Textbooks and Articles on Sassanian Military History
- Review of Sassanian Studies by Dr. Matthew G. Marsh
- Syvanne, I. (2019). Review of Kaveh Farrokh, Armies of Ancient Persia: the Sassanians. Persian Heritage, 93, p.15. See also News posting for this review …
- Gabriel, R. A. (2018). Review of Kaveh Farrokh, The Armies of Ancient Persia: The Sassanians, Military History Journal. See also News posting for this review …
- Interview of Spanish Military Journal, Historia Rei Militaris, with Kaveh Farrokh (February 17, 2019)
Sassanian Empire’s Wars
The Romano-Byzantine Frontiers (an overview)
- Encyclopedia of War: Roman-Persian Wars (92 BCE–627 CE)
- World History Encyclopedia: Ctesiphon (this article also discusses the military history of Ctesiphon)
- Maksymiuk, K. (2015). Geography of Roman-Iranian Wars: Military Operations of Rome and Sasanian Iran. Scientific Publishing House of Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Poland.
Wars of Ardashir I
Wars of Shapur I
- ŠĀPUR (Shapur) I
- Campaigns of Sassanian Emperor of Shapur I –نبرد هاي شاپور اول شاهنشاه ساساني – also published in Balatarin
- Questioning the term “Chemical Warfare” in Reference to Ancient Iran
- Dura Europos: Its’ Archaeology & History
Wars of Shapur II
- Malayeri, M.M. (compiled by Shahin Kaviani) The attacks of Rome against Persia during the reign of Shapur II (pdf) (in Persian)
- Lieu, S.: Nisibis
- Farrokh, K. (2015). Julian the Apostate. Military Heritage, March, pp.8, 10-13.
- Sánchez-Gracia, J., & Farrokh, K. (2017). Fuego en Oriente: La campaña Persa del 359 contra Roma [Fire in the East: the Persian campaign of 359 against Rome], Historia de la Guerra, 6, pp. 7 -13.
- Ammianus Marcellinus
Bahram V
The Late Sassanian Era and Wars with Byzantium
The Wars of Khosrow II
- Rastani, N.: The Other World War
- –ساسانیان در آفریقا-Sassanians in Africa (in Persian)
- Farrokh, K. (2021). La marea Sasánida [The Sassanian tide]. Desperta Ferro Antigua y Medieval, 66, pp.12-17.
- Farrokh K. (2023). Military Reasons of Heraclius’ Successes against the Sasanian Spāh: A Re-Examination of Karantabias’ Analysis. Parseh Journal of Archaeological Studies, 7 (24), pp.167-204.
Sassanian Military Architecture
- Farrokh, K., Karamian, Gh. & Karamian, H. (2021). Military Architecture and the Four-Spāhbed System for Defense of the Sassanian Empire (224-651 CE). HISTORIA I ŚWIAT: ACTA MILITARIA IRANICA, 10, pp.117-151.
- Kleiss, W.: An overview of Sassanian Fortifications
The Wall of Gorgan and the Central Asian Frontier
- The Great Wall of Gorgan-دیوار بزرگ گرگان– Synopsis of Kaveh Farrokh report also printed in Tehran Times International Daily March 9 2010- The Great Wall of Gorgan. (pdf)
- Secrets of the Red Snake: The Great Wall of Iran Revealed, in Current World Archaeology Today, No. 27, 2008. (pdf)
- Historical Atlas of Iran-اطلس تاريخی ايران– Wall of Gorgan-ديوار گرگان –
- The Great Wall of Gorgan: Longest Ancient Barrier between Central Europe and China
- The Ancient World’s Largest Fortresses: Persia’s Northern Defences in Late Antiquity
The Wall of Darband (Derbent) in the Caucasus
Western Iran
Northwest Iran
Military Organization, Elite Units, Troops, Tactics, Training & Jousting
- Farrokh, K., Karamian, Gh., & Maksymiuk, K. (2018). A Synopsis of Sassanian Military Organization and Combat Units. Teheran Azad University & Siedlce University: Publishing House of Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities.
- Farrokh, K. (2017). Armies of Persia: the Sassanians. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword Publishing.
