Historical Background

Valley contains the city of Khoramabad As a geographi location khoramabad. It is a valley which can be referred to as the Mid-paleolithic Ring of Lorestan and Iran . As a strategic point , this valley has stamped a golden strip on its hospitable breast to create a communicating link between the Northern and southern districts of Iran since the ancient times . Among the main characteristics of Khoramabad valley in various periods , one can mention the following : good climatic conditions , communication situation as it is located on a strategic linking route , and smooth land . These factors have prompted the man of stone Age [i.e. Paleolithic ] particularly the mid-paleolithic period to the choose caves surrounding the valley as the habitat [for himself and his family ]. Kanji (?) Gar Arjenah, Yafteh , Ghamari(?) and pasangar caves with the Paleolithic tools found in them by archeologists clearly indicate that the inhabitants of Khoramabad valley used brainwork in making tools thousands of years ago . moreover , the continuous importance of Khoramabad valley as a unique component of the mid –zagross emerges as a unique album for the different historical periods of Iran , when we take account of the mausoleum of mehri Baba Abbass , the Broken Bridge , the stone pool of water , the Inscribed stone , the Brick minaret , Falak-ol-Aflak castle , the Bronze coffin of choobtarash , the Great bridge etc. At present , the ancient city of Khoramabad is within the valley .It is the capital city of Lorestan province . According to many researchers , however , the important Elamite city of Khaidalu(or Hidalu) was once its predecessor within the Khoramabad valley .It seems that the old city of Shapourkhast (or Saberkhast )had a cathedral mosque , some markets [i.e. bazaars ] ,and many edifices during the Sassanid Era and early centuries of Islam [i.e. the hegira years abbreviated as A H] , and situated not far from the left bank of the river . Even today , there are still some remains of the great wide walls made of stones and mortar exactly like the style of Sassanid Era , which can be seen from the entrance of the present city to a village called tir Bazar ; It seems that …
In the late 6th century Hegira , Shojaoddin Khorshid founder of the Atabegs , dynasty of the Junior Lor-came to consider the present city and develop it . It had probably been destroyed during the attacks by the Mongols . Hamadollah Mostoufi (740 AH) writes :<<Khorramabad used to be a developed city which is presently a ruined one >>.
This is the first time that Khorramabad has been called by this name . In the late Safavid era , Khorramabad was the seat of government for the Vali (or the ruler ) of present Lorestan , which was developed according to Hazin history book . However , it was ruined due to the attacks by the Ottoman troops. During the reign of Qajar dynasty , Khorramabad was relatively developed , and Golestan-e Eram , being one of the famous castles in Khorramabad, was restored by the order of Mohammad Hossein Mirza Dowlatshah .
Baron de Bode , one of the Russian tsar officials who visited Khorramabad in 1845 , has described the city as having ramparts , four mosques , eight bathhouses , and a ghetto.
4-History of shapour Khast city (currently Khoramabad ) much valuable information can be found in the Islamic-era history and geography books on the cities of Lorestan , which may help us know more about their conditions. According to these texts , shapourkhast was considered an important city in the region , with a long-standing civilization and culture There are some works and monuments which are accredited to Shapour: shapour Khast city shapour Khast Castle , Shapourri Bridge (Tagh-e-pil Eshkesah ) in Khorramabad , Kaka Reza Shapouri Bridge , Shapourabad in Aligoudarz city . Referring to the Shahnameh poems , Ali mohammad Saki has written : Ferdousi From Tus believes that this city has been constructed in time of Shapour Zol-aktaf , and Says: onto the throne of kian was a Footing , Ruling over the world for a while .
From then on the cloud of the state khuzian , sending many a profit and harm .
Sending many a profit and harm .
Making a town for the captives ,
He made the world a share From that land.
Khorramabad was the name of the city ,
Whoever lived in that land had a portion of share . the person whose hand had been cut affront , Had a place in this border-land for a seat -
Throughout the land was his home , Receiving a new cloth-gift on the new rear Day . considering the date of its construction as concurrent with the construction of jondi Shapour , he adds: To Ahvaz he made the wires long ,
Making therein castles and hospitals
They namded it the den hospitals ,
As the captives could Find sleep and comfort there . (Historical geography , and ….. p. 97 qtd . Amir Bahador Shahnameh , p.107).
Referring to the Shahnameh text , and basing his comments on some of the researches in this regard, the late Saki adds: one can say that the current Khorramabad was located in Khaidalu Area in time of the Sassanids (so far , no archeological evidence has been found concerning the location of Khaidalu city ) , and that the Lorestan Atabaks, who ruled over Lorestan in the fifth century A.H, have Founded Khorramabad on the ruins of the Sassanid city , (ibid, p.97)
Rejecting this hypothesis , Mr . Izadpanah has written : it is said that there is a description in frdousis Shahnamah , yet we should know that the poet didn’t mean the Khorramabad in Lorestan , (Lorestan historical and archeological monument , p. 129).
