Sassanian Empire
Yazdegerd (Yazgard, Yazdgerd) III, 632 - 651
AR Drachm
Obv: Bust of Yazdegerd wearing Khusro II-style crown, Pahlavi name before, "May he Prosper" behind
Rev: Fire altar and attendants, mint SK (Sistan) RY 20 (651) all within triple border
The last capable emperor of the Sassanian Empire was Khusro II, who spent more than two decades deadlocked in a costly and destructive war against the Byzantines until he was murdered by his son Kavadh II in 628. The war had left the citizens of the empire impoverished and unable to keep up their tax burden. The army was depopulated, and the aristocracy fractured along ancient tribal boundaries. During the span of 628-632, no less than 13 claimants to the Sassanian throne rose up, and the entire empire nearly succumbed to anarchy.
Yazdegerd III was the last to take the throne, coming to power as a boy or teenager in 632. During the later reign of Khusro II through the civil war, the Arab tribes were mostly united under Muhammad, and then rallied to war by his successor and first Rashidun caliph, Abu Bakr. The Muslim invasions started off appearing to be little more than typical raids by desert people, but attacks escalated quickly and large tracts of Sassanian territory began to fall. Perhaps underestimating his new foe, the inexperienced Yazdegerd III sent small and insufficient forces, which were not trained to counter the light skirmish warfare employed by the Arabs. Attempting to negotiate with the new invaders, he was rebuked as they merely regarded that Allah commanded them to spread Islam across the whole world.
The Sassanians won some battles against the Muslims early in the war, but the tide turned at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636, resulting in a catastrophic Sassanian defeat. The Muslims then marched on and captured Ctesiphon, and Yazdegerd III fled to Media to regroup for a counteroffensive. The forces met again at the Battle of Nahavand in 642, and again the Persians were defeated. Yazdegerd was again forced to flee, regrouping in Pars, which he held until 650 when the remnants of his army were annihilated. He then fled to Sistan, but what little hope remained evaporated when the residents turned on him in 651, ostensibly after he had demanded taxes in a last-ditch attempt to raise an army. Finally, Yazdegerd fled to Merv, which again turned on him when he demanded funds to raise an army. While attempting to flee, Yazdegerd III was killed by a local miller for his purse.
Posted 12/18/2018 3:57 pm
