Bahrām Chōbin

Wahrām Chōbēn Bahrām Chōbīn
Great King (Shah) of Ērānshahr (usurper)
Coin of Bahram Chobin
Reign	590–591
Predecessor	Khosrow II
Successor	Khosrow II (restored)
Born	Unknown Rey
Died	591 Fergana
House	House of Mihran
Dynasty	Sasanian Empire
Father	Bahram Gushnasp
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Bahrām Chōbīn (Middle Persian: ; Persian: بهرام چوبین‎‎), also known by his epithet Mehrbande (Middle Persian: Mihrewandak), was a famous spahbed (senior army commander) during late sixth-century Iran. He usurped the Sasanian throne from Khosrow II, ruling for a year as Bahram VI (590-591). However, he was later defeated by Khosrow II and was forced to flee.

Bahram Chobin was son of Bahram Gushnasp, of the House of Mihran, one of the seven Parthian clans of the Sasanian Empire. Bahram Chobin had three siblings whom were named: Gordiya, Gorduya and Mardansina.

Bahram Chobin originally started his career as marzban of Rey, but in 572 he commanded a cavalry force which captured a Byzantine fortress and was promoted to army chief (spahbed) of Adurbadagan and Media. After being promoted he fought a long, indecisive campaign against the Byzantines in northern Mesopotamia.

In late 588, the massive army of the Göktürks invaded the eastern provinces of the Sasanian Empire, reaching as far as Badghis and Herat. Bahram Chobin was elected as the spahbed of Khorasan and commander-in-chief to lead 12,000Sasanian forces against the Turks. After reaching Central Asia his army ambushed a large army of Turks and conquered Balkh. He then crossed the Amu Darya and trapped and defeated the Turks near Bukhara, killing the Göktürk Bagha Qaghan with an arrow.