UC Irvine UC Irvine Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title From Rome to Iran: Identity and Xusro II Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1rp8c11b Author Baca-Winters, Keenan Publication Date 2015 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY*OF*CALIFORNIA, IRVINE From*Rome*to*Iran:*Identity*and*Xusrō*II DISSERTATION submitted*in*partial*satisfaction*of*the*requirements for*the*degree*of DOCTOR*OF*PHILOSOPHY in*History by Keenan*BacaMWinters *********Dissertation*Committee: *******************************Professor*Touraj*Daryaee,*chair *Professor*Elizabeth*DePalma*Digeser Associate*Professor*Laura*J.*Mitchell 2015 ©*2015*Keenan*BacaMWinters DEDICATION To*those*who*have*gone*before*me: Thomas*N.*Sizgorich*and*Gregory*J.*Winters Until*we*meet*again ii TABLE*OF*CONTENTS *******************************Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ******* v*** i CURRICULUM*VITAE ***vi ABSTRACT*OF*THE*DISSERTATION **** vii INTRODUCTION *********1*** CHAPTER*1:** Fear*in*a*Handful*of*Dust:*Roman* *********29 Emotional*Reaction*to*Xusrō*II ************** CHAPTER*2:** PseudoMSebēos*and*Xusrō*II:*An* *********66 Armenian*Seizes*His*Identity*in*a* PersoMRomano*World*************************** ************** CHAPTER*3:* Xusrō*II*and*the*Church*of*the*East* *******110 in*Ērānšahr ************** CHAPTER*4:** A*Dream*Deferred:*Xusrō*II*in* *******154 Ferdowsī's*Shahnameh+and*AlMṬabarī's* History ************** **** ******** ******************** CONCLUSION:** Xusrō,*We*Hardly*Knew*Ye *******195 BIBLIOGRAPHY *******215 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This*dissertation*was*not*the*result*of*just*my*effort.*Many*people*have* supported*me*on*this*long*and*difeicult*journey.* I*eirst*would*like*to*thank*Thomas*Sizgorich,*whose*support*and*advice*he* gave*me*when*I*was*his*undergraduate*student*at*the*University*of*New* Mexico*inspired*me*to*become*a*scholar.*I*deeply*regret*our*friendship*at*UC* Irvine*was*cut*short*by*his*untimely*death,*and*I*will*always*treasure*the* memory*I*have*of*him*teaching*me*Syriac*on*Friday*afternoons*at*Arriba*Baja Grill*across*the*street*from*UCI.*Many*times,*the*lessons*stopped,*and*we* spoke*about*life.*Little*did*he*know*how*much*he*helped*me*navigate*life's* rough*waters*before*and*after*his*death.*Tom,*I*hope*this*dissertation*pays* off*some*of*the*debt*I*owe*you,*and*I*will*always*remember*to*help*my* students*like*you*helped*me. I*also*would*like*to*thank*Nancy*McLoughlin*for*opening*up*her*home*to*me* after*Tom's*death.*Not*only*did*I*live*with*Nancy*for*two*years,*but*she*also* was*my*unofeicial*adviser*and*cheerleader*during*my*time*at*UC*Irvine*and* when*I*was*writing*this*dissertation.*We*spent*a*lot*of*time*talking*about* how*to*survive*academia,*her*rowing*and*my*bicycling*workouts,*and,*more* importantly,*our*philosophyMthe*art*of*letting*things*go*and*doing*what*you* can*with*what*you*have.*Nancy*helped*me*out*during*many*difeicult*times* and*more*than*once*talked*me*down*from*the*metaphorical*ledge.*Thank* you,*Nancy. I*also*would*like*to*thank*Mary*Whitby*for*sending*me*all*of*her*hardMtoMeind* articles*on*George*of*Pisidia.*I*was*hoping*she*would*send*me*electronic* copies*of*those*articles,*but*imagine*my*surprise*when*I*found*the*articles*in* my*home*mailbox.*Her*husband,*Michael*Whitby,*also*went*above*and* beyond*and*sent*me*the*hard*copy*of*an*important*article*he*wrote*in*the* early*1990s.* The*help*of*Stephen*Rapp*was*also*instrumental*in*the*completion*of*this* dissertation.*Not*only*did*our*conversation*during*his*visit*to*UC*Irvine*help* me*contextualize*complicated*history*of*the*Caucus*region,*he*helped*me*by* speedily*giving*me*the*critical*edition*of*PseudoMSebēos.*I*cannot*express*in* words*how*much*I*appreciate*his*help.* I*would*be*remiss*if*I*did*not*mention*my*committee.*To*my*chair,*Touraj* Daryaee:*Thank*you*for*taking*me*on*as*your*student*after*Tom's*death.*To* iv Elizabeth*Digeser:*I*am*glad*you*agreed*to*help*with*with*my*dissertation.* You*have*kept*me*grounded*in*the*details*and*your*comments*have*made*me* a*better*scholar.*And*last,*but*not*least,*to*Laura*Mitchell:*Thank*you*for* helping*me*with*my*prose*and*showing*me*how*I*can*link*late*antiquity*with* world*history.*Because*of*your*guidance,*I*can*make*history*exciting*and* relevant*to*my*students*by*using*the*tools*you*gave*in*your*world*history* seminar. I*would*like*to*also*thank*my*family,*especially*my*mother,*Elizabeth*Baca,* and*grandmother,*Marcella*Baca,*for*indulging*me*with*my*incessant*need*to* have*her*read*to*me*when*I*was*a*child.*Because*of*this,*I*eind*joy*in*reading* the*primary*sources.*Thank*you*to*Father*Joseph*Vanderholt,*S.J.,*for* explaining*to*me,*in*the*simplest*terms,*the*difference*between*monophysite, diaphysite,*and*orthodox*Christianity.