Bahram V of Persia

BAHRAM V of PERSIA. - Persecutor, son of Jezdegerd, whom he succeeded as emperor of Persia from the year 420 to 438. With ever-increasing fury he continued the persecution begun against the Christians under his father, during which numerous bishops and priests perished and converted officials and nobles were especially targeted, such as Giacomo l'Interciso, Ormisda, Suene, and Giacomo the notary (Teodoreto, Hist. eccl., V, 38). Many escaped death through apostasy; others, crossing the western frontier, took refuge in Roman territory. The Persians demanded the extradition of the fugitives from the Romans. War soon broke out between the two empires, with an unfavourable outcome for the Persians, and B., compelled to make peace, had to promise to grant his subjects religious freedom (422). During the war, Bishop Acacio of Amida succeeded in ransoming, with the proceeds from the sale of the vessels and vestments of his church, 700 Persians who had been taken prisoner (Socrate, Hist. eccles., VII, 21).