The Death of Yazdgard ibn Shahriyar

مقتل يزدجرد بن شهريار

Merv

In al-Baladhuri: Yazdgard ibn Shahriyar ibn Kisra Abarwiz ibn Hurmuz ibn Anushirwan fled al-Mada'in to Hulwan, then Isbahan, then — after Nihawand — Istakhr; Ibn Budayl pursued without catching him, Abu Musa tried Istakhr and could not take it, and Uthman ibn Abi al-As (may God be pleased with him) failed likewise, so that when Abdallah ibn Amir reached Basra in year 29 all Fars was conquered save Istakhr and Jur. Yazdgard meant for Tabaristan — its marzban having offered its strength — then fled to Kirman; Ibn Amir sent Mujashi' ibn Mas'ud al-Sulami and Harm ibn Hayyan after him, but the damaq struck his camp at Bimandh, destroying the army save a few — the fort named Qasr Mujashi'. Yazdgard, seated at Kirman, would not speak to its marzban for hauteur and had his leg dragged — 'you are not fit to govern a village, let alone a kingdom; had God known good in you He would not have brought you to this' — then went to Sijistan whose king honored him until, asked for kharaj, he feigned deafness, and moved on to Khurasan. At Marw's border the marzban Mahuwayh received him with honor, and Nizak Tarkhan lodged and robed him a month — then wrote asking his daughter in marriage; enraged, Yazdgard answered 'you are but my slave — what emboldens you?' and ordered Mahuwayh's accounts audited. Mahuwayh wrote Nizak inciting him: 'he came beaten and fugitive, you honored him, and this is his answer' — and together they moved to kill him. Nizak came with the Turks to al-Janabidh; the fight held even then turned — his companions were slain and camp plundered. Marw's city refused him entry; he dismounted and walked to a miller's house on the Arghab. It is said Mahuwayh's men slew him there; or he incited the miller, killed him, then had the miller killed since 'a king's slayer should not live'; or the miller fed him, plied him drink till drunken, spied his crown at evening, coveted it, and dropped a millstone on him — taking crown and robes and casting him in the water, whereupon Mahuwayh killed the miller and household; or, hiding in the water he bargained 'release me for my belt, seal and crown,' laughed when told bread cost four dirhams — 'I was told I would need four dirhams' — and when Mahuwayh's seekers came begged 'do not kill me; take me to the Arabs' king to treat for myself and you' — refused, they strangled him with a bowstring, sacked his clothes and cast his body in the water. His son Firuz fell to the Turks, it is said, who married him off among them.