**I*owe*a*debt*to*Jhonn*Balance,*Peter* Christopherson,*and*Thighpaulsandra*for*the*aural*distractions.*Thanks*to* my*editor,*Jim*Wagner,*who*was*instrumental*in*helping*clean*up*my*writing. A*special*thanks*is*owed*to*Soodabeh*MelakzadehMEradji*for*being*there.*And most*importantly,*I*would*like*to*thank*my*late*father,*Gregory*Winters,*who,* when*I*was*younger,*knew*before*I*did*that*I*would*be*a*historian*and*made* sure*my*hunger*for*history*was*always*satiseied. I*must*also*express*my*gratitude*for*receiving*the*Regent's*Fellowship*from* UC*Irvine*and*the*Charles*and*Anne*Quilter*Graduate*Students*Award*in* History. I*thank*all*of*you*and*the*others*left*unmentioned.*All*these*people*are* responsible*for*the*good*parts*of*this*dissertation.*I,*on*the*other*hand,*am* responsible*for*anything*found*lacking. v CURRICULUM*VITAE Keenan*BacaMWinters EDUCATION Ph.D.*in*history,*University*of*California,*Irvine,*2015 M.A.*in*history,*San*Diego*State*University,*2010 B.A.*in*history,*University*of*New*Mexico,*2008 TEACHING,EXPERIENCE Teaching*assistant,*University*of*California,*Irvine,*2011M2013 Teaching*associate,*San*Diego*State*University,*2009M2010 Graduate*assistant,*San*Diego*Sate*University,*2008M2009 AWARDS Charles*and*Anne*Quilter*Graduate*Students*Award*in*History,*2014 Regent’s*Fellow,*the*University*of*California,*Irvine,*2010M2013 NonMresident*Tuition*Waver,*San*Diego*State*University,*2008M2009 PAPERS,BFORE,CONFERENCES “A*New*World:*Procopius’s*Depictions*of*Eastern*and*Western*Barbarians*in*the* Sixth*Century*CE”,*the*University*of*California,*Irvine,*History*GradMStudent* Association,*2011 “A*New*World:*Procopius’s*Depictions*of*Eastern*and*Western*Barbarians*in*the* Sixth*Century*CE”,*the*University*of*California,*Irvine,*GradMStudent*Recruitment* Meeting,*2011 “’Who*is*Better*at*Enduring*Toil?’:*Constructing*Memories*of*the*Hannibalic* Invasion*in*the*First*Century*CE”,*San*Diego*State*University,*Student*Research* Symposium,*2010 LANGUAGES Modern:*French,*Persian,*and*Spanish Ancient:*Syriac,*Middle*Persian,*Latin,*Classical*Greek,*Classical*Armenian vi ABSTRACT*OF*THE*DISSERTATION From*Rome*to*Iran:*Identity*and*Xusrō*II By Keenan*BacaMWinters Doctor*of*philosophy*in*History *University*of*California,*Irvine,*2015 Professor*Touraj*Daryaee,*chair ****** The*RomanMSasanian*War*of*the*seventh*century*CE*was*the*last* conelict*of*late*antiquity.*Šahanšah+Xusrō*II+nearly*conquered*the*Roman* Empire.*James*HowardMJohnston*has*studied*the*war*extensively.*Walter* Kaegi*has*produced*a*biography*of*Xusrō*II's*opponent,*Heraclius,*while* Geoffrey*Greatrex*and*Touraj*Daryaee*have*written*articles*focusing*on*Xusrō II.*Scholars,*however,*have*not*attempted*a*major*study*of*him.*This* dissertation*seeks*not*only*to*understand*how*different*authors*depicted* Xusrō*II*but*to*understand*the*man's*personality. Roman authors who witnessed the war sought to highlight only the negaM tive aspects of Xusrō II. He was, according to the Romans, an enemy of God. Fear of Xusrō II was the basis for these depictions. PseudoMSebēos, an Armenian histoM rian, depicted Xusrō II as an arrogant, blasphemous ruler. PseudoMSebēos, howevM ii er, did not write anything positive about the Romans, either, because both the Romans*and*Sasanians*wanted*to*control*Armenia.* Christians living under Xusrō II's rulership also seemed to despise him. They portray Xusrō II as wicked because, in an attempt to punish them, he did not let allow them to elect a ruler. A careful reading of these sources, however, suggests these authors were aware of how Xusrō II took care of Christians in his realm. Finally, Arab and Persian sources differ in their portrayals of Xusrō II beM cause both groups, although both Muslim, were competing for legitimacy in the postMIslamic conquest of Iran, due to ethnic tensions. Arab authors emphasized Xusrō*II's*faults.*Persian*authors,*on*the*other*hand,*presented*his*good*qualities. Ultimately, all of these different depictions of Xusrō II demonstrate that he possessed a eierce will and embraced a vision of how to rule. Xusrō II wanted to conquer the Romans and extend his domain and be remembered forever. Xusrō II's drive might have made him seem arrogant to the authors studied in this disM sertation, and they depicted him accordingly. We should not, however, lose sight of*the*man*he*truly*was:*a*man*who*dared*to*dream.* iii INTRODUCTION Preliminaries Before*the*reader*is*introduced*to*Xusrō*II's*rule*(590*CEM628*CE)–the*man* who*almost*conquered*the*Roman*Empire–it*is*necessary*to*discuss*the*milieu+of*his reign*and*how*rebellion,*opportunity,*total*war,*and*betrayal*were*part*of*his*story.* Xusrō*II*was*an*interesting*character*who*dared*to*dream*big*and*desired*to*etch*his name*indelibly*in*the*annals*of*history.*His*story*starts*when*he*was*a*young*man.*