Jun 21

The day when Shapur the 2nd took the reins of The government of Iran

On 21 June 326 AD, at the age of 17, Shapour (Shapur) the 2nd (Zol’aktaff), from the Sassanian (Sassanid) dynasty, officially took reins of the government of Iran, as the king (shahan shah Eran - Aryan). He is the only ruler who had this title before birth. Therefore, the length of his reign comes to be more than his age!. Shapur the 2nd, son of Azar Nersi (Azar Narseh), was born in 309 AD and died in 379 AD. This Sassanid king took rein of the kingdom at a time when the weakness of the regent had caused Arabs (belong to the Al- Gheith, Taghlib and Wael tribes) who had migrated from the Arabian Peninsula to Bahrain and west coast of Persian Gulf to create insecurity. Also, some of the local authorities had started struggle of power among themselves, the Roman Emperor had started intrigues in the border provinces and the Armenia area and the Huns in Fararoud (Central Asia) were busy attacking the north - eastern borders with the intention of migration into Iran. The Huns were a group of nomadic pastoral people who had been northern neighbors of China. After coming to power, Shapur II solved all these problems. The Roman emperor (the Emperor Julian) was killed in the war with Iran during his retreat and his successor Jovian made an ignominious - humiliating peace and promised to interfere no more in Armenia. The Huns were driven away. The Arabs were captured and punished. Iranian army advanced into Najd. During Shapur II reign (the ninth shah of the Sassanid dynasty) Iran saw it’s another golden era. By his death, the Persian Empire was stronger than ever before, considerably larger than when he came to the throne and Iran lands expanded and developed, resulting in the overall welfare of its people. Under the reign of Shapur II - an orthodox Zoroastrian - the collection of the Avesta was completed.          Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour (AmordadNews writer)