Editing Bahram IV

{{short description|Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire from 388 to 399}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name        = Bahram IV<br>{{lang|pal|𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭}}
| title       = [[King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran]]{{efn|Also spelled "King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians".{{sfn|Yücel|2017|pp=332–333}}}}
| image       = Coin of Bahram IV (cropped), Herat mint.jpg
| caption     = [[Ancient drachma|Drachma]] of Bahram IV, minted at [[Herat]]
| succession  = [[List of shahanshahs of the Sasanian Empire|Shahanshah]] of the [[Sasanian Empire]]
| reign       = 388–399
| predecessor = [[Shapur III]]
| successor   = [[Yazdegerd I]]
| issue       = [[Khosrow (son of Bahram IV)|Khosrow]]
| royal house = [[House of Sasan]]
| father      = [[Shapur III]]
| birth_date  =
| birth_place = 
| death_date  = 399
| death_place = 
| religion    = [[Zoroastrianism]]
}}
'''Bahram IV''' (also spelled '''Wahram IV''' or '''Warahran IV'''; {{langx|pal|𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭}}), was the [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] [[King of Kings]] ({{lang|pal|[[shah]]anshah}}) of [[Iran]] from 388 to 399. He was likely the son and successor of [[Shapur III]] ({{reign|383|388}}).

Before his accession to the throne, Bahram served as governor of the southeastern province of [[Kirman (Sasanian province)|Kirman]]. There he bore the title of {{lang|pal|Kirmanshah}} (meaning "king of Kirman"), which would serve as the name of the city he later [[Kermanshah|founded]] in western Iran.

His reign as {{lang|pal|shahanshah}} was largely uneventful. In [[Sasanian Armenia|Armenia]], he deposed his insubordinate vassal [[Khosrov IV of Armenia|Khosrov IV]] and installed the latter's brother [[Vramshapuh]] on the Armenian [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|throne]]. In 395, the [[Huns]] [[Hun Invasion of Persia|invaded the countryside around the Euphrates and the Tigris]], but were repelled. It was under Bahram IV that the use of mint signatures became regular, with several new mints established in his empire. Like his father, Bahram IV was killed by the nobility; he was succeeded by his brother [[Yazdegerd I]].

He is notable for being portrayed on two seals, one during his tenure as {{lang|pal|Kirmanshah}}; and the other as {{lang|pal|shahanshah}}.

== Name ==
His [[theophoric name]] "Bahram" is the [[New Persian]] form of the [[Middle Persian]] {{lang|pal|Warahrān}} (also spelled {{lang|pal|Wahrām}}), which is derived from the [[Old Iranian languages|Old Iranian]] {{lang|ira|Vṛθragna}}. The [[Avestan]] equivalent was [[Verethragna]], the name of the old Iranian god of victory, whilst the [[Parthian language|Parthian]] version was {{lang|xpr|Warθagn}}. The name is transliterated in [[Armenian language|Armenian]] as {{lang|hy|Vahagn/Vrām}},{{sfn|Iranica: Bahrām}} whilst the [[Greek language|Greek]] transliteration is {{lang|el|Baranes}}.{{sfn|Wiesehöfer|2018|pages=193–194}} The name is attested in [[Georgian language|Georgian]] as ''Baram''{{sfn|Rapp|2014|page=203}} and [[Latin]] as ''Vararanes''.{{sfn|Martindale|Jones|Morris|1971|p=945}}

==Early life==
According to the medieval historian [[al-Tabari]] (d. 923), Bahram was the son of [[Shapur II]] ({{reign|309|379}}). However, several other historians, such as [[Hamza al-Isfahani]] (d. after 961), state that he was the son of [[Shapur III]] ({{reign|383|388}}), which is thought to be more likely.{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514–522}} Bahram, during the reign of his father, was the governor of the southeastern province of [[Kirman (Sasanian province)|Kirman]], and may have built the town of [[Sirjan|Shiragan]], which would serve as the capital of the province for the remainder of the Sasanian period.{{sfn|Bosworth|1999|p=69}}{{sfn|Christensen|1993|p=182}}{{sfn|Brunner|1983|p=772}} The town played an important economic role, serving as a mint city. The district it governed was an important agricultural region.{{sfn|Brunner|1983|pp=771–772}} According to the medieval geographer [[Yaqut al-Hamawi|Yaqut]] (d. 1229), Bahram had buildings constructed in the city of [[Bardsir|Veh-Ardashir]].{{sfn|Badiyi|2020|p=213}} Like many other governors of Kirman, Bahram bore the title of {{lang|pal|Kirmanshah}} (meaning "king of Kirman"), which would serve as the name of the city he later [[Kermanshah|founded]] in western Iran.{{sfn|Brunner|1983|p=767}} In 388, Bahram succeeded his father, who had been killed by a party of Iranian nobles.{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514–522}}{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=236}}

