Argbed

{{Military of the Sasanian Empire sidebar}} '''Argbed''' ([[Middle Persian]]: hlgwpt; in [[Parthian language|Parthian]]: hrkpty ''Hargbed'';<ref>[[Paikuli inscription]], line 16</ref> etymology uncertain;<ref name="iranica">{{Cite book|title=Encyclopædia Iranica, I/4|author=M. L. Chaumont|chapter=ARGBED|pages=400–401|url= http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/argbed |accessdate=2017-11-10}}</ref> in Roman sources: ''archapetēs'') were a class of military commanders in charge of castles and fortresses of the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]] and [[Sasanian Empire]]s of [[Persia]] (Iran) between the 2nd and 7th centuries CE.<ref name="iranica"/> The office became more important under the Sasanian Empire.<ref name="iranica"/>

Argbeds were granted their command by the Sassanian emperor ([[Shahanshah]]) and were responsible for maintaining the security of their area of operation (usually a trading post, military fortress, or city), fighting the encroaching nomadic tribes such as [[Bedouin|Bedouin Arab]]s, [[White Hun]]s and [[Oghuz Turks]], and resisting the advances of settled enemies such as [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]]s.

The Sasanian king usually selected Argbeds from ''[[wuzurgan]]'', Iranian noble families who held the most powerful positions in the imperial administration. This rank, like most imperial administration, was mostly patrimonial, and was passed down through a single family for generations. In many ways, the Argbeds had the same function and status as medieval ''[[castellan]]s''.

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==See also== * ''[[Spahbed]]'' * [[Sassanid army]]

[[Category:Sasanian military offices]] [[Category:Military ranks]] [[Category:Castellans]] [[Category:Marquesses]]