- Spahbod
Spahbod or Spahbed (Persian: سپهبد, in
Modern Persian Sepahbod, is derived from the words "Spah " سپه army "bod " بد master; or "Aspah'Paeity" (in new Persian "Asb" and "Payeh") commander of cavaliers/knights; alternatively Spah Salar (سپهسالار) and was a rank used in theParthian empire and more widely in theSassanid Empire of Persia (Iran). The title continued in usage after theIslamic conquest of Persia among both native Iranian dynasties and also those who were under Persian influence, such as the Armenian (seeSparapet ) and Georgian (seeSpaspet ) kingdoms.Used alone, it refers to the senior military officer but when it is used with Eran (Iran), "Eran Spahbod " ايران سپهبد or "Iran Spahbod", is equivalent to
field marshal orgeneralissimo of the Empire. It was the highest military rank after the emperorShahanshah "(King of Kings)" himself. The Iran Spahbod acted as commander-in chief as well as Minister of War and chief peace negotiator. Lesser spahbods could command a field army while the regionalMarzban s could be regarded as field marshals.During the
Pahlavi dynasty in 20th century, Pahlavi army reinforced the usage of many ancient Sassanid military ranks including Spahbod. The rank Spahbod in the Pahlavi army was equivalent to lieutenant general ranking below arteshbod (full general).Famous "Eran spahbods"
Parthian dynasty
* Rustaham Suren-Pahlav (Surena)
Sassanid dynasty *
Azarethes
*Bahram Chobin
*Rhahzadh
*Rostam Farrokhzād
*Shahin
*Shahrbaraz Pahlavi dynasty *
Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi
*Amanullah Jahanbani
*Nader Jahanbani Bibliography
* D. N. MacKenzie. A Concise Pahlavi Dictionary. Routledge Curzon, 2005.
See also
*
Sassanid army
*Marzban
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