Any way , there is no name of Khorramabad (only four locations in Balkh , Rey , Marv, and Tabarestan can be seen ) in the early Islamic history books . Given the spatial locations of these regions and their distances to Khorramabad city , and the distance From Khorramabad to jondi Shapour ,the possibility of Khorramabad s name being mentioned by Ferdousi is ruled out . Nor is the name of Khorramabad mentioned in the chronicles about the historical events in the early Islamic period when Arabs managed to occupy some important territories From Iran in 2 A.H There is , however , an account about a riot by the people of shapourkhast. Against the Arabs during the latest years of the ottomans .(Little Lor Atabaks , p. 16. see also Ibn –e- Balkhi , Farsnamah , p.117)This shows the considerable importance of the city at the period . After taking over the region , Arabs established two government centers in Masbazan and Mohrjanghazagh under the control and dominance of Kufa province . De morgan believes that Khorramabad become the most important Stratigic point again after Lorestan was captured by Arabs .(ibid . p 211) . That , the suppression and tyranny on the parts of Umavid and Abassid caliphs prompted the people of Lorestan and Ilam to stage riots and uprisings and to unite with the opponents of Umavid and Abassid dynasties : Babak Khoram Din s uprising against Mamun Abassi is one of those occasions .( Khudgo ,…. Lor Atabaks , p.16)
In the book called , the bounds of universe from East to west , (Hudood-al-Alam Men-al-mashregh Elam –Maghreb) (372 A.H)
There is a mention of Sarjalast city when it enumerates the cities on the mountains along With Nahavand and Alishtar ( published 1362 A.h.s .p 31)
Given that the cities of Nahavand and Alishtar and Shapourkhast are on the way of the historical (ancient) road From Hamadan to Khuzestan , as mentioned by Moghadasi and Estakhri , Sarjalast city must be the very Shapourkhast . in A summary of histories and tales (Mojmalol- Tavarikh va Ghasas ) , it is written about Shapour : … in Seirol – Molok , things are like what Shapour Ardeshir (prince Ardeshir ) was , God knows better . However , he had a high ambition , in terms of equity and Fairness , and in terms of development and construction , he was like his father , the Shadorvan of shushtar was made by him , which is a wonder in the world . many a city he developed , such as Shapour , Nishabour , Beden Andioshapour , Shapour khast , and Balash Shapour … (Mojmalol- Tavarikh va Ghasas 1318bbAH s .p.64)
As it was said , the auther of Mojmalol- Tavarikh va Ghasas says that Shapourkhast belongs to the Sassanid Era , its Founder being Shapour the First . Shapour is a Wall – known Iranian King who loved urbanization and development . He has left many valuable monuments and utilities such as dams and bridges.
The oldest historical and geographical source with a description of ShapourKhast is a book called Al-basadan ( the guides ) by Ibn –e- Faghih (930 Ad) .He has written four words about the situation of Shapour khast : …..va batana master va hova Shapour khast va….. . In this older name of Khorramabad but it is not known what Batana Master is , (it is said to be the uquivalent for Shapourkhast .Batn , in Arabic . means land , valley , and deep soil . (p.209.and 236) some Tal Master is mentioned , which draws the attention of Ghobad ibn-e- firouz , as having an equal footing with Masbadan and Mohrjanghazagh .Locating Shapourkhast , therefore , Which attracted the attention of ibn-e-Faghih during the third century A.H depends on locating Batana Master ( which is the same as ShapourKhast (parviz p. 42 ) Khorramabad Valley. Whit its fcinnel -like Formation , can be the Tal master which Ibn –e- Faghih mentions . Describing the road From Nahavand to Isfahan , Hamdollah Mostoufi mentions the location of Shapourkhast , saying Beyond South Boroujerd , there is a forked way , the right branch leads to Shapourkhast and the left branch , which is the main road , leads to the East towards karaj Aboudolf -, (the selected History , p.3 and 552 and mojmalol –Tavarik Va ….. p. 64 , 399 402) in the book called Mojamol Boladan , Yaghout writes , Sarmaj castle Hassineh lies between Hamadan and Khozestan in the mountain ous area …. It is one of best castles and the most difficult to access. Respecting the name ShapourKhast castle he has written : the name of the castle is eponymous with the city ShapourKhast: fakhrol-molouk took it with the properties of Badribn-e-Hasanouyeh the Famous .:) ( Parviz , p. 44 .qtd raghout , vol 5/6 ,p.3, 75 , also vol. 4.p.57)
Describing the road From Hamadan to Khuzestan , and explaining its distances , Estakhri writes that it is sevan Farsangs [a Fasang equals seven Kilimeters] From Hamadan to the Aver River – and from the Aver River to Nahavand , it is seven Farsangs ,and it is ten farsags from Nahavand to Lashtar {Aleshtar} , and it is twelve Farsangs from Lashtar to Shaberkhast , and it is thirty Farsangs from Shaberkhast to Lur , and … (sects and Nations , p.203)
Ibn-e- Hoghal , also , recounts the same distance from Nahavand to Lashtar as ten Farsangs and from Lashter to Shapourkhast as twelve Farsangs (the face of Earth . pp.259 – 264). In the Travels of Edmundz and Baron Doubed , the auther definintely says that Shapourkhast has been on the
