In 484, the Sasanian king Peroz I suffered a major defeat to the Hephthalites and was killed at the battle of Herat.

The Karenid noble Sukhra then set out to avenge his death, and took the majority of the Sasanian army with him; when he reached Gorgan, the Hephthalite king Khushnavaz got informed of his plan to attack him and quickly prepared his men for war.

Sukhra shortly sent a message back to Khushnavaz, informing him about his name and position.

However, his words did not discourage Sukhra, who then marched against Khushnavaz, and inflicted a heavy defeat on his men.

Khushnavaz thereafter sued for peace, which Sukhra would only accept if he would give him everything Khushnavaz had seized from Peroz I's camp, which included his treasuries, the chief priest (mowbed) of the empire, and his daughter Perozdukht.