great Wall of Gorgan, his war with the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and his patronage of the Academy of Gundeshapur—a center of…
The Siege of Jerusalem 614: Persia Captures the True Cross
In 614 AD, a Sassanian army under the general Shahrbaraz laid siege to Jerusalem, broke through the walls, and carried off what Christians believed was the very cross of Jesus. This episode unpacks the dramatic capture of the True Cross during the reign of Khosrow II Parviz, placing it within the larger Byzantine-Sassanian war that began with the murder of Emperor Maurice. Lucas and Luna trace the campaign from the Persian conquest of Syria and Palestine through the three-week siege, the role…
Kartir and the Zoroastrian Church: Persia's High Priest
This episode of Fexingo History zooms in on Kartir, the powerful high priest (mobad) who shaped Sassanian religious orthodoxy under Shapur I and his successors. We explore Kartir's role in persecuting Manichaeism, Christianity, and Buddhism, his monumental inscriptions at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht, and his famous vision of the afterlife. Learn how Kartir centralized Zoroastrianism, suppressed dissent, and left a lasting imprint on Eranshahr. A deep dive into the forgotten architect of Sassanian state…
Peroz I and the Hephthalite Trap
In 484 CE, the Sassanian Shahanshah Peroz I marched east to crush the Hephthalite Empire, the so-called White Huns. Instead, he walked into a fatal ambush near Herat. His death and the massive tribute that followed plunged Eranshahr into crisis, leading to the rise of the Mazdakite movement and the eventual reforms of Khosrow I. This episode explores Peroz's reckless ambition, the Hephthalite strategy that lured him into a fake retreat, and how the horror of a Shah captured and killed by nomads…
The Book of a Thousand Judgments: Sassanian Law and Justice
The Sassanian Empire is famous for its rock reliefs, heavy cavalry, and epic wars with Rome, but its legal system was just as sophisticated. This episode explores the Mādayān ī Hazār Dādestān (Book of a Thousand Judgments), a sixth-century collection of real legal cases that reveals how Zoroastrian principles shaped Sassanian justice. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the mobad (priest-judge), key legal concepts like inheritance and contracts, and how the law enforced religious orthodoxy. They…
Yazdegerd III and the Fall of Sassanian Persia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the tragic final years of the Sassanian Empire through the story of its last Shahanshah, Yazdegerd III. Crowned as a child in 632 CE, he inherited a realm shattered by decades of war with Byzantium, internal revolt, and the sudden rise of the Arab Muslim armies from the south. We trace his flight from Ctesiphon to Merv, the pivotal battles of al-Qadisiyyah (636) and Nihavand (642), and the slow disintegration of Eranshahr. We meet figures like the great…
The Battle of Dara: Sassanian Persia's Military Masterstroke
In 530 CE, on the plains of northern Mesopotamia, the Sassanian Empire and the Byzantine Empire clashed in a battle that would reshape the balance of power in the ancient world. The Battle of Dara was not just another frontier skirmish—it was a carefully orchestrated confrontation between two superpowers, led by generals who would become legends: Belisarius for Rome, and Perozes for Persia. This episode unpacks the tactical brilliance, the political stakes, and the brutal reality of the…
Bahram V Gur: Sassanian Persia's Legendary Hunter King
This episode dives into the reign of Bahram V Gur (420–438 CE), the Sassanian shah immortalized in Persian poetry and folklore as the hunter-king. We trace his contested succession after the murder of his father Yazdegerd I, the role of the Arab client king al-Mundhir, and his legendary skill with the bow. But beyond the tales—Bahram V's wars with the Byzantine Empire, the persecution of Christians under the magi, and his patronage of music and poetry that shaped the Shahnameh. We also explore…
Narses: The Sassanian King Who Defeated Rome and Defied Zoroastrian Orthodoxy
Episode 174 dives into the reign of Narses (r. 293–302 CE), one of the Sassanian Empire's most underrated shahs. After a palace coup overthrew his grandnephew, Narses seized the throne and immediately faced Rome. His 297 victory over Galerius at Callinicum was a stunning success, but the 298 Battle of Satala was a catastrophic defeat, forcing Narses to cede five provinces in the Treaty of Nisibis. Yet Narses also defied the powerful Zoroastrian magi, promoting religious tolerance and appointing…
