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 military commanders, in charge of border provinces of the Parthian Empire (247 BC–224 AD) and mostly Sasanian Empire (224–651 AD) of Iran.

Etymology

The Persian word ''marz'' is derived from Avestan ''marəza'' "frontier, border"; ''pān/pāvan'' 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 Iranian families whose ancestor was a marzbān. The prominent Islamic scholar Abu Hanifa, whose formal name is given in Islamic sources as Nu'man ibn Thabit ibn Zuta ''ibn Marzubān'' (), was descended from the marzbāns of Kabul, where his father came from. The Bavand (651–1349 AD) and Sallarid (919–1062 AD) dynasty rulers also used ''marzubān'' in their name.

The word marzban was borrowed into Armenian as ''marzpan'' (մարզպան) and into Georgian as ''marzapani'' (მარზაპანი).

History

The ranks tradition (primarily of ''vāspuhrān'' and ''āzādān'') can be traced to the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC), but due to lack of sources even in the Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD) the existence of a proper classification of ranks is unknown, in comparison to the Sasanian royal inscriptions from the 3rd century AD when the aristocracy was divided into four or five ranks; '' šahrdārān'' (kings, landholders), ''vāspuhrān'' (princes; the seven great noble families), '' wuzurgān'' (magnates; "great ones"), lower nobility '' āzādān'' (feudal nobles; freemen), and ''kadag-xwadāy'' (householders). The Sasanian military organization was more sophisticated than the inherited Parthian system. The caste system wasn't rigid as in India, but the ruling officiers were mostly from ''wuzurgān'' caste. There's a possibility that the Late Sasanian ''marzbānān'' also originated from the ''āzādān'', who mostly were lords of villages (''dihqānān''), supplied the cavalry with young riders ('' asbārān''), or were bodyguards and security forces with titles ''bandagān'', ''ayyārān'' or ''jānbāzān'', all signifying association with the king.

The title ''marzbān'' can be dated to the Parthian Empire, where in the frontier areas such as Nisa (1st century BC) are found titles ''mrzwpn'' (marzban), probably an officier in charge of the frontier troops, and ''dyzpty'', an officier in charge of a fort. Some scholars consider that ''marzbāns'' existed during the reign of Darius I (550–486 BC) of the Achaemenid Empire. There is some uncertainty for the exact relationship between titles ''marzbān'', '' spāhbed'', '' kanārang'', ''pāygōsbān'' (Parthian ''ptykwspn'', Sasanian ''paygospān'' or ''padhospān'') and ''ostāndār''. The historical sources blur the distinction between the ''marzbān'' and ''spāhbed'' (army general or military governor), implying ''marzbān'' was a military title strictly limited to the frontier marches and provinces. The least clear is the distinction with ''kanārang'', apparently an East-Iranian derivation of ''marzbān'' in the province Abarshahr in Central Asia. The ''pāygōsbān'', meaning "guardian of the district", is an uncertain title, seemingly provincial military commanders or governors, while the ''marzbān'' meant "guardian of the borders, provinces". Perhaps the ''pāygōsbān'' lacked civilian duties. The ''ostāndār'' was the governor of an ''ostān'' (province or district within a province).

The primary sources imply the ''marzbān'' was a provincional function practiced for a single or multiple provinces, but there is no evidence for a "quarter of the empire", as al-Masudi entitled Šahrwarāz (629 AD). The rank of ''marzbān'', like most imperial administration, was mostly patrimonial, and was passed down through a single family for generations. The ''marzbāns'' of greatest seniority were permitted a silver throne, while ''marzbāns'' of the most strategic border provinces, such as the province of Armenia, were allowed a golden throne. In military campaigns the regional ''marzbāns'' could be regarded as field marshals, while lesser ''spāhbeds'' could command a field army.

The function of ''marzbān'' changed over the years, with smaller territorial units being part of the civil administration. In the early years the main ''marzbān'' regions were Armenia, Beth Aramaye, Pars, Kirman, Spahan, Adurbadagan, Tabaristan, Nishapur, Tus, Sakastan, Mazun, Harev, Marv and Sarakhs, several mentioned belonging to the Greater Khorasan. Some regions enjoyed considerable autonomy while other were militarily more important, for example the Adurbadagan facing the Caucasus was special military frontier.

''Marzbāns'' 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 Arabs, White Huns and Oghuz Turks, and holding the first line of defense against settled enemies such as Romans and Kushans. During the reign of Khosrow I (531–579 AD) were held Khosrow I#Military reforms, military reforms by which were created Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr#Kusts of Eranshahr, four frontier regions ( Khwarasan, Khwarwaran, Nemroz, Adurbadagan) with ''spāhbed'' in charge, sometimes still called as ''marzbān'', but now generally considered for more central provinces. Also, the previous gentry rank ''dihqānān'' was moulded into influential "nobility of service" which became the backbone of the Sasanian state. However, this measures of centralization caused the transfer of the power to the military (the ''dihqānān'' gradually became more independent from the government, while the four large ''spāhbed'' territories quasi-independent fiefs), and led to the eventual disintegration of the Empire.

The Sasanian social, administrative and military structure and system was inherited by the Medieval Islamic civilization, however, the ''marzbāns'' steadily disappeared depending on the region, as such in Iraq diminished and were replaced by Muslim frontier warriors ''muqātila'', while in Khorasan still had special privileges. In generally were replaced by the title ''dihqānān''.

See also

* Muḥammad ibn al-Marzubani (ca.910-994)
* List of marzbans
*Marzpanate Armenia
*Satrap, the governor of the provinces
*Spahbed, a similar Sassanid commandership rank
* Ban, a noble title which was used in various South European Balkan countries
* List of Iranian titles and ranks
*Military of the Sasanian Empire

References

Bibliography

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Further reading

*{{citation , last1=Greatrex , first1=Geoffrey , last2=Lieu , first2=Samuel N. C. , date=2005 , title=The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars AD 363-628 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awCGAgAAQBAJ , publisher=Routledge , isbn=9781134756469

Officials of the Sasanian Empire
Military ranks
Marquesses
Sasanian military offices
Parthian titles and offices
Persian words and phrases