Marzban

Marzban (Persian مرزبان derived from the words Marz مرز for border or district and the suffix -ban بان for protector) were a class of Margrave or military commanders that from the frontier provinces of the Sassanian Empire of Persia in the period 3 were responsible to the 7th century.

The Marzban was applied, the management of border provinces and they were responsible for the security of the trade routes, fighting incident nomads like the Bedouin, White Huns and the Oghuz, and for the first line of defense against enemies like the Romans or Kushans.

The Sassanian kings usually chose the Marzban from the Bozorgans, noble Persian families held the most powerful positions in the administration, from. The rank of Marzbans was inherited as other imperial offices and has been passed down for generations within a family. In the 6th century the non-Persian Sassanid Marzban Bagratides in Armenia were.

Marzbans with the longest period of service was awarded a silver throne, while the Marzbans the most strategic border provinces, such as the Caucasus in a golden throne was granted. In a campaign the local Marzbans could act as Field Marshal while lower Spahbods commanded an army.

It is not clear whether they had the authority over the forts in their territory, while the Argbadhs (warden ) were responsible for the forts. In many ways, the Persian Marzbans had the same features as the medieval Germanic Marquis. The Sassanid Marzban the province Abarshahr in Central Asia was called Kenarang.