Khosrow I (Khosrow Anüshirvan) (khŏsrō`; ăn

shĭrvän`), d. 579, king of Persia (531–79), greatest of the Sassanid, or Sassanian, monarchs. He is also known as Chosroes I or Khosru I. He succeeded his father, Kavadh I, but before becoming king, Khosrow was responsible for a great massacre (c.528) of the communistic Mazdakites. He extended Persian rule E to the Indus River with the capture (560) of Bactria, W across Arabia by establishing (570) at least nominal rule over Yemen, and north and northwest by taking part of Armenia and Caucasia from the Byzantine Empire. He fought against Belisarius and the other generals of Justinian I and against Justin II. Khosrow is revered by the Persians as a just though despotic ruler who encouraged learning, stimulated commerce, rebuilt cities, and set up a reformed system of taxation.

Khosrow I

or Khosrow Anushirvan

(died 579) Persian king (r. 531–579) of the Sasanian dynasty. He reformed taxation, reorganized the army, and launched military campaigns against the Hephthalites (a Central Asian people) and in Armenia, the Caucasus, and Yemen. He is said to have had Sanskrit texts imported for translation. Under his reign, chess was introduced from India, and astronomy, astrology, medicine, and philosophy flourished. The Avesta was purportedly codified under his reign, and in later eras his name became legend. Almost any pre-Islamic structure in Iran whose origin is unknown is credited to him.