Mazdak

Mazdak, the founder of a doctrine that appeared in the reign of Kavad ibn Firuz, king of the Persians. The Sealed Nectar describes it as a call to licence, and Kavad followed him as many of his subjects did. ^{2 3}

Kavad sent to al-Mundhir ibn Ma al-Sama, king of al-Hira, calling him to this doctrine. He refused, so Kavad removed him, and appointed al-Harith ibn Amr al-Kindi after he had answered the call. ²

Kavad was succeeded by Khosrow Anushirvan, who strongly disliked this doctrine, so he killed Mazdak and many who professed it, and restored al-Mundhir to al-Hira. ²

The description of the doctrine as licence is the author's wording. The description of it by Ibn al-Nadim as a doctrine of "sharing and abandoning domination" is in this entry's data. Modern academic views on Mazdakism are not yet added.