==Reign==
[[Image:Roman-Persian Frontier, 5th century.png|thumb|Map of the Roman-Iranian frontier]]
During the reign of Shapur III, an [[Peace of Acilisene|agreement]] was made between Iran and Rome to partition [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]].{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=278}}{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}} The boundary stretched through [[Erzurum|Theodosiopolis]] in the north and [[Amida (Mesopotamia)|Amida]] in the south, which meant that most of Armenia remained in Sasanian [[Sasanian Armenia|hands]].{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}} When this treaty exactly took place is unsure; most scholars believe the treaty was made in 387.{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}}{{sfn|Hovannisian|1997|p=92}} The pro-Roman king [[Arshak III]] ({{reign|378|387}}) of the [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid dynasty]] soon died, which made the Romans abolish their branch of the Arsacid monarchy and create the province of [[Byzantine Armenia|Western Armenia]]. The Arsacid monarchy in the Iranian part of Armenia (which became known as Persarmenia){{sfn|Hovannisian|1997|p=92}} was maintained, with [[Khosrov IV of Armenia|Khosrov IV]] ruling the country as a Sasanian vassal.{{sfn|Chaumont|1986|pp=418–438}}{{sfn|Lenski|2002|p=185}} Bahram IV began to distrust Khosrov IV, which eventually resulted in Khosrov IV's removal and the succession of his brother [[Vramshapuh]]. The immediate cause of Khosrov IV's removal may have been his appointment of [[Isaac of Armenia|Sahak]] as the [[Catholicos|patriarch]] of Persarmenia without consulting the Iranian court.{{sfn|Hovannisian|1997|p=92}}

In 395, the [[Huns]] invaded the Roman provinces of [[Sophene]], Western Armenia, [[Mesopotamia (Roman province)|Mesopotamia]], [[Syria (region)|Syria]], and [[Cappadocia (Roman province)|Cappadocia]]. They reached as far [[Galatia]], taking many captives. They then [[Hun Invasion of Persia|invaded the Iranian realm]], devastating much of the countryside around the [[Euphrates]] and the [[Tigris]]. A counterattack was soon made, which resulted in the defeat of Hunnic forces and the retrieval of their spoils. Bahram IV allowed the Roman captives to stay at [[Veh-Ardashir]] and [[Ctesiphon]], where they were given rations, which included bread, wine and oil.{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2002|p=17}} Most of the captives were later returned to their own lands. These Hunnic invasions signaled to the Sasanians that areas of Iran that lacked natural defenses had to be better secured.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=95}}

In 399, Bahram IV was killed by an arrow during a hunting expedition. The 9th-century historian [[Abu Hanifa Dinawari|Dinawari]] calls the incident an accident,{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=102 (see note 37)}} while al-Tabari calls the perpetrators "a group of murderous evildoers".{{sfn|Bosworth|1999|p=69}} Modern scholarship agrees that the nobility was behind the murder.{{sfn|Daryaee|2014|p=157 (see note 106)}}{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604 (see note 3)}} According to the modern historian Scott McDonough, Bahram IV was killed for his attempt to reduce the authority of the powerful [[Parthia]]n noble families (known as the {{lang|pal|[[wuzurgan]]}}) who formed the bulk of the Iranian [[Feudalism|feudal]] army. Centered on the [[Iranian plateau]], they were largely autonomous.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604}} Attempts to curb their authority usually resulted in the {{lang|pal|shahanshah}}'s murder.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604 (see also note 3)}} Ultimately, the Parthian nobility worked for the {{lang|pal|shahanshah}} for personal benefit, personal oath, and, conceivably, a common awareness of the "Aryan" (Iranian) kinship they shared with their [[Persian people|Persian]] overlords.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=604}} Bahram IV was succeeded by his brother [[Yazdegerd I]], who, aware of the previous actions of the nobility, strived to restrict their power.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}}

== Personality ==
The assessment of [[Arabic]] sources towards Bahram IV is mixed, although he is generally portrayed in a positive light.{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=143}} According to al-Tabari "he governed his subjects in commendable fashion and was praised for his rule".{{sfn|Bosworth|1999|p=69}} The 9th-century scholar [[Ibn Qutaybah]] mentions "his pursuit of justice and good rule". Hamza al-Isfahani calls him a "proud but harsh ruler, who neglected his subjects".{{sfn|Bosworth|1999|p=69 (see note 186)}} The 12th-century historian [[Ibn al-Balkhi]], however, calls him a "self-absorbed king who never held ''[[mazalim]]''".{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=58}}