Present place of Khorramabad , and he believes that the name of Shapourkhast was changed in the 13 th century A .D ( the tract called , Lorestan and Lors p . 19 ) In a research under the name of , the survey of Roya ) Way conducted in 1375 Ahs , the routes mentioned by historians and geographers were survyed , Nahavand route to Lashtar being surveyed though Nourabad and Dareh Ash way , which is a distance about 60 kms i.e . ten Farsangs and the road between Aleshtar and Khorramabad is about 50 kms . Now the question , is the present Khorramabad the same as Shapourkhast can be relevant . If we add the length of Khorramabad city to the abouve –mentioned route , the distance will become 65 kms which is about 11 Farsangs . The old city of Aleshtar of course was at 6 kms North of the present city of Aleshtar , that is , near sarab Amir . Given the computations , one can estimate that the city of Shapourkhast was somewhere around the brick minaret , the inscribed stone , and Ghaziabad Area up to the region called today poshteh Hossein Abad .
In his travels called passing from Zahab to Khozestan sir Henry Ravelinson considers Khorramabad as the very Sassanid Shapourkhast(p.137) {He passed from Khorramabad in 1836 A.d} cherikof mentions the ruins of an old city in 1850 A.D , which surrounded all the sides and even the southern section of the castle . (mehryar & ….., pictorial Documents , p.64)
Reading the archeological evidence of the inscribed stone in 1928 A. D and consequently . basing his comments it , Ernest Hertsfeld described the situation of Shapourkhast city as follows : It is impotant that this inscription mentions the place ,i.e Khorramabad city as Shapourkhast several time [Shapourkhast means literally the dam of Shapour ] This gives us an assured footing for the historical geography Location of the region . ( parviz pp.42-43) In addition to the Inscribed stone and the Folktale gossips (respecting the Shapourkhast castle and the shapouri Bridge ) one can mention two other locations near Khorramabad , called sabour Hill and masour Hill. The sabour Hill is not much of a monumental remains the masour Hill , too, Lacks an urban architechtural evidence belonging to the Sassanid Era and the early Islamic Period.
Yet , the Inscribed stone on Khorramabad s Shariati Avenue as an archeological document , which mentions the Alaf-chahr region of Shapourkhast city , indicates that the location of Shapourkhast city must have existed not much far from this stone . the Alaf-chahr or the pasture has been a region not capable of Farming . the existence of some monuments from the early Islamic centuries such as the brick minaret , the Broken Bridge , the stone Natural pool , the Gabri Mills, as well as, some archeological evidences in Ghaziabad region up to the Gabri mills , on the other hand , indicates that an ancient city must have existed , which has accidentally excavated during some operations for supplying gas services and water services , works and monuments constructed mainly with stone slabs and plaster of paris . one can conclude , therefore, that the ancient city has been somewhere near the area. More archeological excavations in the area, of course , can lead us to an assured conclusion. On the other hand , as it was said , Shapourkhast city which was on the way of the important communication roads in the Iranian plateau towards the south and the east , enjoyed important conditions , and it be came the headyuarter of Badr-ibn-e-Hassanyeh government in the fourth century A.H (369-405AH)
Describin , the movement of Sultan Jalalo-Din to Baghdad , Jovinis . the conquerors History read : Early months of 621 A .H the sultan decided to go to Tastar [shuashtar ] and stay the winter there … when the Sultan reached Shapourkhast , he stayed there for one month. Shapourkhast was a large famous city mentioned in the celebrated histories , but there is not a scheme from it. (p.226) Here , Jovini names Shapourkhast as Shapourkhast .In in-el-Bal khis Farsnameh . the founding of Shapourkhast city has been ascribed to Shapour , son of Ardeshir , and adds that Shapourkhast is pahlavi –ol-Ashtar [Aleshtar] (p.63 and 116) In the selected History written in 731 AH, Hamaollah Mostoufi mentions the well-developed small cities in Lorestan of the cities there , there are well- developed : Boroujerd , Khorramabad , and Shapourkhast which was , earlier , a city in which all kinds of people were living and was quite developed and beautiful and the seat of kings , but at present it is a small district. (p.561)
According to the historical texts , Shapourkhast city continued to exist up to the eighth century A. H , which was considered a small district at that time (the selected History , pp.561/2) In a book called Noz-hatol- gholob written ten years later in 740 A.H , he does not mention Shapourkhast any longer , he just mentions the name Khorramabad Saying Khorramabad used to be a nice city . It is a ruin at present .Dates abound. ( p.114) The selection of Falak-ol-aflak Castle as the center of government on the parts of Lorestan s Atabakan may have contributed to these development . from the eighth century A.H on , Khorramabad has continued to live during its ups and downs in the history .
