SASANIAN EMPIRE. Khusru II (AD 591-628). AR drachm (34mm, 4.16 gm, 3h). NGC MS S 5/5 - 5/5. Bust of Khusru II right, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent, two wings, and star-in-crescent, ribbons and crescent on shoulders; stars flanking crown, star-in-crescents in margin, double border / Fire altar with ribbons flanked by two attendants; star and crescent above, star-in-crescents in margin, triple border. Göbl type II/3. Shimmering luster. Khusru II Parviz ("the Victorious", alternatively Khosrow, Khosrau, Husrav, or Xusro) was the last major king of the Sassanid dynasty, marking both the zenith of their power and their pivot into decline. The defining event of his reign was the Byzantine-Sasanian War of 602-628 AD. During the brief civil war that preceded his coronation, Khusru II was granted sanctuary in the province of Syria by the Byzantine Emperor Maurice Tiberius. When the Byzantine Emperor was murdered by his general Phocas in 602 AD, the Sasanians became enraged. The Persian army launched a series of invasions deep into Syria and Asia Minor. The usurper Phocas was overthrown by Heraclius, the son of a provincial Byzantine governor, in 610 AD, but Khusru II was unconvinced. He refused to end hostilities, executing an embassy sent by Heraclius and declaring his intention to install Maurice's son in Constantinople. Over the course of the decade, the Sasanians decisively took Tyre, Damascus, Jerusalem, and all of Egypt. In 622 AD Heraclius mounted a massive counter-offensive down through Lazica and Azerbaijan, obliterating the Sasanian forces and surrounding Ctesiphon. In a unique historical episode, the nobility put Khusru II on trial for his failures in the war and had the emperor executed for his crimes. Khusru II was a prolific figure in the accounts of the early Islamic conquests, no doubt exhausting the Sasanian Empire by his war with the Byzantines and leaving the entirety of West Asia demoralized and pregnable. The legends on his coins read "Khusru, who multiplies glory" and in later issues "expanded Iran". HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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