Bahrām Chōbin

Bahrām Chōbīn (Middle Persian: ; New Persian: بهرام چوبین), also known by his epithet Mehrbandak (Middle Persian: Mihrewandak), was a famous spahbed (senior army commander) during the late 6th century in Persia. He usurped the Sasanian throne from Khosrau II, ruling for a year as Bahram VI (590-591). However, he was later defeated by Khosrau II and was forced to flee.

Family

Bahram Chobin was son of Bahram Gushnasp, of the House of Mihran, one of the seven Parthian clans of the Sasanian Empire. Bahram Chobin had three siblings whom were named: Gordiya, Gorduya and Mardansina.

Rise

Bahram Chobin originally started his career as marzban of Ray, but in 572 he commanded a cavalry force which captured a Byzantine fortress and was promoted to army chief (spahbed) of Atropatene and Media. After being promoted he fought a long, indecisive campaign against the Byzantines in northern Mesopotamia.

In late 588, a massive army of Turks invaded the eastern provinces of the Sasanian empire, reaching as far as Badghis and Herat. Bahram Chobin was elected as the spahbed of Khorasan and commander-in-chief to lead 12,000Sasanian forces against the Turks. After reaching Central Asia his army ambushed a large army of Turks and conquered Balkh. He then crossed the Oxus river and trapped and defeated the Turks near Bukhara, killing the Göktürk Bagha/Yabghu Qaghan with an arrow. The Turkic forces is said to have outnumbered his troops five to one.