Kuru I of Persia (345 AD-408 AD) was Emperor of Persia from 373 AD until his death in 408 AD. He was formerly a rebellious nobleman of the Sassanid Empire who joined the Eastern Roman Empire in 366 AD during the Sassanid Civil War. He took power in 373 AD, taking over from Shapur II of Persia. When he died, he left only one daughter (Sabina), and the succession was given back to the Sassanids.
Biography[]
Rise to Power[]
Young Kuru
Kuru was a member of the Sassanid aristocracy, and was a family member of Emperor Shapur II of Persia. He was a poor commander with no management or influence, but when the rebellious noble Buran and his Eastern Roman Empire escort engaged Kuru in battle near Hatra in summer of 366 AD, Kuru was victorious. But Kuru, disrespected by his king, turned colours and joined the Roman-provoked rebellion in Assyria. Kuru, Buran, and Equitius Flavius together took control of the city of Hatra, and Buran was installed as governor. Equitius and Kuru continued on, marching on the Persian capital of Ctesiphon. In 371 AD, Kuru defeated Emperor Shapur's army in Assyria, a great triumph and also revenge for the death of fellow rebel nobleman Narses.
In 373 AD, after battling small Persian armies for two years, Kuru and Equitius Flavius launched an assault on Ctesiphon. The result was decisive; Kuru's army was victorious, and 12,519 civilians were massacred to ensure a fluid succession to the throne.
Emperor[]
His first act as emperor of Persia was to destroy the Zoroastrian Large Temple of Ctesiphon, a choice that he made reluctantly. Kuru was told to do so by Emperor Theodosius I of the Eastern Empire, who wanted him to convert the people to Christianity. Although he was a Zoroastrian himself, Kuru was grateful for Rome's help in his accession to the throne and complied.
For the next few decades Kuru campaigned against his rivals, and he captured the city of Phraaspa in 390 AD, taking it from the Sassanids. He promoted daily games to increase the happiness of the population and to distract their opposition to his rule. Kuru I of Persia died of natural causes in the winter of 408 AD, with only one daughter. Thus, the succession went to the Sassanids.