Khushnavaz
| Khushnavaz | |
|---|---|
| Hephthalite king | |
| Reign | 450s - 480s |
| Predecessor | Unknown |
| Successor | Unknown |
| Died | 480s (?) |
Khushnavaz (also spelled Khush-Newaz; Sogdian: Əxšāwan’ār; Middle Persian: Xušnawāz), also known as Akhshunwar, was a Hephthalite king who ruled in Khorasan. At the zenith of his power, he ruled an empire stretching from Gorgan in the west, to Balkh in the east.
The word "Khushnavaz" is of Sogdian origin and means "king"—it was used both as a title and name.
Khushnavaz is first mentioned in 457, when the Sasanian king Yazdegerd II died. After his death, his youngest son Hormizd III seized the throne in the absence of his elder brother Peroz I who was serving as governor of the distant Sistan province. Peroz I was thus forced to flee to Hephthalite territory and seek aid from Khushnavaz, who gladly accepted to help him. In 459, they defeated and captured Hormizd—Peroz thereafter ascended the Sasanian throne, and ceded Taliqan to Khushnavaz.
However, in the early 460s, a war between the Khushnavaz and Peroz erupted. During the start of the war, Peroz did not have enough manpower to fight Khushnavaz, and therefore asked the Byzantine Empire for financial aid, which was declined. Peroz then sought to make peace with Khushnavaz, and offered him his sister in marriage. However, Peroz tried to trick Khushnavaz by sending a woman of low status instead.
After some time, Khushnavaz found about Peroz's false promise, and then in return tried to trick him by requesting him to send military experts to strengthen his army. However, when a group of 300 Sasanian military experts arrived to the court of Khushnavaz at Balaam (either the same city as Balkh or a city in Sogdia), they were either killed or disfigured and sent back to Iran, with the information that Khushnavaz did this due to Peroz's false promise. What happened after remains obscure, it is only known that in 467, Peroz managed to capture Balaam. However, Khushnavaz managed to quickly recapture Balkh. Peroz, weary of war, made peace once again with Khushnavaz.
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