Administrative offices in the Sasanian state (224-651 AD)

Abstract

The Sasanian kings paid close attention to the Diwans (government departments) because they played a crucial role in balancing state resources and expenditures. These included the Diwan al-Wizarah (Ministry of the Ministry), which oversaw the work of all government institutions; the Diwan al-Khidmat al-Baridiyah (Postal Services Department), which facilitated the transmission of messages between the central government and its provinces, monitored the work of governors, and kept abreast of events in the various regions of the state; and the Diwan al-Khatim (Seal Department), which was responsible for enforcing the sultan's decrees, sealing them, and copying books, letters, communications, and royal orders. The Diwan al-Jaysh (Army Department) managed the army through institutions that organized military life, recording the tribes and ranks of soldiers, their stipends and provisions, and the types of weapons used. Similarly, the Diwan al-Awqaf (Endowments Department) managed state endowments and other affairs. All these Diwans organized the administrative work of the Sasanian state.