The exilarch Mar Zutra II ruled a Jewish state at Mahoza for seven years and was crucified on its bridge; his son was born the same day

The exilarchs, heads of the Jews of Babylonia, claimed descent from King David and passed the office from father to son. Mar Zutra II was the son of the exilarch Huna, who was killed in the persecutions of the Persian king Firuz. His mother was the daughter of Mar Hanina, head of the academy. According to tradition he was born after the rest of the exilarch's house had died out. While he was a boy, his brother-in-law, Mar Pahda, ran the office and bribed the king to keep it. When Mar Zutra was 15 his grandfather persuaded the king to install him. He then rose against the Persians at the head of 400 Jewish fighters and set up an independent state with Mahoza as its seat. It lasted seven years. The Persians defeated him. He and his grandfather were taken prisoner, executed, and their bodies hung on crosses on the bridge at Mahoza, about 520. The Jews of Mahoza were taken captive. According to tradition his son, Mar Zutra III, was born on the day of the execution and named after him. The exilarch's family escaped to the Land of Israel, where the son later held a post at an academy.