bgr_590405 - SASSANIAN - SASSANIAN KINGDOM - KAVAD I Drachme

SASANIAN - SASANIAN KINGDOM - KAVADH I

(488-496 and 498-531)

Kavad I is the son of Firuz (Peroz I). He spent two years as a prisoner with the Hephthalite Huns because his father could not pay the ransom after his capture. Peroz was eventually killed by them. Peroz's brother, Valkash succeeded him for four years before being dethroned by his nephew and blinded in 488. Kavad first favored the Mazdak movement which wanted to reform Iranian society. Kavad was driven out in 496 and remained imprisoned for two years in the "Castle of Oblivion" before escaping. With the help of the Huns, he regained power from his brother Zamap (496-498) who had taken his place. During his second reign, he ended up in 529 by eliminating the Mazdekites who were massacred. Khusro (Chosroes I) his son, succeeds him.