== Coinage ==
[[Image:Coin of Bahram IV, minted at Spahan or Ctesiphon.jpg|thumb|[[Ancient drachma|Drachma]] of Bahram IV, minted at [[Spahan]] or [[Ctesiphon]]]]
On his [[Sasanian coinage|coinage]], Bahram IV is portrayed wearing a crown with wings—a reference to Verethragna. The wings are attached to a [[mural crown]], which was a symbol of the supreme god in Zoroastrianism, [[Ahura Mazda]].{{sfn|Schindel|2013|p=830}} Bahram IV was the first Sasanian monarch to combine two religious components on his crown. Afterwards such crowns became a common feature among the Sasanians.{{sfn|Schindel|2013|pp=830–831}} It was also under him that the use of mint signatures became regular.{{sfn|Schindel|2013|p=818}} The regularization of mint signatures allows the origin of coins to be more easily identified. Under Bahram IV, the eastern province of [[Abarshahr]] produced its largest proportion of coinage (19%) throughout Sasanian history.{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2014|pp=164–165}} The large production of coins in the region was to meet the expenditure needed to maintain the large number of troops stationed there.{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2014|p=164}}

Like Shapur II, Ardashir II and Shapur III, Bahram IV also minted [[Sasanian coinage of Sindh|unique gold coins]] in the [[India]]n region of [[Sindh]], which may have corresponded to the Sasanian province of [[Hind (Sasanian province)|Hind]].{{sfn|Schindel|2016|p=127}} Under Bahram IV, mints were established in the cities of [[Gundeshapur]] and [[Susa]] in [[Khuzistan (Sasanian province)|Khuzistan]].{{sfn|Jalalipour|2015|pp=12–13}} A mint was also established in the northwestern province of [[Adurbadagan]] to support the construction of the [[Caspian Gates]] to protect the [[Caucasus]] border against Hunnic incursions.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=95}}{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2014|p=164}}

