Beate Dignas & Engelbert Winter - Kaveh Farrokh

19 The peace treaty of 422 137
suggest that the Romans had the upper hand in the fighting. 98 Both sources
agree that it was the Sasanian king who sought peace. Bahrām’s desire to
come to a quick settlement with Byzantium may be linked to the rise
of the Hephthalites, who became the greatest danger for the Sasanians
during the course of the fifth century (10). The sources do not inform us
about the content of the peace treaty of 422. As the issue of the Christians
had triggered the war in the year 421 99 it is not surprising that Bahrām V
had to grant the freedom of their religion to the Christians in the Sasanian
Empire. In turn, the Zoroastrians in the Byzantine Empire were allowed
to practise their religion – according to K. Schippmann this represents a
concession without any practical value. 100 However, Priscus mentions that
around 465 a Sasanian embassy to the emperor Leo I (457–74) complained
that the fire cult of the Magians who lived on Byzantine territory was
impaired, an accusation that was rejected by Leo (27 Priscus frg. 41.1).
It is likely that in 422 both sides agreed to payments for the defence of
the Caucasus region. In 441, when these were in arrears, Yazdgard II once
more advanced into Byzantine territory. 101 In the same year a new peace
was agreed upon, which envisaged mutual support in times of crisis and
financial aid for the Sasanians. 102
In the context of 422 we do not hear about any territorial changes or
regulations regarding the borders. This corresponds to the fact that neither
side had been able to make major conquests. The mutual obligation not to
build new fortifications close to the border was, as indicated above, part of
the treaty of 441. However, we can expect that already in 422 there was an
interest in reducing the tensions caused by the opponent’s armed presence
in the border regions that could lead to open conflict. This was also achieved
by an agreement not to enter into relations with the opponent’s Arabian
allies. 103
The peace was concluded for a remarkably long period, which is symptomatic
of the general détente that can be observed between West and East
during the fifth century. Whereas Malalas remarks that Bahrām V agreed to
98 According to Socr. HE vii.21.8 the empress Eudoxia composed a poem that was recited during the
celebration of the victory.
99 Marc. Com. a. 420, 3. 100 Schippmann 1990: 42.
101 Marc. Com. a. 441, 1; on the possible reasons for this war see Luther 1997: 103 n. 21, who points
to a new wave of Christians escaping into Roman territory and an unsuccessful Persian request for
their return.
102 Ios. Styl. 8; on the problems concerning the shared defence of the unsettled Caucasus region see
the commentary on 27.
103 Malchus, frg. 1; see Luther 1997: 107 n. 34; also Blockley 1992: 57–8; on the role the Arabian allies
played within the strategies of the two great powers see in particular 24 and 25.