King Profile: Khosrow I Anushirvan, The Reformer King
Caption
King profile: Khosrow I Anushirvan (531–579). A land survey and fixed taxes, a paid cavalry, four regional commanders, and a court that welcomed scholars. Gundeshapur’s school and hospital flourished under him. #Khosrow #Sasanian #Gundeshapur
Short takes
Khosrow I (531–579) replaced guesswork with a land survey: fixed money rates set by field size and crop, and a poll tax scaled to means that spared those under 20 and over 50.
Khosrow I’s army gained a paid cavalry, the asavaran, drawn from the gentry, and four regional spahbeds in place of one supreme commander.
Gundeshapur in Khuzestan was rebuilt by Shapur I. Under Khosrow I its school and hospital drew Greek, Indian and Syriac learning, and its physicians later served Baghdad.
Image description
Infographic titled Khosrow I Anushirvan, The Reformer King, in the King Profile format. A Sasanian silver plate showing a king hunting rams and a Sasanian silver drachm with a fire altar appear at left. Four profile boxes read Dynasty Sasanian, Reign 531 to 579, Epithet Anushirvan, Capital Ctesiphon. Five panels cover tax by the land, a paid cavalry, four commanders, care for the farmer, and patron of learning. A dark panel describes Gundeshapur. A bottom timeline marks 529, 531, the reforms and 579.
