Investigating the Effect of Sassanid War Booty on Order and Security

Ardeshir Babakan founded the Sassanid Empire with a victory over the Fifth Parthian Army in 224 AD. The issue of trophies played an important role in organizing social, economic and even military-disciplinary affairs in the Sassanid period. Ardeshir and his successors, in addition to receiving taxes and duties, also paid other income to cover the expenses of the court, the expenses of the troops, and the expenses of public affairs. One of these revenues was the spoils of war. This article utilized a descriptive-analytical method, with the aim of examining how to obtain trophies and its importance in economic and military affairs, in the wars of the Sassanid period, including between Iranians and Romans, Turks and Arabs, from the perspective of Sassanid kings and troops. The findings of this study indicate that war booty occasionally fills the empty treasury, contributes to the economic prosperity of the country and in some cases leads to tax exemptions and assistance to the poor and needy and in some cases causes chaos and social and military disorder. Thus, the dispute between Jupiter IV and Bahram Choobin was one of the military commanders regarding the spoils of war.