The Fall of Hatra: Sassanian Persia's Mesopotamian Triumph
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic siege of Hatra—a wealthy, heavily fortified caravan city in Mesopotamia that defied both Romans and Parthians for centuries. They dive into how Ardashir I and his son Shapur I finally captured it around 240 AD, using a combination of siegecraft, deception, and possibly betrayal from within. The conversation covers the city's unique blend of Arab, Parthian, and Hellenistic cultures, the role of its goddess Allat, and how the…
Hormizd IV: The Sassanian Shah Who Trusted Commoners Over Nobles
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the controversial reign of Hormizd IV, the Sassanian shah who broke with centuries of tradition by elevating commoners over the powerful savaran aristocracy. After his father Khosrow I's massive reforms, Hormizd faced a delicate balancing act: maintain the military might of the dehqan class while curbing the influence of the old noble houses. His decision to appoint the low-born Vahram-i-Mah-Adhar as Spahbed and his refusal to persecute…
Shapur II and the Mass Deportation That Reshaped Persia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most transformative and brutal policies of the Sassanian Empire: the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war under Shapur II. After decades of war with Rome, Shapur II depopulated entire regions of the eastern Roman Empire and resettled their people across Persia — in Khuzestan, Asorestan, and the new royal city of Eranshahr-Shapur. We look at the mechanics of these deportations, the fate of the deportees, and the…
Yazdegerd I: The Sassanian Shah Who Defied the Magi
In this episode of the Sassanian Empire series, Lucas and Luna explore the controversial reign of Yazdegerd I (399–420 CE), known to posterity as 'the Sinner' for his fierce conflicts with the Zoroastrian priestly class. Unlike his predecessors, Yazdegerd pursued a policy of religious toleration, protecting Christian communities and even entering into diplomatic correspondence with the Eastern Roman emperor Arcadius. But his leniency toward Christians and his attempts to curb the power of the…
Shapur I's Three Roman Emperors: Gordian, Philip, Valerian
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Shapur I, the second Sassanian shah, captured three Roman emperors in rapid succession—Gordian III, Philip the Arab, and Valerian. They unpack the rock reliefs of Naqsh-e Rostam and Bishapur, where Shapur carved his triumphs in stone alongside his inscription, the Res Gestae Divi Saporis. The conversation delves into the Battle of Misiche in 244 CE, where Gordian died under mysterious circumstances; the forced treaty with Philip; and the unprecedented…
Shapur I's Rock Reliefs: Persian Propaganda Carved in Stone
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the monumental rock reliefs of Shapur I, the second Sassanian shah, who carved his triumphs into the cliffs of Naqsh-e Rostam and Bishapur. They discuss the famous scene of Roman emperors Gordian III, Philip the Arab, and Valerian kneeling before the Persian king, the trilingual inscription known as the Res Gestae Divi Saporis, and how these artworks served as political propaganda and expressions of Zoroastrian divine favor. The conversation also touches…
Kavadh I and the Mazdakite Uprising That Shook Sassanian Persia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of Kavadh I, the Sassanian shah whose alliance with the radical Mazdakite movement nearly tore the empire apart. We examine how Kavadh, a hostage raised among the Hephthalites, returned to claim the throne and faced a nobility resistant to his reforms. His support for Mazdak's egalitarian and communalist ideas—opposed by the Zoroastrian clergy and aristocratic savaran—led to his deposition and imprisonment in the 'Prison of Oblivion' in…
Shapur I and the Rock Reliefs of Power
Lucas and Luna explore how the Sassanian shah Shapur I used monumental rock reliefs across Iran to broadcast his military victories, divine legitimacy, and imperial ideology. They discuss the reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam and Bishapur, showing Shapur's triumphs over Roman emperors Gordian III, Philip the Arab, and Valerian. The conversation covers the inscriptions accompanying the reliefs, including the Res Gestae Divi Saporis in Middle Persian, Parthian, and Greek, which list the cities and…
