Radān duties in the Sassanid period from the Mādayān ī Hazār Dādestān

Subject Areas : Epistemological and methodological researcher of historical research

zahra hisseini ¹ (Iran, Tehran, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research)

Received: 2023-01-09 Accepted : 2023-07-01 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Sassanians», «Mādayān ī Hazār Dādestān», «Anoushirvan», «clergy organization», «Radān»,

Abstract :

Mādayān ī Hazār Dādestān is only imperfect manuscript from the legal collection of the Sassanid period. In this book, in addition to legislators and legal commentators, Zoroastrian religious authorities such as Mowbedān, Hērbedān, Dastwarān and Radān have also appeared in the role of judges and issued rulings. This article was written with the reference to Mādayān's legal book and with the aim of knowing the position of Radān in the Sassanid era in a historical analytical way.The questions of the article are: According to the book, what were the duties of the Radān in the Sassanid era and what are their rulings? Research showed: These religious men have certain duties in the clerical system of the Sassanid period and as assistants of the king, they tried to elevate the religious government and the country. Radān have competent in recapturing ownership and property tax, purchase and exchange issues, and assessing the value of the fire temple property. Determining taxes and collecting those, and dealing with the government's revenue matters were entrusted to Radān.The auditor calculated and prepared the value and price of movable and immovable property, the entry and exit of assets into the royal treasury, the documents of assignment and embargo, etc. Rad should have reviewed and approved the auditor's report. Radān gained a special position during the Anushirvan period and their seal is given to authentic documents along with the Mowbedān seal, and their duties express their power and influence in religion and government.