The Role of Bahram-I Chubi's Revolt in Decline and Fall of Sasanian Dynasty

Bahram-I Chubin's revolt is one of the most significant events in Sasanian era which had an important role in decline and fall of Sasanian dynasty. It could in one hand originated from the continuous competition and contrast between Old Ruler Families in ancient Iran and, on the other hand, it might be related to Hormozd IV wrong policy toward those ruler families including Bahram-I Chubin. Old and Ruler Families who following the immigration of Aryan ethic groups took shape in Iran owned the vast agricultural lands across the country and ruled in the territory they normally lived. Because of their influence among their people and in their region as well as their military ability and their brevity, they could play an important role in political developments and in the rise and fall of Iranian dynasties during the pre-Islamic period.Bharm-I Chubin was member of one of those Old Ruler Families, Mehran Family. He as the commander of Iranian Forces could victoriously defeat Turks whom occupied Eastern Iranian territories during the rule of Hormozd IV, the Sasanian king. After victory of Bahram over Turks, Hormozd IV, instead of encouraging Baharm for this substantial victory humiliated him. This mis-behavior resulted Bahram Chubin's becoming an open rebel against Hormozd IV. By rebellion of Bharma-I Chubin against the Hormozd IV which caused the downfall of him, the legitimacy of Hormozd IV as Sasanian king, accordingly legitimacy of Sasanian dynasty was questioned and led to rebel of other Old and Ruler. These events along with other internal competition and external problems caused the Sasanian empire to decline and finally to be fallen by the Arab Muslim campaign against Iran.This paper tries to examine the role of Bahram-I Chubin in decline and the fall of Sasanian dynasty, based on historical evidence and historical methodology.