Kardarigan (7th century)
Encyclopedia
Kardarigan was a Sassanid Persian general of the late 6th century, who fought in the Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628
. He is usually distinguished from another Persian general
of the same name who was active during the 580s. The name is actually a honorific title and means "black hawk".
When the Persian shah Khosrau II
(r. 590–628) declared war against the Byzantine usurper Phocas
(r. 602–610), he sent Kardarigan along with Shahrbaraz
against Byzantine positions in Armenia
and Anatolia
(ca. 607/608). According to a Syriac source, echoed in the Chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
, Kardarigan's forces are said to have seized many cities, conquered Armenia, and marched through Cappadocia
, Galatia
and Paphlagonia
reaching Chalcedon
, across from the Byzantine capital of Constantinople
in 608 or 609. This information however is considered inaccurate by modern scholars.
Kardarigan re-appears in 626, as the second-in-command of the Persian army under Shahrbaraz, sent to take part in the joint siege of Constantinople
with the Avars
. In the event, the destruction by the Byzantines of the fleet of the Avars' Slavic subjects forced the Persians to a passive role in the siege, which was repulsed. At this juncture, Khosrau sent a letter to him, ordering him to kill Shahrbaraz, assume command of the army, and return it to Persia. The letter was intercepted by the Byzantines, who altered it to show that Khosrau had ordered the execution of no less than 400 of the army's officers. This provoked a revolt against Khosrau, and Shahrbaraz and his army concluded an alliance with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius
(r. 610–641).
Kardarigan loyally supported Shahrbaraz thereafter against Khosrau. In 630 however, after Khosrau's overthrow, Shahrbaraz killed the legitimate shah, the boy ruler Ardashir III
(r. 628–630) and assumed the throne himself. Kardarigan opposed his erstwhile commander, but was defeated and killed.
Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628
The Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628 was the final and most devastating of the series of wars fought between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire. The previous war had ended in 591 after Emperor Maurice had helped the Sassanian king Khosrau II regain his throne. In 602, Maurice was murdered...
. He is usually distinguished from another Persian general
Kardarigan (6th century)
Kardarigan was a Sassanid Persian general of the late 6th century, who fought in the Byzantine–Persian War of 572–591. Since he is recorded as being old enough to have an adult nephew in 586, it is uncertain whether he is the same as the general of the same name who fought in the later wars of the...
of the same name who was active during the 580s. The name is actually a honorific title and means "black hawk".
When the Persian shah Khosrau II
Khosrau II
250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628...
(r. 590–628) declared war against the Byzantine usurper Phocas
Phocas
Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:...
(r. 602–610), he sent Kardarigan along with Shahrbaraz
Shahrbaraz
Shahrbaraz or Shahrwaraz was a general, with the rank of Eran Spahbod under Khosrau II . His name was Farrokhan, and Shahrbaraz was his title...
against Byzantine positions in Armenia
Medieval Armenia
-Prelude:Western Armenia had been under Byzantine control since the partition of the Kingdom of Armenia in AD 387, while Eastern Armenia had been under the occupation of the Sassanid Empire starting 428. Regardless of religious disputes, many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire and...
and Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
(ca. 607/608). According to a Syriac source, echoed in the Chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, Kardarigan's forces are said to have seized many cities, conquered Armenia, and marched through Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
and Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
reaching Chalcedon
Chalcedon
Chalcedon , sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari . It is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy...
, across from the Byzantine capital of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
in 608 or 609. This information however is considered inaccurate by modern scholars.
Kardarigan re-appears in 626, as the second-in-command of the Persian army under Shahrbaraz, sent to take part in the joint siege of Constantinople
Siege of Constantinople (626)
The Siege of Constantinople in 626 by the Avars, aided by large numbers of allied Slavs and the Sassanid Persians, ended in a strategic victory for the Byzantines...
with the Avars
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
. In the event, the destruction by the Byzantines of the fleet of the Avars' Slavic subjects forced the Persians to a passive role in the siege, which was repulsed. At this juncture, Khosrau sent a letter to him, ordering him to kill Shahrbaraz, assume command of the army, and return it to Persia. The letter was intercepted by the Byzantines, who altered it to show that Khosrau had ordered the execution of no less than 400 of the army's officers. This provoked a revolt against Khosrau, and Shahrbaraz and his army concluded an alliance with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
(r. 610–641).
Kardarigan loyally supported Shahrbaraz thereafter against Khosrau. In 630 however, after Khosrau's overthrow, Shahrbaraz killed the legitimate shah, the boy ruler Ardashir III
Ardashir III
Ardashir III was the twenty-fourth Sassanid King of Persia from 628 to 630.He was a son of Kavadh II/Shiroes and "Anzoy the Roman". His mother was probably from the Byzantine Empire. He was raised to the throne as a boy of seven years, but was killed 18 months later by his general, Shahrbaraz .-...
(r. 628–630) and assumed the throne himself. Kardarigan opposed his erstwhile commander, but was defeated and killed.