Khosrow III (also spelled Khosrau, Khusro or Xosrow; ; New Persian: خسرو) was a Sasanian rival claimant who briefly ruled a part of Greater Khorasan for a few months in 630.
Name
"Khosrow" is the
New Persian variant of his name used by scholars; his original name was
Middle Persian,
Husraw, itself derived from
Avestan Haosrauuah ("he who has good fame").
[; ] The name is transliterated in
Greek language as
Chosroes (Χοσρόης) and in
Arabic as
Kisra.
Biography
The background of Khosrow III is obscure; in some sources he has been described as a son of
Kavad II (), whilst other state that he was a son of
Khosrow II (). The latter seems more likely according to the English historian C. E. Bosworth. Khosrow III originally lived in the "land of the Turks", but after hearing of the friction in
Iran, went to the country and succeeded in ruling some of
Greater Khorasan for three months, before being killed by its governor. On his coinage, Khosrow III is portrayed wearing the same crown as Khosrow II, with the two wings being a reference to
Verethragna, the god of victory. He is portrayed without a beard on his portrait on the front, making him along with
Ardashir III () the only Sasanian monarchs without a beard.
Sources
