Draft:Ardashir's Kerman Campaign

Ardashir's Kerman Campaign was one of Ardashir's early campaigns against the Parthian Empire, in which he invaded the domains of Haftvād (Balash according to Islamic sources), the king of the Parthian province of Kerman. Ardashir's campaign in Kerman resulted in the ousting of Parthian authority in the province, and one of his sons, also named Ardashir, being installed as governor. With Ardashir conquering more Parthian territory, the increasing Sasanian threat prompted the Parthian king Artabanus IV to confront Ardashir at the decisive Battle of Hormozdagan.

Background
Ardashir I had proclaimed himself king of Pars after having defeated his brother Shapur in a succession crisis and now sought to expand his territory by defeating local kings subordinate to the Parthian Shahanshah Artabanus IV. Before Ardashir set out on his campaigns against Parthia, a plot by Ardashir's brothers and members of his entourage was uncovered in which they planned on assassinating him and installing another one of Pabag's sons on the throne of Pars. Ardashir learned of the plot and had the conspirators killed. Having secured his position as king of Pars, Ardashir was ready to wage war on the Parthian Empire. Kerman province was one of the immediate territories targeted by Ardashir.

The Campaign
Haftvād, a minor king subordinate to the Parthian Shahanshah Artabanus IV, had seized the Kerman province and founded the city of Kerman as his capital and seat of power. He also controlled the city of Kojaran by the Persian Gulf which he used to source auxiliary troops from the surrounding areas.

Ardashir, from his position in Pars, was threatened by Haftvād so he sent an army towards Kerman city to defeat him, but this force was ambushed and crushed by Haftvād on route to Kerman. Ardashir now decided to lead his forces himself against Haftvād and put Kerman city under siege. Haftvād's eldest son, Šāhōy, gathered an army of Arabs, Omani's and Makran's, from his base in Kojaran and marched to relieve Kerman by confronting Ardashir. The Sasanians besieging Kerman had their supply lines cut off by Šāhōy and were pinned between the two forces. Simultaneously, the king of the city of Jahrom, Mehrak Anōšagzātān, sacked Ardashir's capital of Darabgerd. Ardashir was left with no choice but to lift the siege and retreat, during which he was pursued by Haftvād and Šāhōy. The retreat was disastrous, and most of the Sasanian army was killed. Ardashir escaped and sought refuge in a town called Mavad with two pious Zoroastrian brothers named Burjak and Burj-ataro.

Ardashir was later able to return to Darabgerd and raise a new army. He sent a letter to Mehrak and ordered him to submit, which Mehrak declined. Ardashir took his army and confronted Mehrak and was able to kill him, but he did not take Jahrom itself. Later, Mehrak's daughter would marry Shapur I, Ardashir's son and heir, and give birth to Hormizd I, the third Sasanian Shahanshah.

After killing Mehrak, Ardashir took an army of 12,000 towards Kerman city again, but decided instead of laying siege to the city, he would use a strategy suggested by Burjak and Burj-ataro. The three of them together pretended to be merchants from Khorasan and gained entry into the city. Once inside, they gave the guards wine to get them drunk and incapacitate them, then they slew the guards who were unable to defend themselves. Ardashir now gave the signal for his general Yazdānkard Šahrzūrīg to attack the city. Haftvād and Šāhōy were captured when the city fell. Ardashir had them both executed by a volley of arrows and appointed one of his sons, also named Ardashir, as governor of the province of Kerman.

Legacy
Ardashir's campaign in Kerman was one of the first conquests of the Sasanian Empire and marked the beginning of Sasanian expansion out of Pars. Kerman was an important region that attracted merchants travelling along the Silk Road, so control of its lucrative commercial sector greatly broadened Ardashir's resources and wealth.

After the deaths of Haftvād and Mehrak, the Parthian king Artabanus IV realized the threatening situation and offered to meet Ardashir in battle at Hormozdgan, which resulted in a decisive Sasanian victory in which Artabanus was killed.