- Farrokh, K. (2007). Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War-Персы: Армия великих царей-سایههای صحرا-. Oxford, England: Osprey Publishing.
- Farrokh, K. (2014). Soldiers of the Sassanian Empire: Rome’s unbeaten rival in the East. Military History, November Issue 50, pp.62-66, 68.
- Shahbazi, Sh.: The Sassanian Army
- Procopius Account of Sassanian Troops (in Persian)
Sassanian Savaran and Cavalry Units
- Documentary on Sassanian horse archers
- Cataphracts: Armored Cavalry Warriors
- Farzin, A. (Tehran University): Jyanvaspar and Ferdowsi (in Persian) (pdf)
- Farrokh, K. (2005). Elite Sassanian Cavalry: 226-651 AD-اسواران ساسانی-. England: Osprey Elite Series 110, Osprey Publishing.
Sassanian Paighan and Professional Combat Infantry
- Farrokh, K., & Khorasani, M.M. (2020). Die Sassanidische Infantrie [The Sassanian Infantry]. Pallasch: Zeitschrift für Militärgeschichte. Organ der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Heerskunde, No. 71, February 2020, pp. 25-35.
- The Dailamites of Northern Persia
The Caucasus and Northeastern/Central Asian Marches
- The Savaran of the Northeast
- Farrokh, K., Sánchez-Gracia, J., & Maksymiuk, K. (2019). Caucasian Albanian warriors in the armies of pre-Islamic Iran. HISTORIA I ŚWIAT, 8, pp.21-46.
Martial Training
- Zur-Khaneh
- UNESCO: Recognition of Polo (Chogan) as a Sport Originating In Iran
- Counting Arrows: How the Sassanian Empire Counted its Dead
- A Sassanian “Giant”
- Ancient Roots of Iran’s Wrestling and Weightlifting Olympic Dominance
Tactics & Organization
Military Titles & Banners
Sassanian Siege Warfare
- Farrokh, K. (2023). Sassanian Siege Warfare (3rd to 7th centuries CE). The 8th Scientific Conference Faces of War, University of Lodz, June 1-2, 2023, Lodz, Poland. – see News Release
- Farrokh, K., Maksymiuk, K., & Sánchez-Gracia, J. (2018). The Siege of Amida (359 CE), Siedlce University: Publishing House of Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities.
Sassanian Psychological Warfare
Armaments & Military Equipment
- Dwyer, B., Farrokh, K., & Khorasani, M.M. (2021). Sassanid Armor: Background, Development and Technology. SHEDET [Fayoum University, Faculty of Archaeology], Issue No 7, pp.145-183.– See News release …
- Farrokh, K., Khorasani, M. M., & Dwyer, B. (2018). Depictions of archery in Sassanian silver plates and their relationship to warfare, RAMA (Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas). Volumen 13 (2), Julio-Diciembre, pp. 82-113.
- Farrokh, K., Karamian, Gh., Kubic, A., & Oshterinani, M.T. (2017). An Examination of Parthian and Sasanian Military Helmets. In “Crowns, hats, turbans and helmets: Headgear in Iranian history volume I” (K. Maksymiuk & Gh. Karamian, Eds.), Siedlce University & Tehran Azad University, pp.121-163.
- Litvinsky, B.A.: Helmets of Partho-Sassanian Iran
- Farrokh, K., Karamian, Gh. & Kubik, A. (2016). An Examination of Parthian and Sassanian Military Helmets (2nd century BCE – 7th century CE)
- Farrokh, K., Karamian, Gh., Delfan, M., Astaraki, F. (2016). Preliminary reports of the late Parthian or early Sassanian relief at Panj-e Ali, the Parthian relief at Andika and examinations of late Parthian swords and daggers. HISTORIA I ŚWIAT, No.5, pp. 31-55
- The “Panjagan” of the Sassanian Army: A Chinese Connection?
