VERGİ, TOPRAK VE İNANÇ: ROMA VE SASANİ İMPARATORLUKLARININ MÜCADELESİNDE HRİSTİYAN KİMLİĞİ (IV. YÜZYIL)

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 14, 38 - 73, 29.06.2025

Başak Kuzakçı

Öz

Geç Antik Çağ’ın IV. ve VII. yüzyılları arasında din, kimlik oluşumunda merkezi bir rol oynadı. Roma ve Sasani İmparatorlukları arasındaki ilişkilerde dini politikalar belirleyici oldu. Büyük Konstantin döneminde Hristiyanlığın Roma’da kabulü, Sasani İmparatorluğunda Hristiyanlara yönelik şüpheleri artırdı. II. Šāpur (309-379), Hristiyan tebaanın sadakatini sorgulayarak onlara ağır vergiler koydu ve piskopos Şimon bar Ṣabba’e’den bu vergileri toplamasını istedi. Şimon, buna karşı gelerek, şehit edildi. Bu dönemde Sasani hükümdarları, yalnızca Hristiyanlara değil, Ermenilere ve Yahudilere de dini sadakatleri açısından baskı uyguladı. Ermeni soylular arasında din değiştirenler oldu ve bazıları Sasani yönetimine bağlılık gösterdi. II. Šāpur’un dini politikaları, yalnızca ekonomik değil, aynı zamanda siyasi bir araçtı. Vergiler ve dini baskılar, Hristiyan nüfusun azaltılması ve Sasani otoritesine boyun eğdirilmesi için kullanıldı. Günümüz çalışmalarında bu politikaların mali kaygılardan kaynaklandığı ileri sürülse de kaynaklar II. Šāpur’un dini nüfusu kontrol etme amacını açıkça ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Şimon bar Ṣabba’e’nin şehit edilmesi üzerinden IV. Yüzyıl İran’ındaki Hristiyanların sosyal ve politik statüsü, imparatorluk politikaları ve vergileri üzerinden incelemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Sasani , Roma , II. Šāpur , Doğu Hristiyanları , vergi

TAXATION, LAND, AND FAITH: CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN THE STRUGGLE OF THE ROMAN AND SASANID EMPIRES (4th CENTURY)

Öz

In late Antiquity, religion played a central role in identity formation between the 4th and 7th centuries. Religious policies were decisive in the relations between the Roman and Sassanid Empires. The acceptance of Christianity in Rome during the reign of Constantine the Great increased suspicions of Christians in the Sassanid Empire. Šāpur II (309-379) questioned the loyalty of his Christian subjects and imposed heavy taxes on them, asking the bishop Siemon bar Sabba’e to collect these taxes. Shimon was martyred for his refusal. During this period, the Sassanid rulers oppressed not only Christians but also Armenians and Jews in terms of their religious loyalty. There were converts among the Armenian nobility, some of whom were loyal to the Sassanid administration. Šāpur II’s religious policies were not only an economic tool but also a political one. Taxes and religious oppression were used to reduce the Christian population and make them submit to Sassanid authority. Although contemporary studies argue that these policies were motivated by financial concerns, sources clearly reveal Šāpur II’s aim to control the religious population. This study examines Christians’ social and political status in 4th century Iran through the martyrdom of Siemon bar Sabba’e, imperial policies, and taxes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Sassanid , Rome , Šāpur II , Eastern Christians , taxes.

Kaynakça

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