Gushnaspdad

Gushnaspdad
Born	Ērānshahr
Died	488 Ctesiphon
Allegiance	Sasanian Empire
Service/branch	Sasanian army
Rank	Kanarang

Gushnaspdād, known in Byzantine sources as Gousanastadēs (Γουσαναστάδης), was a Sasanian nobleman, who was kanarang during the reign of Balash (r. 484-488), and Kavadh I (r. 488–531).

Biography

Gushnaspdad first appears in 484,^[1] as one of the supporters of Balash. After Balash's accession, Gushnaspdad urged the Sasanian noblemen to execute Kavadh, the brother of Balash. He is reportedly said to have told the Sasanian noblemen while holding a knife: "You see this knife, how extremely small it is; nevertheless it is able at present time to accomplish a deed which, be assured, my dear Persians, a little later two myriads of mail clad men could not bring to pass."

However, the Sasanian nobles declined the decision, and instead had Kavadh imprisoned; however, he later managed to escape and took refugee in Central Asia. In 488, Kavadh returned to Persia with the aid of the Hephthalites,^[2] and was joined by other Sasanian nobles, which included the Karenid Sukhra,^[3] and Adergoudounbades, a relative of Gushnaspdad. Kavadh then captured Ctesiphon, ascended the Sasanian throne, and had Gushnaspdad executed.^[4] Gushnaspdad was replaced by Adergoudounbades as kanarang.^[5]

References

1. Pourshariati (2008), p. 267
2. The Hephthalite Empire, B.A. Litvinsky, History of Civilizations of Central Asia: The crossroads of civilizations, Vol III, Ed. Vadim Mikhaĭlovich Masson, (UNESCO, 1996), 140.
3. Pourshariati (2008), p. 78
4. Pourshariati (2008), p. 268
5. Pourshariati (2008), pp. 268–269

Sources

• Pourshariati, Parvaneh (2008). Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran. London, United Kingdom: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-645-3.