Shapur II and the Longest War of Sassanian Persia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the epic 40-year conflict between Shapur II of the Sassanian Empire and the Roman Empire—a war that shaped the fate of the ancient Middle East. They dive into Shapur II's childhood as an unborn king crowned in utero, his brutal siege of the Roman fortress of Singara, and the dramatic failure of Emperor Julian's invasion of Persia in 363 CE. Along the way, they discuss the role of Sasanian heavy cavalry, the savaran, and the Zoroastrian concept of…
Ardashir I's Revolution: How Sassanian Persia Broke with the Parthian Past
Episode 164 of the Sassanian Empire series zeroes in on Ardashir I not just as a conqueror but as a deliberate revolutionary. We explore how the first Shahanshah systematically dismantled Parthian institutions—erasing Arsacid memory from coinage, fire temples, and royal inscriptions—while inventing a new imperial ideology that fused Zoroastrian orthodoxy with Achaemenid nostalgia. Lucas and Luna walk through the evidence at Naqsh-e Rostam, compare Ardashir's titulature with that of his Parthian…
Ardashir I: How the First Sassanian Shah Built an Empire
Before Khosrow, before Ctesiphon, before the wars with Rome—there was Ardashir I, the founder of the Sassanian Empire. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a local Persian vassal king from Istakhr overthrew the Parthian Arsacids and built a new imperial ideology rooted in Zoroastrian faith and Achaemenid nostalgia. They follow Ardashir's rebellion against Artabanus IV, the decisive Battle of Hormozdgan in 224 CE, and the creation of Eranshahr—the 'Empire of the Iranians.' Along the way…
The Sassanian Empire's Royal Hunt: Power and Khvarenah
Lucas and Luna explore the significance of royal hunting in the Sassanian Empire, moving beyond mere sport to uncover its deep ties to Zoroastrian kingship, divine legitimacy (khvarenah), and military training. They discuss the grand hunting parks (paradeisoi), the iconic rock reliefs at Taq-e Bostan depicting Khosrow II's boar and stag hunts, and the symbolic meaning of the hunt as a display of the shah's ability to maintain cosmic order against evil. The episode also touches on the influence…
Khosrow I and the Silk Road: Sassanian Persia's Economic Power
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Khosrow I Anushirvan transformed the Sassanian Empire into an economic powerhouse by securing the Silk Road trade routes. They discuss his campaigns against the Hephthalites, his alliances with the Göktürks, and the rise of Merv as a commercial hub. The conversation covers the role of Sogdian merchants, the tribute system with Byzantium, and how the Silk Road funded Khosrow's reforms. Lucas explains the administrative changes that allowed the empire…
Khosrow I and the Mazdakite Crisis
In the late 5th and early 6th centuries, the Sassanian Empire faced an existential threat—not from Rome or the Hephthalites, but from within: the Mazdakite movement. Led by the reformer Mazdak, this religious-social uprising demanded communal property, including wives, and attracted widespread support among the peasantry and lower nobility. The crisis culminated in a bloody massacre of Mazdakites in 528 or 529, orchestrated by the future Khosrow I Anushirvan. Lucas and Luna explore how Khosrow…
Khosrow II's Asian Campaigns: Sassanian Persia's Eastern Frontier
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Sassanian Empire's often-overlooked eastern frontier under Khosrow II Parviz. They discuss the campaigns against the Hephthalites, the Göktürk alliance, and the strategic importance of Merv and Nishapur. The conversation delves into the role of the savaran cavalry, the political dynamics with the Hephthalite kingdom, and how the eastern campaigns drained resources that later contributed to the empire's vulnerability against the Byzantines and Arabs.…
Khosrow I and the Universal Peace of 532
In 532 CE, after decades of war, the Sassanian shah Khosrow I Anushirvan and the Byzantine emperor Justinian agreed to an 'Eternal Peace' that would last only eight years. But in those eight years, both empires pivoted to other fronts — Justinian reconquered North Africa and Italy, while Khosrow crushed the Hephthalites in the east and reformed the Sassanian state. This episode dives into the diplomacy, the brinkmanship, and the strategic calculations behind the treaty: what each side gave up…
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