Jalinus
Jalinus (also spelled Jilunus) was a 7th-century Armenian dynast, who was one of the leading figures in Sasanian Iran. He was the commander of the guard over Khosrow II, during the latter's imprisonment. Jalinus was a Sasanian commander during the Arab conquest of Iran.
Jalinus | |
|---|---|
| Died | November 636 al-Qadisiyyah |
| Allegiance | Sasanian Empire |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Kaskar Battle of the Bridge Battle of al-Qadisiyyah † |
Background and identity
The name of Jalinus is the Arabic form of his original, Greek name, Galen.[1] According to Pourshariati, the name was most likely not his personal name, but a title of his.[2] He was probably one of the Armenian dynasty that became entangled in Sasanian history.[3] He may have been the same person as Mushegh III Mamikonian or Gregory of Siwnik, who both also served the Sasanians in the early 7th-century.[2]
Biography
Jalinus is first mentioned as the commander over Khosrow II, during the latter's imprisonment in 628.[3] Although Khosrow had been overthrown and imprisoned by his son Kavad II Sheroe, he was still treated like a monarch, with Jalinus even addressing him with the formula anōšag buwād ("may he be immortal").[4] After his defeat at the battle of Kaskar,[5] Jalinus was sent by Yazdegerd III to crush the invading Arab forces along with 60,000 men and the commander-in-chief of all armies of the empire, Rostam Farrokhzād at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah. Jalinus commanded the Right center of the army. After Rostam's death at the battle and the other commanders' withdrawal, Jalinus took command of what was left of the Sasanian army.[6] He gained control of the bridgehead, and succeeded in getting the bulk of the Sasanian army across the bridge safely.[7] He was killed at the battle of al-Qadisiyyah.[8]
References
- Al-Tabari 1985–2007, v. 5: p. 49 (note #953).
- Pourshariati 2008, p. 157 (note #846).
- Pourshariati 2008, p. 157.
- Al-Tabari 1985–2007, v. 5: p. 49 (note #954).
- Parvaneh Pourshariati, 216.
- The origins of the Islamic state By Abu Al-Abbas Ahmad Bin Jab Al-Baladhuri, Philip Khûri Ḥitti
- The Sāsānids, the Byzantines, the Lakhmids, and Yemen By Ṭabarī, Clifford Edmund Bosworth
- Parvaneh Pourshariati, 157.
Sources
- Al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir (1985–2007). Ehsan Yar-Shater (ed.). The History of Al-Ṭabarī. Vol. 40 vols. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
- Pourshariati, Parvaneh (2008). Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran. London and New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-645-3.