Battle of Hormozdgan

Ardashir, a local dynast who had become king of Persis (Fars) around 211/212, spent the following decade conquering Kerman, Isfahan, Khuzestan and Mesene at the head of the Persian Gulf, while the Parthian state was worn down by wars with Rome and by the rivalry between Artabanus IV and his brother Vologases VI. When Artabanus at last marched against him, the two armies met on the plain of Hormozdgan on 28 April 224 (the day is reckoned from al-Tabari’s date, the 30th of the month Mihr). According to al-Tabari, who drew on Sasanian tradition, Ardashir arrived before the appointed time, took up a favourable position, dug a ditch to protect himself and his army and seized a spring; in the fierce fighting Artabanus was killed — by Ardashir himself, in the Sasanian version. Where the plain lay is unknown: A. Sh. Shahbazi identifies Hormozdgan with Ram-Hormoz in Khuzestan, while G. Widengren and K. Schippmann place it near Golpayegan.

Ardashir took the title of king of kings (shahanshah), was crowned at Ctesiphon, probably in 226, and drove the last Arsacid claimant, Vologases VI, out of Mesopotamia. The great Parthian noble houses kept their lands and much of their power under the new dynasty. The victory was commemorated in rock reliefs: near Ardashir-Khwarrah (Firuzabad) the battle is carved as a series of mounted duels in which Ardashir unhorses Artabanus and the crown prince Shapur transfixes with his lance the Parthian grandee Dad-windad, Artabanus’ chief secretary, and at Naqsh-e Rostam, in the scene of Ardashir’s investiture by the god Ahura Mazda, the body of Artabanus lies under the hooves of the king’s horse, as that of the evil spirit Ahriman lies under the god’s.