by Mahir Khalifa-zadeh [1,2]
[1] - Canadian Historical Association, Ottawa, Canada
[2] - Azerbaijan in Global Context, Media and Analysis
Center, Toronto, Canada
Original:
Khalifa-zadeh Mahir, "Sasanian Imperial Strategy and King Xusrō I Anōšīrvān’s Reform: The Case of Ādurbādagān and Arrān (Caucasian Albania)", International Journal of History, 2024, Vol.6, Issue 1, p 111-121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/27069109.2024.v6.i1b.271
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| Map of the Sasanian fortifications in Azerbaijan (Syriac: Aran, Pahlavi: Arrān, Latin: Albania) |
Abstract
The
article analyses the Sasanian imperial policy and strategy toward Ādurbādagān
and Arrān (Caucasian Albania) as well as the impact of King Xusrō I
Anōšīrvān’s reforms on these regions. The author briefly overviews
Ardaxšīr I’s rise to power highlighting the Sasanian dynasty’s
political ambitions. The article discusses Shāpūr I’s ideological and
political reasons for declaring the Ādur Gušnasp fire-temple in Azerbaijan
the empire’s most sacred fire and proclaiming Zoroastrianism as the state
religion. The author argues that Shāpūr I’s decision transformed Ādurbādagān
into the empire’s Zoroastrian religious and ideological center, increasing
the province’s strategic value. However, Ādurbādagān’s proximity to the
main war zones heightened its vulnerability. The author notes that King
Xusrō I Anōšīrvān’s reform enhanced Ādurbādagān’s security by the establishment
of the kust-i Ādurbādagān and Ādurbādagān’s spāhbed (general) military
command covering Arrān (Caucasian Albania). The article emphasizes Arrān’s
military and geostrategic importance in the Sasanian strategy to prevent
Turks' incursions and contain Byzantine Christian advance in Caucasia. The
reform tightened Albania’s attachment to Azerbaijan increasing its
military capacity and strategic value. Thus, in the late Sasanian period
Ādurbādagān and Arrān became interchangeable names in the northern bank of
the Aras River through the creation of the entire Ādurbādagān [Azerbaijan] šahr
shielding Ērānšahr.
Keywords: Sasanian,
Khosrow Anushirvan, Adurbadagan, Arran, Caucasian Albania, Azerbaijan
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