Sassanian king Kavadh I, a son of Peroz who had replaced Peroz's brother Balash as ruler, becomes deeply influenced by the Mazdakites, a heterodox religious sect of obscure origins that comes generally to be called after Mazdak, its major Persian proponent.
To encourage brotherly helpfulness and reduce causes of greed and strife, Mazdak seeks to make property and women common.
Inspired by Mazdakite tenets, Kavadh introduces social reforms that apparently involve some liberalizing of marriage laws and of measures concerning property.
These actions arouse the hostility of the nobles and the orthodox Zoroastrian clergy, as well as the Babylonian Jews.
King Kavadh I of Persia is deposed in 496 and exiled to Susiana; his younger brother Djamasp is installed on the throne.
