Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

38 2 A chronological survey
Theodosio(u)polis. Across from the Persian fortress at Nisibis he founded
the city Dārā-Anastasioupolis, 105 which provoked tensions with the Sasanians
who claimed that the location of the city, only twenty-eight stadia from
the shared border, was a breach of the existing regulations. While open
confrontations did not take place during Anastasius’ reign, the Persian War
was rekindled during the reign of his successor, Justin I (518–27). 106 One
main reason for this war was certainly the fact that both sides contended
for the important border regions Lazika and Ibēria as well as the Caspian
Gates. Kavādh I, who wanted to secure his son Xusrō’s succession to the
throne, tried to come to a peaceful understanding with Byzantium but
failed (12).
After that the relations between the two powers deteriorated. The unanswered
questions regarding Lazika and Ibēria once more shifted to the
foreground and were responsible for the war that broke out probably in
526, not long before the death of Justin I. 107 Kavādh I died in 531, and at this
point Romans and Persians were engaged in open war. In spite of several
successes neither of the two parties was able to gain an advantage, with
the result that a peace treaty was concluded in 532. 108 The Romans agreed
to submit large payments for the maintenance of the fortifications in the
Caucasus as well as the protection of this unstable region, and also to move
the base of the dux Mesopotamiae away from Dārā to Constantia. 109 The
Persians gave up significant places in Lazika, a region that was as important
as it was disputed between the two empires. Although Procopius talks
about the conclusion of an ‘Eternal Peace’ 110 in the context of the treaty of
532, both powers were at war again shortly after.
After the long but turbulent reign of Kavādh I Persia flourished under
Xusrō I(531–79). This king received the title ‘Anōˇsarvān’ (= ‘immortal
soul’) and was praised above all for his cultural achievements. Even his
political opponents displayed respect to him, and during this period a
strong Western interest may be observed in developments in Persia (37).
The political relations with the Romans, however, did not remain unspoilt
for long. Both sides used the peaceful phase after 532 in order to consolidate
their own position of power and to carry out domestic reforms. Just as
Justinian I (527–65) achieved great successes in both internal and foreign
affairs, 111 Xusrō I reorganised Persian society and introduced reforms of the
105 Proc. BP i.10.1–19. 106 For this Persian War see Vasiliev 1950: 254–74.
107 Proc. BP i.12.1–24.
108 For the peace of 532 see ibid. i.22.1–19; Rubin 1960: 291–7 and Greatrex 1998: 213–21.
109 Proc. BP i.22.3–5 and 16–18; Blockley 1985a: 70–1. 110 Proc. BP i.22.3.
111 For a critical evaluation of Justinian’s activities see Rubin 1960–95; Evans 1996; Meier 2003.