Wēh Antīōk Khosrow (Middle Persian: wyḥ ʾntywk ḥwslwd;[1] "Khosrow's Better Antioch", literally, "better than Antioch, Khosrow built this"),[2] also called Beh-az-Andīw-e Khosrow (New Persian: به از اندیو خسرو, literally "Better-than-Antioch of Khosrow"), Antiocheia Chosroou (Greek: Ἀντιόχεια Χοσρόου), Rūmagān (Persian: رومگان), or al-Rūmīya (Arabic: الرومية), was a historic city in modern day Iraq. It was founded by Iranian king Khosrow I on the east bank of the Tigris in the vicinity of Ctesiphon, Sasanian Empire, that was populated by deported Roman prisoners-of-war.[3] It was reportedly about one day's walk from Ctesiphon.[4]
Procopius has provided detailed information on the building of the city, though his primary source is pro-Sasanian. According to al-Tabari and al-Tha'alibi, the city was built on the plan of the Syrian metropolis and Khosrow I did everything in his power to make the residents want to stay.[3] He provided Weh Antiok Khosrow with Roman baths and a circus.[4] He also settled charioteers in the city.[4]
The city was governed by Barāz, a Christian from Gundeshapur.[3] By the late 6th century, it had a population of circa 30,000.[6]
The city was captured by the Arab Muslims under Khalid ibn Urfuta. Later in the Abbasid period, Caliph Al-Mansur used the city, then known as al Rumiyyah as seat of government for a few months.[7]
^Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1895). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society. p. 40.
Canepa, Matthew P. (2009). The Two Eyes of the Earth: Art and Ritual of Kingship Between Rome and Sasanian Iran. University of California Press. ISBN978-0520257276.
