Pirooz

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Pirooz (Persian: پیروز "the Victor"; Chinese: 卑路斯; pinyin: Pílùsī) was son of Yazdgerd III the last Sassanid king of Persia. Most of what is known of Pirooz is written by his son, prince Narsieh.

Prince Pirooz was very young at the time of the reign of his father Yazdgerd and never exercised the imperial power of the Sassanids. After the Arab conquest of Persia, Pirooz and much of the imperial family escaped through the Pamir Mountains in what is now Tajikistan and arrived at Tang China, which was more supportive of the Sassanids.

According to the Old Book of Tang (舊唐書), Pirooz (卑路斯) asked for military help from Tang China against the Arabs in 661. The Tang court created the Governorate of Persia (波斯都督府) at what is now Zaranj, Afghanistan, with Pirooz as governor. Between 670 and 674, Pirooz arrived personally at the Tang court and was given the title of Yòuwǔwèi Jīangjūn (右武衛將軍, "Martial General and Guard of the Right [Flank]"). In 678, the Deputy Minister for Personnel (吏部侍郎) of the Tang Court, Pei Xingjian (裴行儉) was ordered to escort Pirooz back to Persia. Pei Xingjian got as far as Suiye (碎葉; near modern Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan) before returning, while Pirooz was forced to spend over 20 years in Tuhuoluo (吐火羅; likely Bactra or Tokharistan) with several thousand followers. In 708 Pirooz arrived at the Tang court again and was given the title of Zuoweiwei Jiangjun (左威衛將軍 Awe-inspiring General and Guard of the Left [Flank]). He died soon after, while some of his followers survived him. After his death, his life story was incorporated into the legend of "Shah Vahram (Bahram) Varj-avand" who was believed to rise in the east and return to avenge Persia's defeat and occupation.

According to the New Book of Tang (新唐書), Pirooz died after receiving the title Youwuwei Jiangjun. It was then Pirooz's son, Narsieh (泥涅师), a hostage at the Tang court, who was escorted by Pei Xingjian westwards to Persia in 679 (not 678). Like the Old Book of Tang, Pei got as far as Suiye, and Narsieh (not Pirooz) then spent 20 years in Tuhuoluo. Finally, it was again Narsieh and not Pirooz that received the title of Zuoweiwei Jiangjun.