Logistics & Support
- .فرخ, کاوه & کرمیان, قلامرضا (۱۳۹۵). تدارکات و پشتیبانی ارتش ساسانیان در جنگ. فصلنامه پیام بهارستان, شماره ,۲۶ صفهه ۳۳۲-۳۳۹ Farrokh, K., & Karamian Gh. (2016). The logistics and support system of the Sassanian army at war. Faslnameye Payam Baharistan, Number 26, pp. 332-339.
- Farrokh, K. & Karamian, Gh. (2015). The logistics, support and medical services of the Sassanian Spah. Persian Heritage, 77, 2015, pp.25-26.
- فرخ, کاوه و کرمیان, غلامرضا (۱۳۹۳). دلایل پیروزی ایرانیان باستان بر سپاه روم-تدارکات ارتش ساسانیان. مردم سالاری, ۱۹ خرداد ,سال ۱۳- شماره۳۴۹۲ , صفحه ۹ -Farrokh, K. & Karamian, Gh. (June 9, 2014). Sassanian Army Logistics. Mardom-Salari, Year 13, NO. 3492, p.9.
Bahram Chobin
Firearms and Bahram Chubin
- -سعید توجهی-گلول ههای آتشین در میدان جنگ:–اولین سلاح جنگی با استفاده از نفت از سوی بهرام چوبین در قرن ششم میلادی ساخته شد-Saeed Tavajohi: Fire Bullets in the Battlefield: The First weapons utlizing Oil were First deployed by Bahram Chobin the 6th century AD (in Persian)
- –صنوبر – بهرام چوبین:اولین فرد استفاده کننده از سلاح اتش زا-Bahram Chobin: the first to deploy types of firearms (in Persian)
- –جنگ بلخ و استفاده ژنرال بهرام چوبین از نوعی موشک علیه خاقان بلخ -The Battle of Balkh (November 28, 588: the deployment of a type of rocket agianst the Khagan of Balkh (in Persian)
- –بهرام چوبین به روایت تاریخ طبری-Zabihollah Safa (1991). The Military Expolits of Bahram Chobin according to Tabari. Tehran: Moasseseye Entesharate Amir Kabir (pdf) (in Persian)
Bahram Chobin in Historical Novels
- -سرگذشت بهرام چوبین/ بهرام داهیم– The Tale/Saga of Bahram Chobin (pdf) (in Persian)
Battle Elephants
- -آذری، علاءالدین -نقش فیل در جنگهای ایران باستان-Alladin Azari (1972). The role of battle elephants in Ancient Iran. Baresihaye Tarikhi, No.1, pp. 127-142. (pdf) (in Persian)
Sassanian Military Legacy
- Shahrbaraz Blog-دکتر محسن ذاکری و خاستگاه عَیّاران-Dr. Mohsen Zakeri: an analysis of the Ayyaran
- Pirooz in China: Defeated Persian army takes Refuge
Websites, Recreations and Videos
- Video reconstructions of Parthian, Sassanian and Scytho-Sarmatian Knights
- Video reconstruction of campaign of Shapur II in Arabia (342 CE)
- Recreation of Sassanian Weapons & Troops by Ardashir Radpour: The armored Savaran, late Sassanian saddles – see On-line Press release
- Website discussing the Savaran: Asvaran: Ancient Armies of Iran
- FaceBook venue discussing Sassanian militaria: Perozih
Recommended Further Readings
- Gracia, J.S.: Roma y Persia Frente a Frente (Rome and Persia Face to Face)
- Hughes, I.: Belisarius-The Last Roman General
- Hughes, I.: Stilicho – The Vandal who saved Rome
- Pourshariati, P. (2008). Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran (International Library of Irani. I. B. Tauris. See Foreword (translated to Persian) by Khashayar Rokhasani –پیشگفتار: خشایار رُخسانی –; See first chapter (translated to Persian) –نشیب و فروپاشی فرمانروایی ساسانی– (pdf).
- Wilcox, P. (1987, reprinted 2001). Rome’s Enemies (3): Parthians and Sassanid Persians. England: Osprey Men at Arms 175-Osprey Publishing (pdf).
- Maksymiuk, K. (2015). Geography of Roman-Iranian Wars: Military Operations of Rome and Sasanian Iran. Siedlce University: Scientific Publishing House of Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities.
Historical Novels
