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Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Sasanian Kingdom. Queen Buran, 1st daughter of Husrav II, Silver Drachm (3.60 g), AD 630-631. AM (Amul?), RY 1 (AD 630). Bust of Buran right, wearing crown with two wings and korymbos set on crescent; ribbon on left shoulder, crescent and ribbon on right; star and star-in-crescent flanking crown; star-in-crescents in margin. Reverse: Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; triple border, star-in-crescents in margin. Malek & Curtis 29-73; Göbl type I/1; Mochiri 385; Paruck 477 corr. (mint); Saeedi 303; Sunrise 1005. Very Rare. Lightly cleaned, a few minor hairline scratches. Very Fine. Estimated Value $3,000 - UP
In 628, Buran's brother-husband Khavad II seized power by overthrowing and executing their father Khusru II, the reigning King of Kings, and slaughtering their brothers. An outbreak of plague killed Khavad II a few months into his bloody reign, leaving his eight-year-old son Ardashir III to succeed him. The violent discord within the House of Sasan undermined the already crumbling confidence of the Pahlav (Parthian), Parsig (Persian) and Nimruzi noble factions within the empire. After only two years in power, Ardashir III was killed in April 630 and the throne was usurped by the Nimruzi general Shahrbaraz. Shahrbaraz was overthrown in June of the same year by the Pahlav commander Farrukh Hormizd, who placed Buran on the throne as the legitimate heir.
Buran only lasted a few months before she was deposed by Shapur V, a son of Shahrbaraz who was almost immediately overthrown by the Parsig faction in favor of Buran's sister Azarmidokht. Once Azarmidokht was in turn overthrown by Rustam Farrukhzad, the son of Farrukh Hormizd, in June 631, Buran was again placed on the throne. In an effort to restore some semblance of stability to the empire, Buran negotiated a fragile truce between the Pahalv and Parsig factions and a power-sharing agreement with Rustam. As part of her attempts to shore up her reign, Buran also initiated a new diplomatic relationship with the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately, none of this was enough to repair the deep divisions that existed in the Sasanian Empire. After a restored reign of only a year, in June 632, Buran was killed by the Parsig faction during a military revolt at Ctesiphon.
Despite the chaos of her reign(s), Buran was immortalized on rare silver drachms, which, unlike the coins of her sister, feature her own portrait on the obverse. These illustrate her desire to bring back the greatness of the failing empire through their Pahlavi legends that name her as "Restorer of the Race of Gods," a title that had not been used since the time of Shapur II (309-379).
In 628, Buran's brother-husband Khavad II seized power by overthrowing and executing their father Khusru II, the reigning King of Kings, and slaughtering their brothers. An outbreak of plague killed Khavad II a few months into his bloody reign, leaving his eight-year-old son Ardashir III to succeed him. The violent discord within the House of Sasan undermined the already crumbling confidence of the Pahlav (Parthian), Parsig (Persian) and Nimruzi noble factions within the empire. After only two years in power, Ardashir III was killed in April 630 and the throne was usurped by the Nimruzi general Shahrbaraz. Shahrbaraz was overthrown in June of the same year by the Pahlav commander Farrukh Hormizd, who placed Buran on the throne as the legitimate heir.
Buran only lasted a few months before she was deposed by Shapur V, a son of Shahrbaraz who was almost immediately overthrown by the Parsig faction in favor of Buran's sister Azarmidokht. Once Azarmidokht was in turn overthrown by Rustam Farrukhzad, the son of Farrukh Hormizd, in June 631, Buran was again placed on the throne. In an effort to restore some semblance of stability to the empire, Buran negotiated a fragile truce between the Pahalv and Parsig factions and a power-sharing agreement with Rustam. As part of her attempts to shore up her reign, Buran also initiated a new diplomatic relationship with the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately, none of this was enough to repair the deep divisions that existed in the Sasanian Empire. After a restored reign of only a year, in June 632, Buran was killed by the Parsig faction during a military revolt at Ctesiphon.
Despite the chaos of her reign(s), Buran was immortalized on rare silver drachms, which, unlike the coins of her sister, feature her own portrait on the obverse. These illustrate her desire to bring back the greatness of the failing empire through their Pahlavi legends that name her as "Restorer of the Race of Gods," a title that had not been used since the time of Shapur II (309-379).