Although his father’s hold on power ensured his succession, Bahram was almost instantly confronted with internal opposition from his uncle, Narse (see lot 603 for his coins), and brother, Hormizd. he eventually defeated his brother, a governor in the east, but a new threat emerged in the west. Taking advantage of the internal conflicts of the Sasanians, the Roman emperor, Carus, embarked on a major eastern campaign. Like his predecessors, Lucius Verus and Septimius Severus, his armies eventually captured Ktesiphon. Luckily for Bahram, Carus died shortly thereafter, forcing Carus’ son, and co-emperor, Numerian, to order a withdrawal, but not before negotiating a settlement favorable to the Romans. Throughout Bahram’s reign the consolidation of power of the central religion that his father began, continued, but persecutions began to abate.
. 276-293 AD. AV Dinar (7.26 gm). Degraded Pahlavi legend, jugate busts of Bahram, crowned and cuirassed, and his queen, wearing a bonnet with a boar's head and cuirass, right, facing the cuirassed bust of his son (Prince 4) left, who wears a bonnet with an eagle's head and presents wreath / "Fire of Bahram" in Pahlavi, fire altar with attendants, the right one presents wreath; fravahr (wreath) and taurus symbols flanking flames. Göbl X/3; Paruck 147; Alram 743; MACW -; De Morgan pg. 673, 49.
