Bahram II
274 – 293 AD
Shahanshah
Wahram II | Warahran II | بهرام دوم | 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭
Recreation of Bahram II with winged crown, symbolizing victory. Download
Bahram II as a king with red vest and a cape. Dark background. Download
! This is image is created with an old technique, will likely be updated soon.
Ver.1 - Last updated: March 23rd 2021, by Mo. Rasoulipour
Similar to his father, Bahram II ascended to the throne with the aid of the powerful Zoroastrian priest Kartir and ruled from 274 to 293.
Early in his reign he was troubled by his brother, Hormizd Kushanshah of the Kushano-Sasanian kingdom. He appears to have assumed the title of King of Kings and laid claims to the Sasanian throne. Soon after, another rebellion occurred in Sakastan, led by Bahram's cousin and brother-in-law, Hormizd of Sakastan, son of Shapur Mishanshah. Bahram II eventually suppressed these revolts before the end of his reign.
While Bahram II was dealing with rebellions in the east, the western borders were left relatively unattended. In 283, The Roman emperor Carus seized the opportunity and launched a campaign into the Sasanian empire that was unsuccessful and faced defeat by the Sassanids, and was killed. Bahram II in 284 made peace with the new emperor, Diocletian and, aiming to strengthen Sasanian authority, he crowned Mirian III, an Iranian noble from the House of Mihran, as king of Iberia (modern Georgia).
Bahram II was the first and only Shah, during the Sassanid era, to mint coins of himself along with his queen, Shapurdukhtak. He also had several rock reliefs carved, representing his family and members of the high nobility. During his reign, he treated the Zoroastrian priest, Kartir with high respect and granted him several authorities making him even more powerful.
Insignia
References
Three coins and a rock relief of Bahram II with winged crown, symbolizing victory. The angle of the wings vary from coin to coin. Uncertain whether the wing is made of metal or from, at least partially, real feathers. The description of Hamzah Isfahani (see ‘Description in Literature’ section), doesn’t seem to exactly match the crown on the coins. I have prioritized the visual evidence of the coins to the literature in this instance.
Visual Description in Literature
“His vest is red and embroidered, … his crown is sky-blue between two crests [!] and a crescent of gold…“ -Hamzah Isfahani
from - The 'History of the Kings of the Persians' in Three Arabic Chronicles: The Transmission of the Iranian Past from Late Antiquity to Early Islam (Translated Texts for Historians LUP) Paperback – September 1, 2018 - by Robert G. Hoyland
Page 64
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Weak Guess:
Even though the coins minted at this time of Sassanid Empire are of relative high quality they depict Bahram II in multiple different ways. Lack of one source of dependable likeness makes this guess slightly difficult. There are however features that are common among most coins that have been used for this imagination.
Note: The rock relief of Bahram II has lost significant detail, and therefore was not relied on for construction of the face.
See the latest work in progress:
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