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Document Details : Title: Disintegration of Sasanian Hegemony over Northern Iran (AD 623-643) Author(s): GHODRAT-DIZAJI, Mehrdad Journal: Iranica Antiqua Volume: 46 Date: 2011 Pages: 315-329 DOI: 10.2143/IA.46.0.2084424 Abstract : From the 6th century AD onward, the Sasanian Empire tried to build up its military strength and defense system by dividing the country into four Kusts or quarters and erected fortifications and fortified walls in each Kust. One of these defensive walls was erected in the northern Kust in order to defend the borders of the empire against northern nomads. Perhaps the most important defensive walls of the empire in the northern quarter were in the passes of the northern Caucasus, especially at Darband. These fortifications were heavily damaged in the course of Sasanian-Byzantine wars (AD 603-628), which lead to the defeat of the Sasanian Empire. This was the advent of the disintegration of the Sasanian dynasty, which was later completed by Arab Muslim raids. The study of the archaeological, numismatic and literary evidence reveals that from this time (AD 623) onward, the Sasanians lost their control over the northern quarter and only practiced their weak domination over western and southern parts of the empire. The situation was like this until the downfall of the Sasanian dynasty through Arab Muslims and their penetration into Ādurbādagān (AD 643). |
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