E00046: Theophylact Simocatta in his History describes how allied Roman and Persian troops in Mesopotamia used the name of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) as a password, while helping the deposed Persian king Khosrau II to regain his throne. Written in Greek at Constantinople in the early 7th century.

Theophylact Simocatta, History 5.10.4-5

(4.) σύμβολον δὲ οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι καὶ τοῖς συμμαχοῦσι βαρβάροις παρείχοντο τὴν τῆς θεομήτορος καὶ παρθένου προσηγορίαν διδάξαντες, ἵνα μὴ τῷ διακεκριμένῳ τοῦ γένους ὡς ἀντίπαλον τὸ συμμαχικὸν διαφθαρῶσιν, τῷ συγκεχυμένῳ τῆς συμπλοκῆς ἀδιάρθρωτον αὐτοῖς τῶν οἰκειοτάτων παρεχομένων τὴν δήλωσιν. καὶ παράδοξόν τι χρῆμα συνέβαινεν· (5.) ἐγίνετο γὰρ καὶ Χαλδαίοις τὸ τῆς Μαρίας σωτήριον ὄνομα.

'(4.) The Romans provided a password for their barbarian allies [the Persian troops of Khosrau II] as well, teaching them the name of the Mother of God and Virgin, lest they might kill their allies as enemies because of the difference in race, since in the confusion of the battle those on their own side would present an indistinguishable aspect. (5.) And the situation was somewhat strange, as the name of Mary became a means of salvation even for the Chaldaeans [Persian pagans].'

Text: de Boor and Wirth 1972. Translation: E. Rizos.