Finally , in Safi-o-Din Abdoul-momen Baghdadis Marasedol-Etela written about Shapourkhast [the auther died in 739 AH] it is the name of a city a province located some where between Khuzestan and Isfahan twenty Farsangs off Nahavand , the city of Lur lying between this city and Khuzestan(Ghasemi, the History of Khorramabad p.19)

7. Factors contributing to Khorramabad (Khorramabad) city formation In the late seventh century A. H , Shapourkhast city was completely ruined and without any inhabitants : the people there moved to the western part of Falak-ol- Aflak Castle which enjoyed good climatic conditions with plenty of water , and superior than other parts interms of security :At this time , the castle Formed the main nucleus of Khorramabad city and caused its formation in this region .It seems , however , that watersource of Shapourkhast city used to be supplid from a river flowing in the Eastern part of the city . After the river dried , it appears , the inhabitants left the region –In history books that discuss the genesis of Khorramabad city , the castle is referred to as Khorramabad castle. Khodgo considers various factors contributing to Khorramabad city for mation and development , such as political situation , communication , and geographical considerations as he writes: In this regard , Falak-ol-aflak castle has had a key role . the special geographic situation specific to the castle , its location on the various communication road East to west and North to South in the fertile valley filled with water of Khorramabad , its strategic and completely military situation ,all caused the Falak-ol-aflak castle to turn into the government center for the Little Lor Atabakan (1006 A.H) and into the early nucleus for Khorramabad city . (khodgo, castle , p.20) Quoting Iraj Afshar (sistani) he also contributes the existence and survival of Khorramabad city to Khorramabad s natural Funnel-like valley full of water along with the existence of Falak-ol-aflak castle which has functioned as a haven and strong trench for the rulers against the encroachers. (ibid)
As it was suggested in the previous section , the lack of proximity between the castle and Shapourkhast city along with other natural and human Factors caused its inhabitants to , in the long run move gradually to the castle s precincts and caused the castle to turn into the government castle [i.e.the battle ments] and the central nucleus of Khorramabad city . of the old works in this part of the city one can mention the old cemetery in which the mausoleum of Zin-ibn-e-Ali was located . According to the historical texts , Zin-ibn-e-Ali was a minister [i.e.vizier] of Toghrol the second of Saljughid and was hanged in Shapourkhast.
The mausoleum of Baba Taher is also in the old cemetery . some people say that the mausoleum belong to Baba Taher the naked [i.e.oryan] and other say that the last name of Baba Taher is Attai . Anyway this mausoleum is considred to belong to the Saljughid period according to some archeological evidences. It has been reconstructed and repaired during the later periods. Another monument within the precincts of this city is the Natural stone pool which dates from the Sassanid period . It might have been repaired during the fourth century A H. mausoleum of Falak-ol-Din Hassan of Lorestan Atabaks (677 to 692 AH) is located in North-East Khorramabad city and the mausoleum of Khizr the living belonging to Jamalol-Din Khizr (692 or 693 AH) lies in an old eponymous cemetery [i.e the Khizr cemetery ] in South –West Khorramabad, the old city of Khorramabad .
Monsieur Cherikof , in 1850 A D talks of three elements of design in Khorramabad city , which are equally important in terms of historical signs of sequence . In this respect , he writes : the old castle [is] in the from of an irregular pentagon with eight bastions . This castle may have been the uncleus of the ancient city when a city is formed on the bas is of a castle as there are some examples in the development of various cities in every corner of the world both in the cast and in the west) , other –castles are developed and promoted . The historical nucleus , however forgets its original nature and remains just as an architectural –historical heritage . (Mehryar , ibid , p.63)
He regards and defines the castle as the nucleus of the city development towards the North-East , which in accordance with the construction pattern of the city precincts , from the castle with small neighborhoods and circular streets , has developed towards the Northeast direction .(mehryar ibid., p.64)
Another notable point seen in the report of the Russian delegation is the mentioning of old gates for Khorramabad city .
1- Khuz Gate on the caravansary road toward Dezfoul .
2-Guerdad Gate on the caravansary road toward Kermanshah.