Nice additions!
Here is a favorite Ancient of mine:
Peroz I, Shah of the Sassanid Empire
R. 459-484
He is a fascinating historical figure at the center of one of the greatest general upheavals in recorded history.
Timeline of Peroz's rule:
457-459 - Death of Peroz's father Yazdegerd II. His older brother Hormizd III ascends to the throne. Peroz seeks thr throne and takes refuge with Hepthalite Hun king Kushnavaz, who aids him in the civil war to gain power.
464-471 - Seven year famine nearly topples the Sassanian empire
460s - Kidarite Huns stop paying tribute; Peroz responds with military action, but is desperately short on funds and unable to organize a campaign. Byzantine emperor Leo refuses financial aid. Peroz is forced to sue for peace, then turns to Kushnavaz for aid in another campaign against the Kidarites. They succeed by 467.
469 - Kushnavaz betrays Peroz and seizes the former Kidarite capital for himself. Peroz launches a campaign, but is captured and forced to ransom himself. Emperor Leo assists in the ransom.
470s - Peroz launches another campaign to punish the Hepthalites. He is defeated again and this time forced to ransom his children and chief priest.
484 - Peroz amasses a huge army to topple Kushnavaz, but once again is defeated and dies in battle. The Huns invade and plunder the empire.
Lasting impact:
- Ransoms and plunder make the Hepthalite empire one of the most powerful entities in the world
- Huge influx of silver coins lead to their establishment as de facto silk road currency; Peroz imitations persist in Central Asia until the 8th century, and in India until the 13th century.
Meanwhile in the world:
450s-476 - Rome is sacked by Vandals in 455; rapid succession of weak puppet-emperors lead to fall of the Western Roman Empire to Odoacer in 476. Former Roman territory is now controlled mainly by Vandals, Visigoths, and Ostrogoths.
460s - Gupta empire begins rapid decline in face of aggressive invasions from "white huns", probably Hepthalites. Skandagupta dies in 467 and is succeeded rapidly by a series of ineffectual rulers. Gupta empire fractures.
464 - Buddhism reaches China for the first time under the monk Batua
474-476 - Death of Leo I and his grandson Leo II. Zeno rises to power, but is ousted briefly by usurper Basiliscus. Byzantine empire is unable to intervene in the fall of the West.
480 - Death of Julius Nepos, last legitimate Western Roman emperor in exile.
481 - Rise of Clovis, king of the Franks.
nice coin and excellent topic idea!
Posted 07/31/2017 3:35 pm
