Narseh
293 – 303 AD
Narses | Narseus | نرسه | 𐭭𐭥𐭮𐭧𐭩 | نرسی
Recreation of Narseh at an old age as the Shahanshah. Download
Narseh is known to have at least two crowns. The other crown, with ‘palmates‘ will be illustrated soon.
Ver.1 - Last updated: April 13th 2021, by Mo.Rasoulipour
Narseh a younger son of Shapur I (the great), served as the governor of Sakastan, Hind and Turan and during the reigns of Bahram I and Bahram II, he was the Great King of Armenia ("Vazurg Shāh Arminān")."
Narseh, who had been neglected from succession several times, finally received the crown in 293. Three years into his reign, war erupted between the Sasanians and Romans once again. Following three battles in 297, Narseh's forces managed to push back the invading Roman army. However, the next year they were taken by surprise and suffered a heavy defeat at the battle of Satala with Narseh's family taken prisoner. This forced Narseh to accept a peace treaty prescribed by the Romans, ceding them several areas at the Sasanian-Roman border.
Narseh did not survive for long after the conclusion of this treaty. He died in 303 (aged 70-75) and was succeeded by his son, Hormizd II.
Insignia
References
Rock relief of Narseh in Naqsh-e Rostam
Visual Description in Literature
“His vest is red embroidered cloth, … his crown is red…“ -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 65
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Between a ‘Weak’ and a ‘Fair Guess’:
Due to stylized nature of art in this period of Iranian history, the rock relief while a better source than the coins, can not be used to exactly define a full frontal face.
Note: There are doubts on whether this rock relief was originally intended to be of Narseh.
See the latest work in progress:
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