| King of Kings ofIran and non-Iran | |
|---|---|
Imperial | |
 TheDerafsh Kaviani, the legendary imperial standard of the Sasanian monarchs | |
 Plate of a Sasanian king, located in theAzerbaijan Museum inIran | |
| Details | |
| First monarch | Ardashir I (224–242) |
| Last monarch | Yazdegerd III (632–651) |
| Residence |
|
| Appointer | Divine right,hereditary |
TheSasanian monarchs were the rulers ofIran after their victory against their former suzerain, theParthian Empire, at theBattle of Hormozdgan in 224. At its height, theSasanian Empire spanned fromTurkey andRhodes in the west toPakistan in the east, and also included territory in what is now theCaucasus,Yemen,UAE,Oman,Egypt,Palestine,Israel,Lebanon,Syria,Jordan andCentral Asia.
TheSasanian Empire was recognized as one of the main powers in the world alongside its neighboring arch rival, the Roman Empire for a period of more than 400 years.[1][2][3][4] The Sasanian dynasty began withArdashir I in 224, who was aPersian fromIstakhr, and ended withYazdegerd III in 651.[5]
The period from 631 (when Boran died) to 632 (when Yazdgerd III takes the throne) is confusing in determining proper succession because a number of rulers who took the throne were later removed or challenged by other members of the House of Sasan. The period was one offactionalism and division within the Sasanian Empire.[6]
Ardashir I (r. 224–242), the founder of theSasanian Empire, introduced the title "Shahanshah of theIranians" (Middle Persian:šāhān šāh ī ērān;Parthian:šāhān šāh ī aryān). Ardashir's immediate successor,Shapur I (r. 240/42–270/72) chooses the titles in a precise mannerin the inscription at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht. In that Shapur names four of his Sasanian predecessors with different titles and in "an ascending order of importance" by giving the title (Xwaday) "the lord" to Sasan, "the king" to Papag, "King of Kings of Iranians" to Ardashir, and "king of kings of Iranians andnon-Iranians" (Middle Persian:šāhān šāh ī ērān ud anērān;;Ancient Greek:βασιλεύς βασιλέων Αριανώνbasileús basiléōn Arianṓn) to himself.[7] The title "King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians" has also seen on a single silver coin of Shapur I, which indicates that the title was introduced after his victory over Romans and incorporation of non-Iranian lands into the Sasanian realms. The title was later used in coins of all later Sasanian kings.[8]
Yazdegerd I's reign (r. 399–420), marks a shift in the political perspective of the Sasanian Empire, which (originally disposed towards the West) moved to the East.[9] The shift may have been triggered by hostile tribes in eastern Iran.[9] The war with theIranian Huns may have reawakened the mythical rivalry between the mythological IranianKayanian rulers and theirTuranian enemies, which is illustrated by YoungerAvestan texts.[9] The title of Ramshahr (peacekeeper in [his] dominion) was added to the traditional "King of Kings of the Iranians and non-Iranians" on Yazdegerd I's coins.[10][11][a] In the Middle Persianheroic poemAyadgar-i Zariran (The Testament of Zarer), the title was used by the last Kayanian monarch (Vishtaspa) and occurs in the 10th-century ZoroastrianDenkard.[13] Sasanian interest in Kayanian ideology and history would continue until the end of the empire.[14]Bahram V (r. 420–438), on some rare coins minted inPars, used the title ofkirbakkar ("beneficent").[15]
The reign ofYazdegerd II (r. 438–457) marks the start of a new inscription on the Sasanian coins;mazdēsn bay kay ("TheMazda-worshipping majesty, the king"), which displays his fondness of the Kayanians, who also used the title ofkay.[16][10][b] UnderPeroz I (r. 459–484), the traditional titulature ofšāhānšāh ("King of Kings") is omitted on his coins, and only the two aspects ofkay Pērōz ("King Peroz") are displayed.[15] However, a seal demonstrates that the traditional titulature was still used, which indicates that coins do not with certainty display the full formal titulature of the Sasanian monarchs.[15] His brother and successor,Balash (r. 484–488), used the title ofhukay ("the good king").[15][18]
