In the historical novel entitled: “Magnificence of Sassanian" Vahid Alirezaei tells a story full of ups and downs about Sassanid dynasty, in a coherent and compelling narrative which familiarizes the reader with the history of those days of Iran. This book which is written in thirteen short chapters is in fact a historical narrative of more than four hundred and twenty years of Sasanid Empire.

IBNA: The long story of “Magnificence of Sassanian" begins with the adventure of Babak and his presence in Atashkadeh or Fire Temple (the place of worship for Zoroastrians). He was the Great Mobed (a Zoroastrian cleric) of Istakhr; an ancient city located in southern Iran, during the reign of his son, Ardeshir on Fars (Persia province). After the death of Babak, Ardeshir who was in the thought of expanding his territory inevitably encounters with Ardavan (Artabanus) V, the Ashkanid king. At that time, Ardavan was in war with the Romans in the western borders. Coming back from the war's travel he heard about Ardeshir’s revolt.

Their war occurred in Ramhormoz and very soon led to Ardeshir’s victory. Thus the gates of Ctesiphon opened on the Sassanid’s Army (April 6, 224 AD). With the ruling of the Sasanian, Ardeshir was forced to face with Romans, the perennial foes of Iran. He gathered his troops and, breaks down the army of "Soros”, the Roman emperor, who had attacked from three sides.

With the death of Ardeshir, "Tenser" the priest of priests (Mobed-e-Mobedan), put the royal crown on the head of his son, Shapur. It was at his time when Sassanid government encountered the great challenge and adventure of the Mani. Shapur called Mani to the royal palace and Mani who was “a decent man in white dress, a bright face and piercing eyes" (p. 31), very soon obtained reputation.

Shapur continued to war with the Romans and forced the Emperor " Valerianus " to submit: “Valerianus is brought to Shapur I with fasten hands as a captive. “Shapur orders to send “Valerianus “to Susa (shoosh) along with other captives” (p. 40). But with the death of Shapur when his son Hormuz succeeds to the throne, Mani obtains more authority and the king announces his protection of Mani’s religion, although "Kertir" the priest of priests considered the king’s protection of Mani Codex as blasphemous.

Sasanian and Mani’s denouement
In the subsequent chapters of this book, Alirezaei continues Sasanian story and tells about the coming of Bahram, the brother of Hormuz to the throne. Unlike his brother, Bahram hated Mani. On the first day of the month Khurdad, he orders Mani to come to Ctesiphon in order to debate with "Kertir” on his own beliefs. Their dialogue is conducted in the presence of the king and eventually Mani is sentenced to death due to the sin of deceiving Iranian people.

With the coming of Bahram II to the scene, the story “Magnificence of Sassanian " gets more attraction. He announces from the first day that “he is not interested in being enthroned and prefers to continue his free life” (p. 53). So, he makes an excuse to abdicate the throne but "Kertir” dissuades him from this thought and help him to be a responsible king. Bahram accepts Kertir’s advice and after years of rule, eventually he closes his eyes from the world and dies in peace. 
 
Now more involved with the story of Sassanian and those time adventures the reader follows the narratives more eagerly and reaches the time of Bahram III who rules just for a few months and then dies due to a sickness. Kertir and the Court elders seeking a royal prince “who would enjoy royal blood flowing in his veins “(p. 59), find "Nersi ' the old son of Shapur, the Great, and give him the royal crown.

At the beginning of his sovereignty Nersi fights Galerius, the Roman Great Emperor and defeats him, but after a year. He is defeated by the same leader and is forced to sign a humbled convention with Roman. Nersi was so disappointed that left the Empire and transferred his sultanate to Hormuz, his son. Hormuz reintegrates the domestic situation but, he loses his life in a battle with Arabs who had invaded Khuzestan. 

Azar Nersi came to the throne and is replaced with Hormuz , but his violent policy forces the elders to expel him from power, and transfer the Sassanid government authority to his Queen until his child is birthed. Later, when the queen’s child is born they named him Shapur. 
 
Alirezaei continues the adventures one after another and takes the reader back to the moment when Shapur defeated Arabs hardly, reintegrated the domestic situation and added the land of Koushan located in the east of Iran to his territory and fights also for seven years with Huns. After those wars Shapur came back to Ctesiphon, while he is by no means uninvolved in war with Rome.

He wanted to "restore the glory of the Persians," but knew well that such a dream would be impossible unless through “a full-scale war and gaining a victory over Rome “(p. 79). Finally a battle occurs between the two countries and after terrible heavy fighting, Ulianus, the Roman Emperor is killed and the Romans were forced to sign a convention based on which the whole of Mesopotamia as well as Syria are given back to Iran.

Stories and other historical adventures
The reader who has read a short but fascinating chapter of the book "Magnificence of Sasanian", here will be familiar with another story of Sassanid Kings in related to the kingdom of Ardeshir II. When Shapur died, seventy years had passed since his sultanate. So, his brother Ardeshir II also was a tired old man.

“On the coronation day, he hardly steps to the throne and Azarpad Mehr Espandan, the Mobed of Mobedan, puts the Royal Crown on his head “(p. 89). It is obvious that the sovereignty of such a weak and sickly man could not continue. Later the court‘s elders, removed him and seated his son Shapur III on the throne.

But it is in the time of his successor, Bahram IV, when an important event occurs in the world of those days and the Roman Empire is divided into two parts: the Eastern Roman Empire Byzantine Empire (or Byzantium) and the Western Roman Empire. After Bahram IV, the crowned was inherited by Yazdgerd III. Yazdgerd had no religious fanaticism, although he had come to the throne on the request of “Mehrvarz”, the priest of priests, marries a Jewish girl. Thus, “for the first time, a non-Zoroastrian enters the palace as the Queen" (p. 59).

When the Byzantine Empire messenger comes to bring the Emperor’s gratitude for Iranian religious tolerance to Yazgerd, the king replies:” Say, on behalf of Persian King to Caesar that the entire Iranian nation enjoys equal rights and due to the felicity caused by this equality all of them along with the followers of Zoroaster are involved in God worship in peace. "(p. 97).

Alirezaei then goes on and tells the adventure of Yazdgerd II , his two children's fighting, Piruz and Hormuz, on the surrogation of their father; Hormuz ruling for two years , the incursion of Piruz and his sultanate; the famines and droughts of Iran, and Piruz captivity by Haftalian , ,Blash rule, and Qobad are among the events described in this book.

Mazdak and other difficulties in the way of Sasanian
But the sovereignty tale of King Qobad is more readable due to its coincidence with the appearance of Mazdak and his ideas. People join Mazdak in groups: “They attacked the houses of the rich people, confiscated their stock and properties and took them for themselves “(p. 125). Qobad recalls Mazdak to the Court and in spite of the priests’ will accepts his religion. But this situation does not last and later he encountered Mazdakian and finally hanged Mazdak. This event occurred in 529 AD. 
 
The sultanate of Khosrow Anoshirvan and the stories of his days; the surrogation of Hormuz and the appearance of Bahram Choobineh; the time of Khosrow Parviz and his futile -long lasting wars with the Byzantine and ultimately, the weakness of Sassanian , the coming of those kings who could only persist for a short time on the throne, and defeat and killing of Yazdgerd III and removing of a dynasty that "had ruled in Iran for more than 420 years " (p. 175); are all discussed in the final chapters of the book "Magnificence of Sasanian".

Vahid Alirezaei has written the historical novel entitled: "Magnificent of Sassanian" in 175 pages and recently Tarfand Press published it with the circulation of 2 thousand copies and priced it at 3,5000R, and has made it now available to those who are interested in the historical Iranian ancient stories.

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