HORMIZD I

flourished 3rd century byname Hormizd The Brave king of the Sasanian empire (reigned AD 272273); he was the son and successor of Shapur I. Known before his accession as Hormizd-Ardashir, he acted as viceroy of the Persian province of Armenia. During Shapur's capture of Antioch from the Romans after 256, Hormizd exercised important command, presumably earning his surname at that time. During his brief reign he was apparently tolerant of the activities of the religious leader Mani, founder of Manichaeism.