Mah-Adhur Gushnasp

Mah-Adhur Gushnasp (Persian: ماه‌ آذرگشنسپ), also known by the Arabicized form of Mahadharjushnas, was an Iranian nobleman who served as the wuzurg framadār (vizier or prime minister) of the Sasanian Empire during the reign of the child ruler Ardashir III (r. 628–629).

According to the medieval Persian historian al-Tabari, Mah-Adhur greatly administered the empire; "Mahadharjushnas carried on the administration of the kingdom in [such] an excellent fashion, [and with such] firm conduct, [that] no one would have been aware of Ardashir III's youthfulness.

"[1] However, this did not mean that the Sasanian Empire was peaceful and secure—in fact, "local chiefs and army leaders had gained too much power to obey the central government; imperial administration was disintegrating, and the Arabs and the Turks were attacking Iranian border regions" (A.

He was, however, unable to capture the city, and therefore made an alliance with Piruz Khosrow, the leader of the Parsig faction, and the previous wuzurg framadār of the empire during the reign of Ardashir's father, Kavadh II (r. 628).

[3] Shahrbaraz, with the aid of these two powerful figures, captured Ctesiphon and executed Ardashir III, along with Mah-Adhur himself, and other prominent nobles of the empire including a certain Ardabīl.