Khosrow
I (Khosrow Anüshirvan), d. 579, king of Persia (531–79), greatest of the Sassanid or Sassanian monarchs.
He is also known as Chosroes I. He succeeded his father, Kavadh I, but
before becoming king, Khosrow was responsible for a great massacre (c.
528) of the communistic Mazdakites. He extended Persian rule E to the
Indus River with the capture (560) of Bactria, W across Arabia by establishing
(570) at least nominal rule over Yemen, and north and northwest by taking
part of Armenia and Caucasia from the Byzantine Empire. He fought against
Belisarius and the other generals of Justinian I and against Justin
II. Khosrow is revered by the Persians as a just though despotic ruler
who encouraged learning, stimulated commerce, rebuilt cities, and set
up a reformed system of taxation.
