Shapur III

In recent literature, it is often said that in the year 379 , when Shapur II died, his son Shapur III was still young (that is, he had not reached the age of fifteen). However, Ammianus Marcellinus mentions that during the campaign of Julian the Apostate in 363, the king’s son commanded one of the Persian troops ^[1] ; who it was is unclear (it could be the future Artashir II ), but if it is Shapur III, it is not necessary to talk about his infancy in 379 .

In 383, his predecessor on the throne of Artashir II as a result of a conspiracy of the nobility was removed and the throne was occupied by Shapur III. At-Tabari characterizes him as a just and gracious sovereign:

“Then Shapur, the son of Shapur the Plestrous , the son of Hormuzd , the son of Nars , began to reign. Citizens rejoiced at this, as well as the fact that the kingdom of his father returned to him. He very well went to meet them and wrote to his governors that they would lead a good lifestyle and be condescending to subjects. He gave similar orders to his veziers, scribes, and close associates, and addressed them with a convincing speech about the same. He was invariably fair and merciful to his subjects, since their affection, love and humility were obvious. His deposed uncle Ardashir humbled himself before him and expressed his humility to him. ” ^[2]

By the time Artashir II was displaced, Rome and Iran were at war, and in 384 the Persians besieged Edessa . But by 387, peace was concluded between the Roman Empire and the Persians, and Shapur III sent a lot of silk as a gift to Emperor Theodosius I. Apparently, one of the consequences of normalizing relations with the western neighbor was soft policy towards Christians. Chronicle of Seert says: "He freed the Christians from the dungeon and said: I freed them from the dungeon, and they will pay the haraj , which will be more useful to the kingdom than their dungeons." ^[3]

Under Shapur III, Armenia finally lost its state independence, whose lands were divided among themselves by the Romans and Persians . The outskirts of Armenia were torn away from it and annexed to the Roman Empire and Iran, and the rest of the territory, the so-called "Middle Country", was also divided, but in both parts it continued to be ruled by vassal kings, dependent respectively on Rome and Persia: 4/5 went to Persia, 1/5 - Rome. The border passed through Karin (under the rule of the Roman Empire) and Nisibin (under the rule of Iran). ^[4] In order to reduce the ideological influence of the Eastern Romans on the Armenians, it was forbidden to use Greek for worship and official writing in the territory of Persian Armenia. This stimulated the emergence of the Armenian alphabet , which later (at the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries) was invented by Mesrop Mashtots . ^[five]

Firdousi wrote that Shapur III died from a hunting accident - a pillar supporting the roof of the tent, a strong gust of wind hit the shah directly on his head. It is possible that this catastrophe was not accidental - the lord could pay for having taxed to know what had not been practiced before. At-Tabari directly says that the nobles specially cut the ropes supporting the tent. ^{[2] [6]}

Shapur III ruled 5 years and 4 months. ^{[7] [8]}

• Dashkov S. B. Kings of kings - Sassanids. History of Iran III - VII centuries. in legends, historical chronicles and modern research. - M .: Media-ASIA, 2008 .-- 352 p. - 4000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-91660-001-8 .

• Supor // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.