Difference between revisions of "Shapur I" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Shapur I''' was the second King of the [[Sassanid Empire|Second Persian Empire]]. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 241 - 272, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent (together with his father) prior to his father's death in 241. Shapur built on his father's successes, further extending and consolidating the empire. At the time, the [[Roman Empire]] was in chaos | + | '''Shapur I''' was the second King of the [[Sassanid Empire|Second Persian Empire]]. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 241 - 272, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent (together with his father) prior to his father's death in 241. Shapur built on his father's successes, further extending and consolidating the empire. At the time, the [[Roman Empire]] was in chaos; he took advantage of this to invade and conquer several eastern provinces, including [[Armenia]], parts of [[Syria]] and [[Anatolia]]. In 260, he famously defeated and captured the Emperor [[Valerian]], keeping him prisoner until his death. Shapur had little or no interest in holding on to the territories he conquered; he did, however, borrow their [[technology|technologies]] and used their people as labor to build new cities. His legacy is immortalized in rock carvings and inscriptions, especially his victory over Valeria. |
| − | + | Rome tried hard to revenge this but was never able to convincingly defeat the Sassanids. Their empire lasted through until the rise of the [[Islam|Muslim]] [[caliph|caliphate]]. The fact that Shapur was one of the very few men who humiliated the Romans may represent a positive historical legacy. This reminds the world that no single [[culture]] can claim to be superior to all others; in fact, Rome owed a considerable debt to the Sassanids as does the [[Europe|European]] space. For example, [[diplomacy]] and the existence of a [[knight|Knightly]] class owes much to Shapur's heirs. In an increasingly inter-dependent world, [[humanity]] will benefit most when people learn to value all cultures, to rejoice in the technical achievements of all people, to regard humanity as one [[family]], instead of restricting "human" to those whose image and beliefs mirror our own. | |
Revision as of 22:41, 23 February 2009
| Shapur I | ||
|---|---|---|
| "King of kings of Iran and Aniran" (Middle Persian: šāhān šāh ērān ud anērān) | ||
| 250px | ||
| Reign | 241 - 272 C.E. | |
| Coronation | 12 April 241 | |
| Born | c. 215 C.E. | |
| possibly Firuzabad | ||
| Died | 272 | |
| Bishapur | ||
| Buried | Unknown | |
| Predecessor | Ardeshir I | |
| Successor | Bahram I | |
| Royal House | Sasan | |
| Father | Ardeshir I | |
| Mother | Lady Myrōd | |
Shapur I was the second King of the Second Persian Empire. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 241 - 272, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent (together with his father) prior to his father's death in 241. Shapur built on his father's successes, further extending and consolidating the empire. At the time, the Roman Empire was in chaos; he took advantage of this to invade and conquer several eastern provinces, including Armenia, parts of Syria and Anatolia. In 260, he famously defeated and captured the Emperor Valerian, keeping him prisoner until his death. Shapur had little or no interest in holding on to the territories he conquered; he did, however, borrow their technologies and used their people as labor to build new cities. His legacy is immortalized in rock carvings and inscriptions, especially his victory over Valeria.
Rome tried hard to revenge this but was never able to convincingly defeat the Sassanids. Their empire lasted through until the rise of the Muslim caliphate. The fact that Shapur was one of the very few men who humiliated the Romans may represent a positive historical legacy. This reminds the world that no single culture can claim to be superior to all others; in fact, Rome owed a considerable debt to the Sassanids as does the European space. For example, diplomacy and the existence of a Knightly class owes much to Shapur's heirs. In an increasingly inter-dependent world, humanity will benefit most when people learn to value all cultures, to rejoice in the technical achievements of all people, to regard humanity as one family, instead of restricting "human" to those whose image and beliefs mirror our own.
Early years
Shapur was the son of Ardeshir I (r. 226–241), the founder of the Sassanid dynasty and whom Shapur succeeded. His mother was Lady Myrōd, according to legend was an Arsacid princess.[1]
Shapur accompanied his father's campaigns against the Parthians, who - at the time - still controlled much of the Iranian plateau through a system of vassal states of which the Persian kingdom had itself previously been a part.
Before an assembly of magnates, Ardeshir "judged him the gentlest, wisest, bravest and ablest of all his children"Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag Other defeats followed. Crasus was defeated in 53 B.C.E.; Julius Caesar planned on revenge but died before he had a change to mount an expedition. Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag In an increasingly inter-dependent world, humanity will benefit most when people learn to value all cultures, to rejoice in the technical achievements of all people and to regard humanity as one family, instead of restricting "human" to those who belong to my nation, race, religion or who identify with my ideology or philosophy or worldview.
| Sassanid dynasty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Ardashir I |
"King of kings of Iran and Aniran" 241 –272 |
Succeeded by: Hormizd I |
Notes
- ↑ Herzfeld, page 287.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- * Bury, J.B. (John Bagnell) 1923. History Of The Later Roman Empire. London, UK: Macmillan. online, History Of The Later Roman Empire. Univ. of Chicago. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- Chisholm, Hugh. (ed) 1910. The Encyclopaedia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. New York: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- Herzfeld, Ernst E. 1988. Iran in the ancient East: archaeological studies presented in the Lowell Lectures at Boston. New York, N.Y: Hacker Art Books. ISBN 9780878173082,
- Luttwak, Edward. 1979. The grand strategy of the Roman Empire: from the first century C.E. to the third. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801821585.
- Penrose, Jane. 2005. Rome and her enemies: an empire created and destroyed by war. Oxford: Osprey Pub. ISBN 9781841769325.
- Robinson, B. W., Abū al-Qāsim Ḥasan Firdawsī, and Arthur George Warner. 2002. The Persian book of kings: an epitome of the Shahnama of Firdawsi. London: RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 9780700716180.
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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