Editing Bahram II (section)

==Reign==
===Wars===
[[Image:Hormizd I Kushanshah Merv mint.jpg|thumb|Drachma of [[Hormizd I Kushanshah]]]]
Bahram II was met with considerable challenges during his reign. His brother [[Hormizd I Kushanshah]], who governed the eastern portion of the empire (i.e., the [[Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom]]), rebelled against him.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2004}}{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|pp=81–82}} Hormizd I Kushanshah was the first Kushano-Sasanian ruler to mint coins with the inscription of "Hormizd, the Great Kushan King of Kings" instead of the traditional "Great Kushan King" title.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=81}} The Kushano-Sasanian king, now laying claims to the title of King of Kings, which had originally also been used by the [[Kushan Empire]], displays a "noteworthy transition" ([[Khodadad Rezakhani|Rezakhani]]) in Kushano-Sasanian ideology and self-perception and possibly a direct dispute with the ruling branch of the Sasanian family.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=81}} Hormizd I Kushanshah was supported in his efforts by the Sakastanis, [[Gilan Province|Gilaks]], and Kushans.{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=11}} Another revolt also occurred in Sakastan, led by Bahram II's cousin [[Hormizd of Sakastan]], who has been suggested to be the same person as Hormizd I Kushanshah.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2004}} However, according to the [[Iranologist]] Khodadad Rezakhani, this proposal must now be disregarded.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=81}} At the same time, a revolt led by a high-priest (''[[mowbed]]'') occurred in the province of [[Khuzistan (Sasanian province)|Khuzestan]], which was seized by the latter for a period.{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|pp=11–12}}

Meanwhile, the Roman emperor [[Carus]], hearing of the civil war occurring in the Sasanian Empire, chose to take advantage of the situation by making a campaign into the empire in 283.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2004}} He invaded [[Mesopotamia]] while Bahram II was in the east, and even besieged the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon without much fighting.{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}}{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=12}} The Sasanians, due to severe internal problems, were unable to mount an effective coordinated defense at the time; Carus and his army may have captured Ctesiphon.{{sfn|Potter|2013|p=26}} However, Carus briefly died afterwards, reportedly being struck by lightning.{{sfn|Potter|2013|p=26}} The Roman army as a result withdrew, and Mesopotamia was re-captured by the Sasanians.{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}}

=== Consolidation of the empire ===
[[File:Naghsh-e rostam, Irán, 2016-09-24, DD 10.jpg|thumb|"Victory" of Bahram II over Roman Emperor [[Carus]] is depicted in the top panel, and the victory over [[Hormizd I Kushanshah]] is depicted in the bottom panel at [[Naqsh-e Rostam]]{{sfn|Shahbazi|2004}}]]
The following year, Bahram II made peace with the new Roman emperor [[Diocletian]], who was faced with internal issues of his own.{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}}{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=12}} The terms of the peace reportedly divided Armenia between the two empires, with [[Roman Armenia#Roman protectorate|Western Armenia]] being ruled by the pro-Roman [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid]] prince [[Tiridates III of Armenia|Tiridates III]], and the remaining greater portion being kept by Narseh.{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=12}} However, this division is dismissed by the modern historian Ursula Weber, who argues that it conflicts with other sources, and that the Sasanians most likely kept control over Armenia until the later [[Peace of Nisibis (299)]].{{sfn|Weber|2016}} 

In the same year, Bahram II secured the [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberian]] throne for [[Mirian III of Iberia|Mirian III]], an Iranian nobleman from the [[House of Mihran]], one of the [[Seven Great Houses of Iran]].{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=243–244}} His motive was to strengthen Sasanian authority in the [[Caucasus]] and utilize the position of the Iberian capital [[Mtskheta]] as an entrance to the important passes through the [[Caucasus Mountains]].{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=243–244}} This was of such importance to Bahram II that he allegedly went in person to Mtskheta in order to secure Mirian III's position.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|pp=243–244}} He also sent one of his grandees named Mirvanoz (also a Mihranid) to the country in order to act as the guardian of Mirian III, who was then aged seven.{{sfn|Toumanoff|1969|p=22}} After Mirian III's marriage with Abeshura (daughter of the previous Iberian ruler [[Aspacures I of Iberia|Aspacures]]), 40,000 Sasanian "select mounted warriors/cavalry" were subsequently stationed in eastern Iberia, [[Caucasian Albania]] and [[Gugark]]. In western Iberia, 7,000 Sasanian cavalrymen were sent to Mtskheta to safeguard Mirian III.{{sfn|Rapp|2014|p=247}}

By the time of Bahram II's death in 293, the revolts in the east had been suppressed, with his son and heir [[Bahram III]] being appointed the governor of Sakastan, receiving the title of ''[[sakanshah]]'' ("King of the Saka").{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}}{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=12}} Following Bahram II's death, Bahram III, against his own will, was proclaimed shah in [[Pars (Sasanian province)|Pars]] by a group of nobles led by [[Wahnam]] and supported by Adurfarrobay, governor of [[Meshan]].{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514–522}} After four months of reigning, however, he was overthrown by Narseh, who had Wahnam executed.{{sfn|Weber|2016}} The line of succession was thus shifted to Narseh, whose descendants continued to rule the empire until its fall in 651.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}}