Sasanian Imperial Policy and Strategy: Case of Adurbadagan and Arran (Caucasian Albania)

 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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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380216635_Sasanian_Imperial_Strategy_and_King_Xusro_I_Anosirvan's_Reform_The_Case_of_Adurbadagan_and_Arran_Caucasian_Albania

Map of the Sasanian fortifications in Azerbaijan (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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https://www.academia.edu/118449451/Sasanian_Imperial_Strategy_and_King_Xusr%C5%8D_I_An%C5%8D%C5%A1%C4%ABrv%C4%81ns_Reform_The_Case_of_%C4%80durb%C4%81dag%C4%81n_and_Arr%C4%81n_Caucasian_Albania_