Kobad II on his coin

Immediately after ascending the throne, Shiroy sent Ashtād and Kharrād, to Ctesiphon to convey his apologies to his father Khushru in the prison, and tell him not to keep bitterness or enmity towards anybody, as his condition has been a result of his own actions.

It was pointed out to him that not only was he responsible for his own father’s death, but he had also mercilessly taxed the people, though his treasures were full. On account of this, many Iranians left their country and went to China or Rome. He also blamed him for not returning the ‘True Cross’ to the Kaisar, though he had been so nice to him. Shiroy also reprimanded Khushru for having killed his maternal uncles Bandui and Gastaham, who in fact had helped him to get the throne.

The two reached Ctesiphon and conveyed the message. On hearing his short-comings, Khushru replied that Shiroy himself was full of wrong actions. Moreover, he said that what he knew were half-truths and that he was misinformed by others. He did not kill his father. On the contrary his father had tried to poison him, and he, fearing for his life, had ran away. He killed his uncles because they had murdered his father. He had placed him and his sons under house arrest, because he was warned by astrologers. Khushru asked Shiroy to verify his words by taking and reading his horoscope from Queen Shirin.

Khushru even justified taking taxes from farmers, as he considered that a full treasury was necessary to run a safe empire, especially after Behram Chobin had almost emptied it. He then said, that he will definitely apologise, but not to him or his allegations, but to God, if he has done anything wrong. Finally he explained that he was clean in his heart and was ready to meet his maker.

He then blessed the two envoys and asked Kharrād to tell Shiroy that he does not desire to have any communication with him in future. The two envoys sought forgiveness from Khushru for having to deliver such a message to him. They returned to Shiroy and conveyed the message.

When Shiroy heard the wise words of his father and saw his pain through it, he felt very sad and grieved. He decided to send special food for him. However, Khushru refused to touch this rich food and only ate what Shirin brought for him. She was his only friend and constant companion. The king passed a month in prison.

Bārbud chops off his own fingers

When the royal musician Bārbud came to know of the king’s plight, he too grieved a lot. He set off for Ctesiphon to see his king. On seeing Khushru’s plight, he could not but hold tears streaming down his cheeks. He started playing a very tragic tune on his Sitar and sang melancholic songs grieving the loss of his pomp, wealth and throne.

Then he promised the king that he would never sing another song nor play another musical instrument. Amidst burst of tears he proclaimed that he would burn all his musical instruments. Then he cut away his four fingers. As soon as he went home, he burnt all his musical instruments.

Khushru is killed

The detractors of king Khushru, who had incited Shiroy to rebel were now getting insecure, as they felt that Shiroy was getting sympathetic towards his father. They repeatedly went to Shiroy asking him to end Khushru’s life, as they felt that two kings cannot co-exist and if Khushru managed to free himself it would be an end for all of them.

Shiroy reluctantly agreed and asked them to look for a person who can end Khushru’s life. Farrokhzād came across an unknown vagrant man, who was quite a maverick, who called himself Meher-Hormazd. He was asked to accomplish the task of secretly murdering Khushru Purviz in lieu of a purse of Dinars, and he readily agreed.

After being given a dagger, he went to Khushru. As soon as the ex-king saw him, he realized that he was sent to end his life. He started reciting the prayer of repentance. The man sent away a soldier standing there and brought an end to the king’s life.

Mardānshah, the prince who Khushru wanted to be his successor, and fifteen other princes, were imprisoned in the same place. They along with many other noble scions were cruelly executed, within five days of Khushru being mercilessly put to death. Thus, at one stroke Kobad II decimated almost the entire house of Sāsān.

Appeasing the Romans

On the state front, some time after assuming the throne, Shiroy concluded a peace treaty with Heraclius in which he returned all the lands previously held by the Romans, and agreed to vacate all occupied territories in Egypt, Jerusalem, Syria and Anatolia. He also returned the ‘True Cross’ captured by his father Khushru II in 614, which Heraclius himself restored to the church in Jerusalem amidst great rejoicings. Euphrates river was set as the permanent boundary between the Sasanian and Roman empires.

End of Queen Shirin

Two months after the death of Khushru, Shiroy sent a message to Shirin, accusing her of sorcery and asking her to come to his court. Shirin did not go, but sent a message saying she has never practiced sorcery anytime in her life. Shiroy became angry and summoned her again . She agreed to come in presence of other wise men and courtiers, to which Shiroy agreed. Shirin secretly took with her a vial of poison which she had kept hidden in her cupboard.

Shirin went to the court and sat behind a curtain. Shiroy proposed to her and asked her to be his queen. Shrin first asked for justice from him, to which he agreed. Then, for the first time Shirin came out from behind the curtain and revealed her face and her hair.

Everybody including Shiroy was shocked and stunned at her bewitchingly beautiful looks and hair. She said, “None in the kingdom, except my king had seen my face and hair. I am showing it to you so that you realize that I was never a sorceress. My looks and hair had mesmerized the king. My beauty had made him crazy about me and I had given him four sons – Nastur, Sheheryār, Farud and Mardānshāh – all of whom are now resting in heaven.”

Then Shirin desired to go near the Dakhma, where the late king Khushru was laid. After Shiroy agreed, Shirin was led there. She cried a lot near the Dakhma, re-lived her fond memories with him, and then consumed the vial of poison which she was carrying, thus ending her life.

End of Shiroy

Shiroy was distraught when he heard of Shirin’s death, as he liked her a lot. He took ill and pined to see her again. He had another Dakhma built for her. The same people who had instigated Shiroy to rebel, now gave poison to Shiroy as well, and ended his young life. Shiroy ruled just for seven months.