== Seals ==
[[File:Seal of Bahram IV.jpg|thumb|right|[[Onyx]] stamp-seal of Bahram IV wearing his characteristic crown and standing on the body of an unknown fallen foe. Stored in the [[British Museum]]]]
A seal of Bahram during his tenure as {{lang|pal|Kirmanshah}} has survived. Written in Middle Persian, its inscription says the following; "Wahrān Kermān Šāh, son of the Mazdā-worshipping Lord Šāpūr, king of kings of Iran and non-Iran, who is a scion of lords".{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514–522}} In addition to that, another seal of Bahram IV has been found dating from his rule as {{lang|pal|shahanshah}}. This seal, currently located in the [[British Museum]], portrays him with his characteristic crown. He is holding a javelin and standing on the body of an unknown fallen foe.{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514–522}}{{sfn|Edwell|2020|p=234}} This fallen foe resembles the same figure portrayed on the rock relief of Ardashir II, which most likely depicted the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] emperor [[Julian (emperor)|Julian]], who fell in battle against the Sasanians in 363.{{sfn|Edwell|2020|p=234}}{{sfn|Shahbazi|1986|pp=380–381}}{{sfn|Canepa|2009|p=110}} It has been suggested that the figure on Bahram IV's seal may have been Julian as well, added by Bahram IV to emphasize his own legitimacy and ability through his supposed participation in the formers defeat.{{sfn|Edwell|2020|p=234}}{{sfn|Canepa|2009|p=110}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* {{cite journal |last1=Badiyi|first1=Bahram| title=Cities and Mint Centers Founded by the Sasanians |journal= Ancient Iranian Numismatics |date=2020|pages=203–233|doi=10.1163/9789004460720_012 |isbn=978-90-04-46072-0 |url=https://www.academia.edu/42852764|url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book | last = Bonner | first = Michael | title = The Last Empire of Iran | year = 2020 | publisher = Gorgias Press | location = New York | isbn = 978-1463206161 }}
* {{The History of al-Tabari | volume = 5}}
* {{Cambridge History of Iran|volume=3b | last = Brunner | first = Christopher | authorlink =  | chapter = Geographical and Administrative divisions: Settlements and Economy| pages=747–778}}
* {{cite book |last1=Canepa |first1=Matthew P. |author-link=Matthew Canepa|title=The Two Eyes of the Earth: Art and Ritual of Kingship Between Rome and Sasanian Iran |date=2009 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0520257276}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume=2 | fascicle=4 | title = Armenia and Iran ii. The pre-Islamic period | last = Chaumont | first = M. L. | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/armenia-ii | pages = 418–438 }}
* {{cite book|last=Christensen|first=Peter|title=The Decline of Iranshahr: Irrigation and Environments in the History of the Middle East, 500 B.C. to A.D. 1500|publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press|year=1993|isbn=9788772892597|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ebB_ac13v3UC }}
* {{cite book | title = Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire | year = 2014 | publisher = I.B.Tauris | last = Daryaee| first = Touraj | author-link = Touraj Daryaee | isbn = 978-0857716668 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=LU0BAwAAQBAJ }}
* {{cite book | last = Edwell | first = Peter | title = Rome and Persia at War: Imperial Competition and Contact, 193–363 CE | year = 2020 | publisher = Routledge | isbn = 978-1472418173 }}
* {{Cambridge History of Iran|volume=3a|last=Frye|first=R. N.|chapter=The political history of Iran under the Sasanians}}
* {{cite book|last1=Greatrex|first1=Geoffrey|last2=Lieu|first2=Samuel N. C.|title=The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars (Part II, 363–630 AD)|location=New York and London|publisher=Routledge (Taylor & Francis)|year=2002|isbn=0-415-14687-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zc8iAQAAIAAJ}}
* {{cite book | last = Hovannisian | first = Richard G. | title = The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times: Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century | year = 1997 | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan | location =  | isbn = 978-1403964212 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Howard-Johnston|first=James|year=2014|title=The Sasanian state: the evidence of coinage and military construction|journal=Journal of Ancient History|publisher=De Gruyter|volume=2|issue=2|pages=144–181|doi=10.1515/jah-2014-0032|s2cid=164026820 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Jalalipour|first=Saeid|title=The Arab Conquest of Persia: The Khūzistān Province before and after the Muslims Triumph|url=https://sites.uci.edu/sasanika/files/2020/01/GradPaper-JalalipourStudyofSasanianKhuzestan.pdf|year=2015|journal=Sasanika}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume=3 | fascicle=5 | article = Bahrām IV | last = Klíma | first = O. | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bahram-04 | pages = 514–522 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Kia|first1=Mehrdad|title=The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: A Historical Encyclopedia|date=2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1610693912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5BHDAAAQBAJ&q=false}}
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* {{cite book|last=Lenski|first=Noel Emmanuel|title=Failure of Empire: Valens and the Roman state in the fourth century A.D. |year=2002|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-23332-4}}
*{{cite book |last2=Jones |first2=A. H. M. |last1=Martindale |first1=J. R. |last3=Morris |first3=J. |title=The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 1, AD 260-395 |date=1971 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521072335 }}
* {{cite book|last=Pourshariati|first=Parvaneh|title=Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran|location=London and New York|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2008|isbn=978-1-84511-645-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3DEBAwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book|last1=Rapp|first1=Stephen H.|title=The Sasanian World through Georgian Eyes: Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature|date=2014|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-1472425522|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8VIBQAAQBAJ&q=rapp+inscription+kartir}}
* {{cite book |last1=Schindel |first1=Nikolaus |editor-last=Potts|editor-first=Daniel T.|title=The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0199733309 |chapter=Sasanian Coinage}}
* {{cite book |last1=Schindel |first1=Nikolaus|editor-last1=Curtis|editor-first1=Vesta Sarkhosh|editor-last2=Pendleton|editor-first2=Elizabeth J.|editor-last3=Alram|editor-first3=Michael|editor-last4=Daryaee|editor-first4=Touraj|title=The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion |date=2016 |publisher=Oxbow Books |isbn=9781785702082 |chapter= The Coinages of Paradan and Sind in the Context of Kushan and Kushano-Sasanian Numismatics}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume=2 | fascicle=4 | title = Ardašīr II | last = Shahbazi | first  = A. Shapur  | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ardasir-ii-sasanian-king-of-kings-a | pages = 380–381 }}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume=online | last = Shahbazi | first  = A. Shapur | title = Sasanian dynasty | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/sasanian-dynasty | year = 2005 | access-date = 22 February 2014}}
* {{ODLA|last1=Wiesehöfer|first1=Josef|authorlink1=Josef Wiesehöfer|title=Bahram I|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001/acref-9780198662778-e-603?rskey=rkOrOO&result=1}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume=3 | fascicle=5 | article = Bahrām | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bahram-the-name-of-six-sasanian-kings | pages = 514–522 | ref={{harvid|Iranica: Bahrām}} }}
*{{Cite journal|last=Yücel|first=Muhammet|date=2017|title=A Unique Drachm Coin of Shapur I|journal=Iranian Studies|volume=50|issue=3|pages=331–344|doi=10.1080/00210862.2017.1303329|s2cid=164631548}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian dynasty]]||||399}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Shapur III]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran]]|years=388–399}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Yazdegerd I]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Sasanian Rulers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahram 04}}
[[Category:399 deaths]]
[[Category:4th-century Sasanian monarchs]]
[[Category:4th-century births]]
[[Category:Murdered Persian monarchs]]
[[Category:Shahnameh characters]]
[[Category:Governors of the Sasanian Empire]]
[[Category:Governors of Kerman province]]
[[Category:4th-century murdered monarchs]]