ICHOSRV, or Ktresn0 I., surnamed NeSHIRVAN (the noble soul), and known in Byzan tine history as Chosroes I., the greatest monarch of the Sassanian dynasty, was the son. of Kobad, king of Persia. Khosra mounted the throne on his father's death in 531 A.E.;. gave shelter to great numbers of those whom Justinian, the Byzantine emperor, perse cuted for their religious opinions; in 540 commenced a war of 20 years' duration with the Roman emperor; but though the Persians reaped an abundant harvest of glory, the other results were unimportant. On the accession of Justin II., the Persian ambassa dors having been ignominiously abused, and the Greeks having taken possession of Armenia, Kliosra, justly indignant, again declared war in 570, took Dara, the eastern. bulwark of the empire, but was terribly defeated at Melitene (577) by Justinian, grand-• nephew of the emperor of that name; this defeat was, however, counterbalanced by the victorious Greek being in his turn totally routed in Armenia. Khosril did not live to see the end of the contest, as he died in 579. His government, though very despotic, and occasionally oppressive, was yet marked by a firmness and energy rarely seen among: the orientals: Agriculture, commerce, and science were greatly encouraged, ravaged, provinces were repeopled from his conquests, and wasted cities rebuilt. His memory was long cherished by the Persians, and many a story of the stern justice of Khosra is still current among them. Persia, during his reign, stretched from the Red sea to the.
Indus, and from the Arabian sea far into central Asia. (For a full account of this prince, scoe sir John 3Ialcolm's History of Persia.)--Knosnt II., grandson of the sur named Purvlz (the Generous), was raised to the throne in 590, but being immediately deposed by another claimant, was, by the assistance of emperor Maurice, reinstated, and in gratitude surrendered Dara, Nisihis, and a great part of Armenia, to the Romans. In spite, too, of numerous and just grounds of quarrel, he preserved peace with that nation till the murder of his benefactor by Phocas. Khosra then invaded Mesopotamia in 604, took Dam, and during 17 years inflicted upon the Byzantine empire a series of disasters, the like of which they had never before experienced. Syria was conquered in 614 Palestine in 614; Egypt and Asia Minor in 616; and the last bulwark of the capital, Chalcedon, fell soon after. At this crisis the fortune of war changed sides. See IlEn ACL115S. Khosr0, driven in turn to the very gates of Ctesiphon, was deposed and mur-.
tiered by his eldest son, Shiroueh, or Siroes, Feb. 28, 628: It was to the prince that Iohammed sent a letter demanding a recognition of his mission. Sec MonAmmEn.