MarzbÃÂn, or MarzpÃÂn (Middle Persian: ð¬ð«ð±ð°ð ðÂÂÂð¯ transliteration: mrzwpn, derived from Middle Persian: ð¬ð«ð± marz "border, boundary" and the Middle Persian suffix: ð¡ðÂÂÂð¯ -pÃÂn "guardian"; Modern Persian: MarzbÃÂn) were a class of margraves, warden of the marches, and by extension military commanders, in charge of border provinces of the Parthian Empire (247 BCâÂÂ224 AD) and mostly Sasanian Empire (224âÂÂ651 AD) of Iran.
The Persian word marz is derived from Avestan marÃÂza "frontier, border"; pÃÂn/pÃÂvan is cognate with Avestan and Old Persian pat "protector". The word was borrowed from New Persian into Arabic as marzubÃÂn (plural marÃÂziba). "Al-Marzubani" () has been used as a nisba (family title) for some Iranian families whose ancestor was a marzbÃÂn. The prominent Islamic scholar Abu Hanifa, whose formal name is given in Islamic sources as Nu'man ibn Thabit ibn Zuta ibn MarzubÃÂn (), was descended from the marzbÃÂns of Kabul, where his father came from. The Bavand (651âÂÂ1349 AD) and Sallarid (919âÂÂ1062 AD) dynasty rulers also used marzubÃÂn in their name.
The word marzban was borrowed into Armenian as marzpan (ôáÃÂæúáö) and into Georgian as marzapani (áÂÂáÂÂá áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂ).
The ranks tradition (primarily of vÃÂspuhrÃÂn and ÃÂzÃÂdÃÂn) can be traced to the Achaemenid Empire (550âÂÂ330 BC), but due to lack of sources even in the Parthian Empire (247 BC â 224 AD) the existence of a proper classification of ranks is unknown, in comparison to the Sasanian royal inscriptions from the 3rd century AD when the aristocracy was divided into four or five ranks; à ¡ahrdÃÂrÃÂn (kings, landholders), vÃÂspuhrÃÂn (princes; the seven great noble families), wuzurgÃÂn (magnates; "great ones"), lower nobility ÃÂzÃÂdÃÂn (feudal nobles; freemen), and kadag-xwadÃÂy (householders). The Sasanian military organization was more sophisticated than the inherited Parthian system. The caste system wasn't rigid as in India, but the ruling officiers were mostly from wuzurgÃÂn caste. There's a possibility that the Late Sasanian marzbÃÂnÃÂn also originated from the ÃÂzÃÂdÃÂn, who mostly were lords of villages (dihqÃÂnÃÂn), supplied the cavalry with young riders (asbÃÂrÃÂn), or were bodyguards and security forces with titles bandagÃÂn, ayyÃÂrÃÂn or jÃÂnbÃÂzÃÂn, all signifying association with the king.
The title marzbÃÂn can be dated to the Parthian Empire, where in the frontier areas such as Nisa (1st century BC) are found titles mrzwpn (marzban), probably an officier in charge of the frontier troops, and dyzpty, an officier in charge of a fort. Some scholars consider that marzbÃÂns existed during the reign of Darius I (550âÂÂ486 BC) of the Achaemenid Empire. There is some uncertainty for the exact relationship between titles marzbÃÂn, spÃÂhbed, kanÃÂrang, pÃÂygà ÂsbÃÂn (Parthian ptykwspn, Sasanian paygospÃÂn or padhospÃÂn) and ostÃÂndÃÂr. The historical sources blur the distinction between the marzbÃÂn and spÃÂhbed (army general or military governor), implying marzbÃÂn was a military title strictly limited to the frontier marches and provinces. The least clear is the distinction with kanÃÂrang, apparently an East-Iranian derivation of marzbÃÂn in the province Abarshahr in Central Asia. The pÃÂygà ÂsbÃÂn, meaning "guardian of the district", is an uncertain title, seemingly provincial military commanders or governors, while the marzbÃÂn meant "guardian of the borders, provinces". Perhaps the pÃÂygà ÂsbÃÂn lacked civilian duties. The ostÃÂndÃÂr was the governor of an ostÃÂn (province or district within a province).
The primary sources imply the marzbÃÂn was a provincional function practiced for a single or multiple provinces, but there is no evidence for a "quarter of the empire", as al-Masudi entitled à  ahrwarÃÂz (629 AD). The rank of marzbÃÂn, like most imperial administration, was mostly patrimonial, and was passed down through a single family for generations. The marzbÃÂns of greatest seniority were permitted a silver throne, while marzbÃÂns of the most strategic border provinces, such as the province of Armenia, were allowed a golden throne. In military campaigns the regional marzbÃÂns could be regarded as field marshals, while lesser spÃÂhbeds could command a field army.
The function of marzbÃÂn changed over the years, with smaller territorial units being part of the civil administration. In the early years the main marzbÃÂn regions were Armenia, Beth Aramaye, Pars, Kirman, Spahan, Adurbadagan, Tabaristan, Nishapur, Tus, Sakastan, Mazun, Harev, Marv and Sarakhs, several mentioned belonging to the Greater Khorasan. Some regions enjoyed considerable autonomy while other were militarily more important, for example the Adurbadagan facing the Caucasus was special military frontier.
MarzbÃÂns were granted the administration of the border provinces and were responsible for maintaining the security of the trade routes, fighting the encroaching nomadic tribes such as Bedouin Arabs, White Huns and Oghuz Turks, and holding the first line of defense against settled enemies such as Romans and Kushans. During the reign of Khosrow I (531âÂÂ579 AD) were held military reforms by which were created four frontier regions (Khwarasan, Khwarwaran, Nemroz, Adurbadagan) with spÃÂhbed in charge, sometimes still called as marzbÃÂn, but now generally considered for more central provinces. Also, the previous gentry rank dihqÃÂnÃÂn was moulded into influential "nobility of service" which became the backbone of the Sasanian state. However, this measures of centralization caused the transfer of the power to the military (the dihqÃÂnÃÂn gradually became more independent from the government, while the four large spÃÂhbed territories quasi-independent fiefs), and led to the eventual disintegration of the Empire.
The Sasanian social, administrative and military structure and system was inherited by the Medieval Islamic civilization, however, the marzbÃÂns steadily disappeared depending on the region, as such in Iraq diminished and were replaced by Muslim frontier warriors muqÃÂtila, while in Khorasan still had special privileges. In generally were replaced by the title dihqÃÂnÃÂn.