Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

2.4 The sixth century 37
on his campaign against the Hephthalites. 99 Other instances also confirm
solidarity between the emperor and the ‘King of kings’.
The period after the death of Pērōz I in 484 symbolised Persian weakness
also in internal affairs because the Sasanian monarchy had to give in to the
increasing claims for power made by the nobility. The successor of Pērōz
I, Balāˇs (484–8), reigned for only a few years before he was deposed. A
more and more powerful nobility handed the throne to Kavādh I (488–
97/499–531). Within Persia, important events took place during the reign
of this ruler, namely the so-called ‘Mazdakite revolt’ and the renewal and
consolidation of the Sasanian monarchy (11). These events eventually led
to renewed confrontations with the Romans.
2.4 the sixth century: the sasanians renew their
expansionist policy in the west
When Kavādh I regained the Sasanian throne in the year 499 100 the focus
of Persia’s foreign policy shifted back to the West. A return to the aggressive
Western policy of the Sasanian rulers of the third and fourth centuries
triggered numerous armed confrontations.
In the year 502 the Sasanian king was in need of funds in order to pay
the Hephthalites, who were now his allies. He approached the Byzantine
emperor Anastasius I (491–518). When the emperor declined and instead
demanded that the Sasanians return Nisibis, Kavādh used the opportunity
to wage war against Byzantium. 101 In this war, which lasted for several years,
Sasanian troops had the upper hand on many occasions and in 503 were
able to take the strategically important city of Amida. In the year 505/6
the fighting ceased. Renewed confrontations with the Hephthalites finally
forced the Persians to seek terms for peace and they agreed to give up Amida
and further territories that they had conquered in return for a high sum.
The subsequent peace was concluded for a period of seven years but actually
lasted for over twenty years. 102
Although the following years did not see any further armed conflicts,
the Romans in particular engaged in activities that had long lasting consequences.
103 In light of the previous war Anastasius realised that the Roman
fortifications along the frontier were insufficient and could not prevent
Persian advances. In the following years he therefore built new fortresses
close to the frontier. 104 In Armenia he undertook extensive work to fortify
99 Proc. BP i.3.8. 100 Ibid. i.6.1–18. 101 Lyd. Mag. iii.51–3; Ios. Styl. 7.11–12; Proc. BP i.7.1–2.
102 Proc. BP i.9.1–25. 103 Greatrex 1998: 120–2. 104 Whitby 1986a: 717–35.