Kavad II (Shērōē)
February 628 - September 628 AD
Qobad | Kawād | Shīrūya | قُباد دوم | شیرویه | کَباد | کَواذ | 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲
Recreation of Kavad II with red, embroidered vest, and bejeweled green crown based on the bust depicted on his coins.
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An alternative background for the recreated image of Sheroe. Download
Ver.1 - Last updated: Oct 8th 2021
A brief Biography
Sheroe, best known by his dynastic name of Kavad II was a short-lived monarch (shah) of the Sasanian Empire in 628. He was the son of Khosrow II, whom he deposed and killed. Kavad's reign is seen as a turning point in Sasanian history, with some academics arguing that it was instrumental in the demise of the Sasanian Empire.
- Via Wikipedia
Insignia
References
Here are a few coins associated with Kavad’s reign. Although the coins at this stage of the empire were not exact or realistic depictions of the Kings, a few elements are consistent, giving us an idea of Kavad the Second’s appearance. These similarities include a curved yet pointy nose (not unlike his father’s coins), a twisty, long mustache, and a short beard. An unusual element, rarely present in coins of other kings of this era is what appears to be hair jutting out from behind his ears. This could indicate an alternative way of tying hair. The recreated portrait of Kavad II does not take this possible hairstyle into account due to the front-facing angle from which he is depicted.
A likely family tree of Kavad II. His mother, perhaps Maria, was of Roman origin. Some believe she was the daughter of Roman Emperor Maurice. Due to this possibility, the facial structure and completion has been chosen to reflect his Mediterranean roots.
Visual Description in Literature
“His vest is embroidered red, … his crown is green…“ -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 74
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Between a ‘Wild’ and a ‘Weak’ Guess:
Due to the short period of kingship and the low number of coins found of Kavad II, this image would not be considered a strong guess. The coins that were found do not give us an exact picture of what Kavad could have looked like, due to the stylized nature of coins at this stage of the empire.
Note: His foreign ancestry also adds to the complexity of this depiction. His mother is named, Maria of Roman origin in the sources. Though it is hard to know her exact ethnicity as the Byzantine empire, not unlike Eranshahr, was a multi-ethnic society.
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