Shapurdukhtak

Coin of Bahram II with Shapurdukhtak and Bahram III.

Shapurdukhtak (literally "daughter of Shapur") was a 3rd-century Sasanian queen. She was the wife of her cousin, king Bahram II (r. 274–293).

Biography

She was the only daughter of Shapur Meshanshah, a Sasanian prince who governed Meshan, and was the son of the Sasanian shah Shapur I. Her mother was a queen named Denag. Shapurdukhtak had many brothers: Hormizdag, Odabakht, Bahram, Shapur, Peroz, and Hormizd. She was probably raised in Meshan, which was then governed by her father. In 260, her father died and was probably succeeded by Denag as the governor of Meshan.

In 274, her cousin Bahram II ascended the throne, and she was married shortly married to the latter, and was given the title of bānbishnān bānbishn, meaning "queen of queens". In c. 281, her brother Hormizd revolted against Bahram II, and was supported by the inhabitants of Eastern Iran, including the inhabitants of Gilan. Hormizd's revolt was finally suppressed in 283, and he was shortly executed under the orders of Bahram II, who appointed his and Shapurdukhtak's own son Bahram III as the governor of Sakastan.

Shapurdukhtak is also portrayed on rock reliefs along with Bahram II at Barm-e Delak. Bahram II also minted several contains showing a portrait of himself along with Shapurdukhtak and Bahram III. She seems to have still been living at the time of her husband's death in 293, and probably died some years later.

Sources

• Frye, Richard Nelson (1984). The History of Ancient Iran. C.H.Beck. pp. 1–411. ISBN 9783406093975. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Shahbazi, A. Sh. (1988). "BAHRĀM (2)". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 5. pp. 514–522. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Gignoux, Philippe (1994). "DĒNAG". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. VII, Fasc. 3. p. 282. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)