Chihor-Vishnasp Suren, also known as Chihr-Gushnasp and Suren, was an
Iranian
Iranian may refer to:
* Iran, a sovereign state
* Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran
* Iranian lan ...
military officer from the
Suren family, who served as the governor (''
marzban
Marzbān, or Marzpān (Middle Persian transliteration: mrzwpn, derived from ''marz'' "border, boundary" and the suffix ''-pān'' "guardian"; Modern Persian: ''Marzbān'') were a class of margraves, warden of the marches, and by extension milita ...
'') of
Persian Armenia from 564 until his murder on 23 February 572 by the
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
rebel Vardan III Mamikonian.
Biography
A member of the Suren family and a relative of the Sasanian king
Khosrau I
Khosrow I (also spelled Khosrau, Khusro or Chosroes; pal, 𐭧𐭥𐭮𐭫𐭥𐭣𐭩; New Persian: []), traditionally known by his epithet of Anushirvan ( [] "the Immortal Soul"), was the Sasanian Empire, Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from ...
himself, Chihor-Vishnasp enjoyed a high status, and served as the ''hazarapet'' (minister of the interior) of Persian Armenia, before he was appointed as the ''marzban'' of the province in 564. During this period, the Armenian aristocracy was split between two parties, the national one which was headed by a member of the
Mamikonian family, and a pro-Sasanian one, which was headed by a member of the
Siunia family.
Chihor Vishnasp not only harshly treated the Christian Armenians who were suspected of secretly siding with the
Byzantines, but also did the same with the rest of the Christian Armenian population. Claiming to exploit on the command of the king, he persecuted the Christian Armenians and even built a fire-temple in their capital,
Dvin. These actions soon resulted in a massive uprising in late 571 or early 572, which was led by
Vardan III Mamikonian. On 23 February 572, the Armenian rebels managed to capture Dvin, and had Chihor-Vishnasp killed.
References
Sources
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{{Marzbans of Persian Armenia
572 deaths
6th-century Iranian people
Sasanian governors of Armenia
Year of birth unknown
Military personnel killed in action
House of Suren
Generals of Khosrow I