Kavad I (r. 488–496, 498–531) was the last Sasanian monarch to havekay inscribed on his coins—the last one issued in 513.[19] The regular obverse inscription on his coins simply has his name; in 504, however, the sloganabzōn ("may he prosper/increase") was added.[19][15]Khosrow II (r. 590–590, 591–628), during his second reign, added theideogram GDH, meaningxwarrah ("royal splendor") on his coins. He combined this together with the word abzōt ("he has increased"), making the full inscription thus read as: "Khosrow, he has increased the royal splendor" (Khūsrōkhwarrah abzōt).[15] The title of King of Kings was also restored on his coins.[15] His two successors,Kavad II (r. 628–628) andArdashir III (r. 628–630), refrained from using the title, seemingly in order distance themselves from Khosrow II.[15]
The head of the Sasanian Empire was the[shahanshah] (king of kings), also simply known as theshah (king). His health and welfare were always important and the phrase “May you be immortal" was used to reply to him with. By looking on the Sasanian coins which appeared from the 6th-century and afterward, a moon and sun are noticeable. The meaning of the moon and sun, in the words of the Iranian historian [Touraj Daryaee], “suggest that the king was at the center of the world and the sun and moon revolved around him. In effect, he was the “king of the four corners of the world," which was an old Mesopotamian idea."[20] The king saw all other rulers, such as the Romans, Turks, and Chinese, as being beneath him. The king wore colorful clothes, makeup, a heavy crown, while his beard was decorated with gold. The early Sasanian kings considered themselves of divine descent; they called themselves for “bay" (divine).[21]
When the king went to the publicity, he was hidden behind a curtain,[20] and had some of his men in front of him, whose duty was to keep the masses away from the king and to make his way clear.[22] When one came to the king, he/she had to prostrate before him, also known asproskynesis. The king was guarded by a group of royal guards, known as thepushtigban. On other occasions, the king was protected by a group of palace guards, known as thedarigan. Both of these groups were enlisted from royal families of the Sasanian Empire,[22] and were under the command of thehazarbed, who was in charge of the king's safety, controlled the entrance of the kings palace, presented visitors to the king, and was allowed to be given military command or used in negotiations. Thehazarbed was also allowed in some cases to serve as the royal executioner.[22] DuringNowruz (Iranian new year) andMihragan (Mihr's day), the king would hold a speech.[21]
The table below lists the rulers of the Sasanian Empire.
| Portrait | Name | Title(s)/Slogans | Reign | Relationship to Predecessor | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Sasan | |||||||||
%2c_Hamadan_mint.jpg) | Ardashir I 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥 (Ardašīr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) | 224 – 242 | — |
| ||||
 | Shapur I 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 240 – May 270 | Son |
| ||||
 | Hormizd I 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | May 270 – June 271 | Son |
| ||||
.jpg) | Bahram I 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | June 271 – September 274 | Brother |
| ||||
.jpg) | Bahram II 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 274 – 293 | Son |
| ||||
 | Bahram III 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 293 – 293 | Son |
| ||||
 | Narseh 𐭭𐭥𐭮𐭧𐭩 (Narsē) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 293 – 302 | Grand-uncle |
| ||||
.jpg) | Hormizd II 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 302 – 309 | Son |
| ||||
 | Adur Narseh | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 309 – 309 | Son |
| ||||
.png) | Shapur II 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 309 – 379 | Brother |
| ||||
 | Ardashir II 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥 (Ardašīr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 379 – 383 | Brother |
| ||||
 | Shapur III 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 383 – 388 | Nephew | |||||
%2c_Herat_mint.jpg) | Bahram IV 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 388 – 399 | Son | |||||
 | Yazdegerd I 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 (Yazdekert) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Ramshahr ("peacekeeper in [his] dominion") | 399 – 420 | Brother | |||||
 | Shapur IV 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 420 – 420 | Son | |||||
| Khosrow | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 420 – 420 | Cousin | |||||
