Sasanian-Byzantine relations through the book The History of Ancient Iran by the orientalist M. M. Dyakonov

Abstract

The book The Ancient History of Iran, written by the orientalist Mikhail Mikhailovich Dyakonov, who was born in 1915 AD and died in 1999 AD, is considered one of the important books that dealt with the ancient history of Iran, especially the period of the Sasanian Empire. In it, the historian dealt with the history of Iran since the era of the Parthian state and the events that the country went through until the state ended. The Parthians and their successor to the Sassanid state in power, and how power was transferred to the Sassanians. After the elimination of the Parthians, the reins of affairs became in the hands of Ardashir, who turned to internal reforms and reorganizing the state. To him are the majority of the organizations of the Sassanian state and its system of government, despite some changes that occurred during the reigns of the kings. Those who followed him, as the administrative systems and conventional employee titles were inherited from the Parthians in general, but Ardashir reorganized the state and built its administrative institutions according to his vision. The political structure witnessed the first manifestations of change that accompanied the establishment of the state, represented by the emergence of the title (Shahanshah), meaning king. Kings, and made this title limited to the Sassanid family. As for the relationship of the Sassanid state with the Byzantine state, it was a relationship of competition and rivalry, as both empires tried to expand at the expense of the other state’s property. The Romans found in the political entities that were established on its land, especially the Sassanian state, a strong dam that cut off They have a way of seizing the strategic regions of the East, so the relationship between the two countries remained one of conflict and fierce wars.