The story of Persia

Front matter

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Preface

The author wishes to call attention to the fact that the scope of this work is entirely different from that of the volume recently published by him, entitled " Persia and the Persians." The latter work is intended to give a description of Persia as it is; while the present volume is a history of Persia, as it has been, offering a narrative of the most noteworthy characters and events of that ancient empire from its foundation in prehistoric times.

This work differs from other histories of Persia in giving more proportionate attention to the legendary period of her history than is usual with those who have dealt with this subject, as well as to the great career of the House of Sassan, which, in the opinion of the author, has never received full justice from chose Christian historians who have undertaken a connected history of Persia. On the other hand, the long period between the Saracen invasion and the rise of the Sefaveans has been presented so fully elsewhere, and offers so few really salient points that are distinctly connected with the development of Persia as an independent monarchy, that it hardly seemed best to give more than a mere outline of that period in a volume whose limits are circumscribed.

VI PREFACE.

It seems to be the established rule for historians to refer to the authorities they have consulted. The author may therefore state that he has, in the preparation of this volume, made use of the various well-known authorities on the subject ; but it is scarcely worth while to present a list of them here. Those writers who are dead will not be disturbed by any departure from their opinions or any new presentation of the facts they recorded ; while living authorities can see for themselves whether the author has agreed or disagreed with their conclusions.

In several instances, as in regard to the character and career of Chosroes Parveez, or the quality of Persian military talents and courage, the author has found it impossible to arrive at exactly the same conclusions as many writers on Persia. A long residence in various parts of the East, including several years in Persia, has led the author to form a higher and, he thinks, a more just estimate of the character of Orientals than many European writers are willing to concede to them. For the rest, the author commits this little work to the reader with the hope that he may find " The Story of Persia " not unworthy a place by the side of the histories of Greece and of Rome.

I. Page

Founders of Persia, 1 — Shah Djemsheed, 2—5 — Royal standard of Persia, 8 — Imprisonment of Zohak, 10 — Daughters of Yemen, 12 — Treachery of Serv, 15 — Feridoon's test, 17 — Murder of Iredj, 21 — Feridoon's vengeance, 23.

II

Minoutchehr ascends the throne, 24 — Sahm's white-haired son, 25 — Zal, governor of Seistan, 26 — Roodabeh's love, 27 — Wedding festivities, 33.

III

Capture of Sipend, 35 — Death of Minoutchehr, 36 — Turkish invasion, 37 — Kel Kaoos, 38 — Soudabeh's adventures, 39 — Afrasiab defeats the Syrians, 40 — Embarkation of Rustem, 41 — Rustem's victory, 42.

Loss of Kaksch, 43 — Marriage of Rustem and Tehmimeh, 44 — Birth of Sohrab, 44 — Sohrab seeks his father, 45 — ■ Siege of White Castle, 46 — Gurdaferid, 47 — Treachery, 48 — Royal missive, 49 — Reconciliation of Rustem and Ke'i Kaoos, 50.

Vlll STOXY OF PERSIA.

V. Page

Death of Zendeh Rezm, 52 — Conflict between the Persians and Touranians, 56 — Meeting of Rustem and Sohrab, 57 — Death of Sohrab, 64 — Tehmimeh dies of grief, 65.

VI

Finding of a queen, 66 — Birth of Siawusch, 67 — Trial by fire, 69 — Siege of Balkh, 70 — Hospitality of Afrasiab, 71 — Marriage of Siawusch, 73 — Accusations, 74 — Death, 75 — Kel Khosroo, 76 — Piran-Wisa's deceit, 77 — Rustem kills Soudabeh, 78 — Victory of Kelt Khosroo, 81.

VII

Territory of Persia, 83 — Touranians, 84 — Cyaxares and the Medes, 86 — Sect of fire-worshippers, 87 — Zoroaster, 88 — Subduction of Media, 89 — Crcesus, 90 — Capture of Babylon, 91 — Warning of Belshazzar, 94 — Death of Belshazzar, 95 — Death of Cyrus, 96 — Cyrus' tomb at Passargadse, 96.

VIII. From Cyrus to Darius 1 98-1 11

Succession of Cambyses, 98— Subjugation of Egypt, 99 — Smerdis beheaded, 100 — Death of Cambyses, 101 — Election of Darius, 102 — Inscription at Behistoon, 103 — Extension of Persian empire, 105 — Expedition against Greece, 107 — Battle of Marathon, 109.

Personal appearance and temperament, 113 — Army, 114 — Canal through Mt. Athos, 115 — Thermopylae, 116 — Battles at Artemesium, 117; at Salamis, 118 — Retreat of Zerxes, 121 — Battle of Platea, 122— Defeat of Persians at Mycale, 124 — Xerxes assassinated, 125.