 | Bahram V 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kirbakkar ("beneficent") | 420 – 438 | Cousin | |||||
 | Yazdegerd II 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 (Yazdekert) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay ("king") | 438 – 457 | Son | |||||
 | Hormizd III 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 457 – 459 | Son | |||||
 | Peroz I | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay (king) | 457 – 484 | Brother | |||||
 | Balash | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Hukay ("the good king") | 484 – 488 | Brother |
| ||||
 | Kavad I 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲 (Kawād) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay ("king") | 488 – 496 | Nephew |
| ||||
 | Jamasp | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 496 – 498 | Brother | |||||
| Kavad I 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲 (Kawād) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay ("king") Abzōn ("may he prosper/increase") | 498 – 531 | Brother |
| ||||
%2c_Gundeshapur_mint.jpg) | Khosrow I | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Ērān abē-bēm kard ("Iranians has become fearless") Ērān abzonhēnēd ("Iranians became strong") | 531 – 579 | Son | |||||
 | Hormizd IV 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 579 – 590 | Son | |||||
 | Khosrow II | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Khūsrōkhwarrah abzōt ("Khosrow, he has increased the royal splendor") | 590 – 590 | Son |
| ||||
| House of Mihran | |||||||||
 | Bahram VI Chobin | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 590 – 591 | Rebel |
| ||||
| House of Sasan | |||||||||
| Khosrow II | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 591 – 628 | Son ofHormizd IV |
| ||||
| House of Ispahbudhan | |||||||||
 | Vistahm | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 591 – 595 | Uncle |
| ||||
| House of Sasan | |||||||||
%2c_minted_at_Ray_in_628.jpg) | Kavad II 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲 (Kawād) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 628 – 628 | Son ofKhosrow II |
| ||||
 | Ardashir III 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥 (Ardašīr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 628 – 630 | Son | |||||
| House of Mihran | |||||||||
 | Shahrbaraz | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 27 April 630 – 17 June 630 | General |
| ||||
| House of Sasan | |||||||||
 | Khosrow III | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Nephew ofKhosrow II | Briefly ruled inKhorasan as rival king | ||||
 | Boran | Queen of Queen of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Daughter ofKhosrow II |
| ||||
| Shapur V | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Son ofShahrbaraz and a sister ofKhosrow II | |||||
| Peroz II | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Descended fromKhosrow I | |||||
 | Azarmidokht | Queen of Queen of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 631 | Daughter ofKhosrow II |
| ||||
| House of Ispahbudhan | |||||||||
 | Hormizd V | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 631 | Claimed the throne after Azarmidokht rejected his hand in marriage |
| ||||
| House of Sasan | |||||||||
 | Hormizd VI 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 632 | Grandson ofKhosrow II | |||||
 | Khosrow IV | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 636 | Brother ofPeroz II | |||||
 | Farrukhzad Khosrow V | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | March 631 – April 631 | Son ofKhosrow II | |||||
| Boran | Queen of Queen of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | June 631 – June 632 | Daughter ofKhosrow II |
| ||||
 | Yazdegerd III 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 (Yazdekert) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | June 632 – 651 | Grandson ofKhosrau II |
| ||||
| Destruction of the Sassanid Empire | |||||||||
| Peroz III | Unknown | 651 – 679 (In exile) | Son |
| ||||
| Narsieh | Unknown | 679 – after 708/709 (In exile) | Son |
| ||||
| Pushang Name in Chinese sources:Bó Qiāng Huó | King of Persia | fl. 723[23] (In exile) | Son |
| ||||
| Name in Chinese sources:Mù Shānuò | King of Persia | fl. 726 – 731[23] (In exile) | Unknown |
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| Dynasty | |
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| Culture | |
| Military and wars | |
| Descendants | |
| Related | |
