Hormizd-Ardashir, better known by his dynastic name of Hormizd I, was the third SasanianKing of Kings of Iran, who ruled from May 270 to June 271. He was the third-born son of Shapur I, under whom he was governor-king of Armenia, and also took part in his father's wars against the Roman Empire. Hormizd I's brief time as ruler of Iran was largely uneventful. He built the city of Ohrmazd-Ardashir, which still remains a major city today in Iran. He promoted the Zoroastrian priest Kartir to the rank of chief priest and gave the Manichaean prophet Mani permission to continue his preaching. It was under Hormizd I that the title of "King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran" became regularized in Sasanian coinage; beforehand the royal titulary had generally been "King of Kings of Iran." Hormizd I was succeeded by his eldest brother Bahram I.
Hormizd is first mentioned during the wars of Shapur I against the Roman Empire. He was made the king of Armenia after its conquest by Shapur I in 252. Hormizd is believed to be many modern historians to have taken part in Shapur I's second Roman expedition, which took place in the Roman provinces of Syria, Cilicia, and Cappadocia, and which lasted from 253 to 256. This is supported by the reports of the Cappadocian conquests. Cappadocia does not appear to be have been the only area that Hormizd fought in: according to the Scriptores Historiae Augustae, the Roman rebel Cyriades assisted Shapur I and a certain Odomastes in the conquest of Antioch. The name Odomastes is an incorrect transliteration of Hormizd, and may thus suggest that after plundering Cappadocia, Hormizd took part in the siege of Antioch in 253. Hormizd is mentioned in an inscription on the wall of the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rostam near Persepolis in southern Iran, which Shapur I had created in order to praise his sons by citing their names and titles. In the inscription, Hormizd is given the title of Wuzurg Šāh Arminān. The 4th-century Armenian historian Agathangelos states that this title was only given to the heir of the shah. When Shapur I was on his deathbed, he crowned Hormizd as the new king of Iran, in May 270.
Reign
Little is known of Hormizd's reign. He reportedly gave the Zoroastrian priest Kartir clothes that were worn by the upper class, the cap and belt and appointed him as the chief priest. Like his father, Hormizd also granted the Manichaean prophet Mani permission to continue his preaching. It is unclear why Hormizd supported Kartir and Mani, both of whom represented a different religion. The IranologistTouraj Daryaee has suggested that it was possibly part of his attempt to control both religions, which were both seeking to become the main religion in the empire. According to the Norwegian Iranologist Prods Oktor Skjaervo, Hormizd was like his two predecessors, a "lukewarm Zoroastrian". Hormizd is usually given the epithet of nēw or yaxī/yaxē in Manichean Middle Iranian sources, possibly indicating his accomplishments in warfare. It was seemingly under Hormizd that the two New Year festivals in the month of Farvardin were linked together to design a festival that lasted six days. In primary sources, Hormizd is credited as the founder of the city of Ohrmazd-Ardashir, however, in some instances Ardashir I is also attributed as its founder. Modern historians consider Hormizd to be its actual founder. Hormizd was not succeeded by his son Hormozdak, but by his brother Bahram, who ascended the throne with the aid of Kartir.
Coinage and imperial ideology
While Ardashir I and Shapur I generally used the title of "King of Kings of ians" on their coinage, Hormizd had the title slighty modified, adding the phrase "and non-Iran". His full title thus read "the Mazda-worshiping, divine Hormizd, King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran, whose image/brilliance is from the gods". The phrase "and non-Iran" had already been in use in the inscriptions of Shapur I, and in rare cases his coin mints, but was first regularized under Hormizd. The extended title demonstrates the incorporation of new territory into the empire, however what was precisely seen as "non-Iran" is not certain. The reverse of Hormizd's coin portrayed two attendants, an addition that was first made by Shapur I, on whose coinage both attendants are depicted wearing mural crowns, whilst looking away from the fire temple between them. They most likely represented the shah. In the coinage of Hormizd, the attendants face the temple and are wearing different crowns. The figure on the left side represents Hormizd, whilst the figure on the right—depending on its portrayal—represents the Iranian deities Mithra or Anahita.