CONTENTS. IX

X. Page

Artaxerxes Longimanus, 126 — Rebellion of Megabyzus, 127 — Xerxes II., 128 — Degeneracy of Persian monarchy under Darius Nothus, 129 — Treachery of Tissaphernes, 130 — Cyrus the Younger purchases services of Greek mercenaries, 132 — Battle of Cunaxa, 133 — Retreat of the Ten Thousand, 135 — Ochus, 136 — Siege of Sidon, 138 — Murder of Artaxerxes III., 139 — Darius Codomanus, 140.

XL

Rout at the river Granicus, 141 — Reduction of Phoenicia, 142 — Defeat of Persians on the plains of Arbela, 143 — Alexander enters Persepolis, T44 — Alexander's feast, 145 — Assassination of Darius, 146 — Intermarriage between Macedonians and natives, 147 — The mystic plane-trees, 148 — Death of Alexander at Babylon, 149 — Pitho, satrap of Media, 150 — Seleucia, capital of the Greco-Persian empire, 151 — Elements of discord, 151 — Revolt of Diodatus, 154 — Shepherds of Parthia, 156 — Rhages or Rhe'i, 157.

XII

Arsaces I., 158 — Mithridates the Great, 161 — Murder of Phraortes, 162 — Defeat of the Romans, 163 — Ctesiphon, 164 — Campaign of Marc Antony, 166 — Final check to the Romans, 167 — Vologeses I., 168 — Destruction of Seleucia, 169.

XIII. The House of Sassan ... 171-178

Rise of the Neo-Persian power, 172 — Artaxerxes or Ardeshir declares Persia independent, 173 — War with Rome, 174 — Faith of Ormuzd, 175 — The Zendavesta, 176 — Religious character of the Persian revolution, 177.

X STORY OF PERSIA.

XIV. Page

Daughter of Manizen, 180 — Recovery of Nisibis, 181 — Imprisonment and death of Valerian, 182 — Cultivation of the arts, 183 — Dyke of Shuster, 184 — Manichseism, 185 — Death of Sapor, 186.

XV

Persia until the Reign of Sapor II. . 190-206 Death of Manee, 190 — War of Sapor II. with Rome, 192 — Julian the Apostate masses his forces at Antioch, 194 — Rejects peaceable propositions of Sapor, 195 — Massacre of population at Hit, 197 — Race for Ctesiphon, 199 — Julian burns his fleet, 200 — Death of Julian at Samarah, 202 — Retreat of the Romans, 203.

XVI

Death of Sapor I., 207 — Isdigerd I., 208 — Boyhood of Varahran, 209 — Peace with the Romans, 210 — Ephthalites or White Huns, 211 — Victory of Varahran, 213 — Refinding of an old love, 216 — Perozes, 217 — Restoration of Zoroastrianism in Armenia, 218 — Mazdak the reformer, 219 — Deposition of Kobad, 220 — Restoration to the throne, 221 — Destruction of the Mazdakites, 223 — Renewed hostilities with Rome, 224 — Death of Kobad, 225.

XVII. Chosroes I., surnamed Anurshirwan . 226-236

Conspiracy against Chosroes crushed, 226 — Execution of Mazdak, 227 — Justice of Chosroes, 228 — Establishment of fixed taxes, 230 — Chosroes founds university of Shapoor, 231 — The Augustan period of Persian history, 232 — Expulsion of Abyssinians from Arabia, 233 — Lazic war, 234 — Siege of Petra, 235 — Death of Chosroes, 236.

CONTENTS. XI*

XVIII. Page

Insult to General Bahrain Shobeen, 237 — Death of Hormazd, 238 — Coronation of Chosroes II., 240 — Flight from Ctesiphon, 242 — Seeks aid from the emperor at Constantinople, 243 — Defeat of Bahram, 244 — Revolt of Vastam, 245 — Shireen, 246 — Friendly relations with Maurice, 247 — War in Syria, 248 — Siege of Jerusalem, 249 — A proud hour for Persia, 250 — Dastagerd, 252 — Oath of Heraclius, 254 — The star of Persia wanes, 255 — Retreat of Chosroes, 256 — Campaigns in Asia Minor, 259 — Siege of Tiflis, 260 — Battle near Nineveh, 261 — Heraclius sacks Dastagerd, 262 — Conspiracy of nobles, 265 — End of the "Great King," 266.

XIX

The Mohammedan Conquest of Persia . 267-282 Coronation of Siroes, or Kobad II M 267 — Murder of all the brothers of Kobad, 26S — Pestilence, 270 — Insurrection and death of Shahr Barz, 271 — Coronation of Isdigerd III., 272 — Campaign against the Saracens, 273 — Repulse of the Persians, 274 — " Day of Concussion," 275 — Rustem slain, 276 — Fate of the leathern standard of Kaweh, 27S — Fall of Rhei', 279 — Defeat of the Persians near Nehavend, 281.