Sukhra

Sukhra was an Sasanian nobleman from the House of Karen. He was native to Ardashir-Khwarrah and was de facto ruler of the Sasanian Empire during a short period. He often confused in some sources with his son Zarmihr.

Biography
In 484, Peroz I was killed by the Hephthalites at the battle of Herat, Sukhra then set out to avenge his death, where he defeated the Hephthalite king Khush-Newaz and rescued Kavadh I from captivity. After his victory, he returned to Ctesiphon where Balash was crowned as king of the Empire. Sukhra, however, deposed the new Sasanian king after four years, and made Kavadh I the new king. In 493 Kavadh I tried to reduce the power of Sukhra by sending him to Shiraz, and later with the aid of Shapur of Ray, defeated Sukhra's loyalists, and captured the latter. Sukhra was later brought to Ctesiphon where he was executed in 493.

Legacy
Even after Sukhra's death, his family still possessed much power within the Sasanian Empire. His son, Zarmihr, later aided Kavadh I to reclaim the Sasanian throne from Djamasp, and along with Sukhra's another son Karin, aided Khosrau I in his war against the Turks. As a reward for their aid, Zarmihr was rewarded with land in Zabulistan, while Karin was rewarded with land in Tabaristan, where his descendants would continue to rule until 839/840.