Bahram II

The influential Kartir has called for the persecution of adherents of other religions, in particular Manichaeans.

Under the guidance of Kartir, Bahram has had the prophet Mani, the founder of Manichaeism (and the author of the Shapurgan, which was dedicated to Bahram's father Shapur) sentenced to death.

Mani dies in his cell shortly before his execution.

However, rumors persist that Mani might have been flayed alive and his skin, stuffed with straw, suspended for some time over one of the gates of the great city of Shapur.

On Bahram’s orders, the prophet's death is followed by the persecution of his disciples.

Manichaeism is relatively well established by that time, and is supported by numerous priests under a hierarchy of religious leaders that include twelve apostles and seventy-two bishops.

Nearly all of them are handed over to the Zoroastrian clergy, who—under Kartir —consider Manichaeism a heresy and cause the followers of Mani to be executed or otherwise punished.

When Bahram dies, possibly of disease, later in 276, his son ascends the throne to rule as Bahram II; he will continue his predecessors' work of strengthening dynastic power as opposed to the nobility.

Roman Emperor Probus desires to reconquer Mesopotamia, but once on the scene he deems it unwise to begin a war with the Persians and instead comes to a truce with Sassanian monarch Bahram II, whereby both sides reassure each other of holding the peace.

Sassanid Persia, in decline since the death of Shapur, is currently riven by civil war between Bahram II and his brother, the kushanshah Hormizd, who is trying to establish an independent eastern empire.

Bahram II is said to have ruled at first tyrannically, and to have greatly disgusted all his principal nobles, who had gone so so far as to form a conspiracy against him, and intended to put him to death.

The chief of the Magi, however, had interposed, and, having effectually alarmed the king, brought him to acknowledge his wrong and to promise an entire change of conduct.

The nobles upon this had returned to their allegiance; and Bahram, during the remainder of his reign, is said to have been distinguished for wisdom and moderation, and to have rendered himself popular with every class of his subjects.

Bahram II is still preoccupied with defending his position against his brother Hormizd, viceroy of the eastern provinces.

Probus’s successor Carus, proceeding through Thrace and Asia Minor, invades Mesopotamia unopposed in 283, annexing the province and capturing first Seleucia, then …

…the Persian capital, Ctesiphon.

The reconquest of Mesopotamia avenges all the previous defeats suffered by the Romans against the Sassanids; for this, Carus receives the title of Persicus Maximus.

The emperor makes an augustus of his elder son Carinus, left in charge of governing the west of the empire in Carus' absence.

Wwhile preparing to follow up his success against the Persians and carry arms yet further into Sassanian territory in the summer of 283, Carus dies suddenly and mysteriously during a violent storm, allegedly struck by lightning, though rumor names Praetorian prefect Arius Aper as his assassin.

He had reigned for less than a year.

His sudden death, variously attributed to disease, the effects of lightning, or a wound received in the campaign against the Persians, causes the Roman army to conclude a peace and withdraw.

Numerian’s acclamation in December, without opposition, as emperor in the East, suggests that his father’s death may well have been due to natural causes.

Bahram is believed to have been involved in a campaign in Sakasthan (the modern-day Sistan) and Afghanistan against his brother Hormizd.

The hostilities end in 283 with his victory in Sakasthan.

He later has rock reliefs cut at Bishapur and …

…Naqsh-e Rustam to commemorate his victory.

The overthrow of Hormizd has made Bahram secure.

Diocletian signs a peace treaty with him, and …

…installs Tiridates III, a Roman protégé, as king of Armenia, which the Persians have been forced to relinquish.