Khosrow I Anushirvan

Khosrow I Anushirvan ascended the throne and began a reign that would be remembered as the golden age of the Sasanian Empire. He implemented sweeping reforms in administration, military, and taxation, earning the epithet 'the Just'.

Khosrow I negotiated the 'Eternal Peace' with the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, ending the Iberian War. The treaty required the Sasanians to return occupied territories in exchange for a large gold payment, securing a temporary truce.

Taking advantage of Justinian's focus on the West, Khosrow I invaded Byzantine Syria. He captured and sacked the great city of Antioch, deporting its inhabitants to a new city near Ctesiphon, demonstrating Sasanian military power.

Khosrow I reorganized the Sasanian military, creating a standing army of heavily armored cavalry (aswaran) and improving logistics. He also reformed the tax system, introducing a fixed land tax and a poll tax, which increased state revenue.

Khosrow I founded a new city near Ctesiphon, named Weh Antiok Khosrow ('Better than Antioch, Khosrow built this'), to house the deported population of Antioch. The city became a center for trade and culture.