Aswaran

Military of the Sasanian Empire
Armed forces and units
Cataphract Clibanarii Aswaran Grivpanvar War elephants Paygan Immortals Pushtigban Sarmatians Daylamites Sogdian warriors Gond-i Shahanshah Darigan Stor Bezashk Navy
Ranks
Spahbed Aspbed Paygosban Marzban, Kanarang Masmughan Pushtigban Salar Eran anbaraghbad Argbed Hazarbed Paygan-salar Savaran Sardar Gond Salar Darigbed Navbed
Defense lines
Wall of the Arabs Gawri Wall Great Wall of Gorgan Wall of Tammisha Derbent Wall Darial
Conflicts
Romans Arabian tribes Hephthalites Turks Ethiopians Muslim Arabs Revolts and civil wars
v t e

The Aswārān (singular aswār), also spelled Asbārān and Savaran, was a

The aswaran were primarily composed of

The asbaran have often been demonstrated as an example of existence of feudalism in Iran by modern scholars, who simply refer them as either chevalier, knight, or ritter. According to historians such as Christensen and Widengren, the asbar had the same status as the knight. However, although the asbaran and knight resemble each other in many parts, the economic role and historical role of the knight is very different compared to the role of the asbaran in the Sasanian Empire, which thus makes it incorrect to refer the asbaran as knights.^[8]

The highest annual salary for each cavalryman was 4,000 dirhams.^[9]

Weaponry, armor, and tactics

The aswaran wore

The Spangenhelm helmets worn by members of the asbaran units in battle would have evolved through the centuries. During the 3rd to 6th century AD of the Sassanian empire, the Spangenhelm would have probably been made of felt and hardened leather. However, by the late 6th to early 7th century AD, they would have been decorated with flowers and purple ball with mail and small areas through which to breathe and see.

Weaponry

The asbaran cavalry was armed with a variety of weapons. The traditional heavy cavalry weapons, such as maces, lances, and swords would have been used, as well as a variety of other weapons, such as axes. Asbaran cavalry were not, however, restricted to short-range weapons, as they often carried weapons such as darts and bows.

The Sasanian cavalry's weaponry has been listed by Libanius as darts, sabres (scimitars?), spears, swords and "a lance which needed both hands".^[11] The nawak arrow-guide was used to launch 10–40 cm (3.9–15.7 in) long darts.^[12]

During

The Sasanian lance was based on the 12 ft (3.7 m) long Parthian kontos that featured a sword-like iron blade.^[19]

Face masks were used since at least the 4th century AD.^[20]

The horse-armor covered the torso (with an oval opening for the rider's seat), as well as the head and neck. Before stirrups came into widespread use, the riders relied on a saddle with "four horn" design for their stability. The Sasanian cavalry was relying more on maneuverability than their Parthian predecessors.^[21]

The late aswaran reportedly also used a device called panjagan which was supposedly able to fire a volley of five arrows.^[22]

Banner

Each asbaran unit would have a Drafsh, or heraldric standard. These would have often included

Some aswaran members with superior bravery, character, and equestrian skills were receiving honorary bracelets, recorded in Islamic sources as suwārī, with the wearer being called a musawwar.[23]

Elite Aswaran

The aswaran sardar were high-ranking officers who were in charge of the aswaran, their position was so high up in Sasanian society that they were only answerable to the

After the fall of the Sasanians

Most of the asbaran was disbanded after suffering defeat and conquest during the Muslim conquest of Persia. However, several factions of the asbaran, each faction led by a different leader, defected to the Arabs in order to preserve their status and wealth. These asbaran factions settled in various places in the newly established Muslim territories, where they each become known by several names, the most known and prominent faction being the asawira, who under their leader Siyah settled in the newly established settlement of Basra.

See also

Military of the Sasanian Empire
Armed forces and units
Cataphract Clibanarii Aswaran Grivpanvar War elephants Paygan Immortals Pushtigban Sarmatians Daylamites Sogdian warriors Gond-i Shahanshah Darigan Stor Bezashk Navy
Ranks
Spahbed Aspbed Paygosban Marzban, Kanarang Masmughan Pushtigban Salar Eran anbaraghbad Argbed Hazarbed Paygan-salar Savaran Sardar Gond Salar Darigbed Navbed
Defense lines
Wall of the Arabs Gawri Wall Great Wall of Gorgan Wall of Tammisha Derbent Wall Darial
Conflicts
Romans Arabian tribes Hephthalites Turks Ethiopians Muslim Arabs Revolts and civil wars
v t e

References