Marzban
Encyclopedia
Marzban were a class of margrave
s or military commanders in charge of border provinces of the Sassanid Empire
of Persia (Iran) between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE.
s, White Huns and Oghuz Turks
, and holding the first line of defense against settled enemies such as Romans
and Kushans.
Sassanid Shahanshah (king of kings) usually selected Marzbans from Bozorgan, Persian noble families who held the most powerful positions in the imperial administration. The rank of Marzban, like most imperial administration, was mostly patrimonial, and was passed down through a single family for generations. Marzbans of greatest seniority were permitted a silver throne, while Marzbans of the most strategic border provinces, such as the province of Armenia
, were allowed a golden throne. In military campaigns the regional Marzbans could be regarded as field marshals, while lesser spahbod
s could command a field army.
It is not clear whether they had authority over castles in their area of operation, as Argbadh
s were responsible for castles. In many ways, Persian
Marzbans had the same function and status as medieval Germanic Margrave
s. The Marzban of Abarshahr
in Central Asia
was called "Kanarang
".
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
s or military commanders in charge of border provinces of the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
of Persia (Iran) between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE.
Etymology
The modern Persian word marz is derived from Avestan marəza "frontier"; bān is cognate with Avestan and Old Persian pat "protector". The word was borrowed from New Persian into Arabic as marzubān (plural marāziba). Al-Marzubani has been used as a nisba (family title) for some Arabian families whose ancestor was a Marzban.Description
Marzbans were granted the administration of the border provinces and were responsible for maintaining the security of the trade routes, fighting the encroaching nomadic tribes such as Bedouin ArabBedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
s, White Huns and Oghuz Turks
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
, and holding the first line of defense against settled enemies such as Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and Kushans.
Sassanid Shahanshah (king of kings) usually selected Marzbans from Bozorgan, Persian noble families who held the most powerful positions in the imperial administration. The rank of Marzban, like most imperial administration, was mostly patrimonial, and was passed down through a single family for generations. Marzbans of greatest seniority were permitted a silver throne, while Marzbans of the most strategic border provinces, such as the province of 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...
, were allowed a golden throne. In military campaigns the regional Marzbans could be regarded as field marshals, while lesser spahbod
Spahbod
Spahbod or Spahbed , is derived from the words Spah and bod ; or "Aspah'Paeity" , and means commander of cavaliers/ knights; alternatively Spah Salar was a rank used in the Parthian empire and more widely in the Sassanid Empire of Persia...
s could command a field army.
It is not clear whether they had authority over castles in their area of operation, as Argbadh
Argbadh
Argbadh were a class of military commanders in charge of castles and fortresses of the Sassanid Empire of Persia between 3rd and 7th centuries CE....
s were responsible for castles. In many ways, Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
Marzbans had the same function and status as medieval Germanic Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
s. The Marzban of Abarshahr
Abarshahr
Abarshahr was a satrapy of the Sassanid Empire. The population was supported by the Hari river, which was used for irrigation. Strabo cited the regions abundant wine-production. Cities in the region were Candac, Artacauan, and Apameia, and Pushang , among others...
in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
was called "Kanarang
Kanarang
The kanārang was a unique title in the Sassanid army, given to the commander of the Sassanid Empire's northeasternmost frontier province, Abarshahr...
".
See also
- Marzpanate PeriodMarzpanate PeriodMarzpanate period refers to the period in Armenian history after the fall of the Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia in 428, when Marzpans , nominated by the Sassanid Persian King, governed the eastern part of Armenia...
- SpahbodSpahbodSpahbod or Spahbed , is derived from the words Spah and bod ; or "Aspah'Paeity" , and means commander of cavaliers/ knights; alternatively Spah Salar was a rank used in the Parthian empire and more widely in the Sassanid Empire of Persia...
Sassanid commandership rank - Sassanid armySassanid armyThe birth of the Sassanid army dates back to the rise of Ardashir I , the founder of the Sassanid dynasty, to the throne. Ardashir aimed at the revival of the Persian Empire, and to further this aim, he reformed the military by forming a standing army which was under his personal command and whose...
- BanBan (title)Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
A noble title which was used in various South European Balkan countries