Djamasp

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Djamasp (also transcribed as Jamasp or Zamasp) was a Sassanid king who ruled from 496-498. He was a younger brother of king Kavadh I and was installed on the Sassanid throne upon the deposition of the latter by members of the nobility.

Not much is known about Jamasp himself and his name occurs only in conjunction with his short interregnum. Byzantine accounts of the episode (Jashua the Stylite and Procopius) mention that Kavadh was deposed because of his determination to spread a new "religion" that preached redistribution of property. Following Kavadh's deposition and subsequent imprisonment, Jamasp was elected to succeed his brother.

Later Islamic sources such as Tabari and Dinawari inform us that Jamasp was a good and kind king and he reduced taxes in order to relieve the peasants and the poor. He was also a proper adherent of the Mazdean religion (Zoroastrianism), diversions from which had cost Kavadh his throne and freedom.

The sources also tell us that upon the return of Kavadh at the head of a large army given to him by the white Hun king, Jamasp loyally stepped down from his position and restored the throne to his brother. No further mention of Jamasp is made after the restoration of Jamasp and we do not have any reason to imagine anything but a favourable treatment of him at the court of his brother.

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