Sukhra
| Sukhra | |
|---|---|
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Sukhra in the Shahnameh.
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| Born | 450s (?) Shiraz, Ardashir-Khwarrah, Pars |
| Died | 493 Ctesiphon, Asoristan |
| Allegiance |
 Sasanian Empire
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| Battles/wars | Hephthalite–Persian Wars |
Sukhra (also spelled Sufaray, Sufray, Surkhab, Sarafra'i) was an Iranian nobleman from the House of Karen, who was the de facto ruler of the Sasanian Empire from 484 to 493. He was active during the reign of shah Peroz I (r. 457-484), Balash (r. 484 – 488) and Kavadh I (r. 488-496). He is often confused with his father Zarmihr Hazarwuxt and son Zarmihr Karen.
He first appears in 484, when Peroz I appoints him as the minister (wuzurg framadār) of the empire. Peroz I was defeated and killed the same year during a campaign against the Hephthalite Empire, which seized much of the empire's eastern territory. Sukhra then avenged Peroz I by invading Hephthalite territory and inflicting a major defeat on them.
When he returned from his campaign, he was praised by the Sasanian nobles, and Balash was elected as king. However, it was in reality Sukhra that had control over the empire. In 488, Kavadh I made a major revolt in order to seize the throne, and was supported by several prominent Iranian statesmen, including Sukhra, who had Balash deposed and Kavadh installed as the new king. However, Sukhra still remained the power behind the throne. In 493, Kavadh I had Sukhra exiled to Shiraz in order to minimize his power. Fearful of rebellion, Kavadh I asked for the assistance of Shapur of Ray, who defeated Sukhra's loyalists, and had him captured and sent to Ctesiphon, where he was executed.
Sukhra was born in Shiraz in the administrative division of Ardashir-Khwarrah in Pars—he was the son of Zarmihr Hazarwuxt, a Sasanian commander who was active in Armenia. In 484, Peroz I, before invading the territory of the Hephthalite Empire, had his brother Balash installed as viceroy, and Sukhra appointed as his minister. Peroz I, however, suffered a major defeat to the Hephthalites and was killed at the battle of Herat. According to al-Tabari, Sukhra was the governor of Sakastan before his appointment as minister.
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