| King of Kings ofIran | |
|---|---|
| شاهنشاه ایران (Persian) | |
Imperial | |
 Coat of arms of the Pahlavi dynasty (1932–1979) | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Imperial Majesty |
| First monarch | Deioces[a] orCyrus[b] |
| Last monarch | Mohammad Reza Pahlavi |
| Formation | c. 727 BC (Median dynasty) or 550 BC (Achaemenid dynasty) |
| Abolition | 11 February 1979 (Iranian Revolution) |
Themonarchs of Iran[c] ruled for over two and a half millennia, beginning as early as the 8th century BC and enduring until the 20th century AD. The earliest Iranian monarch is generally considered to have been eitherDeioces of theMedian dynasty (c. 727–550 BC) orCyrus the Great of theAchaemenid dynasty (550–330 BC). The last Iranian monarch wasMohammad Reza Pahlavi of thePahlavi dynasty (1925–1979), who was overthrown in theIranian Revolution. Since then,Iran has been governed bytheocraticsupreme leaders.
Inclassical antiquity, Iran reached the peak of its power and prestige under theAchaemenid Empire, which stretched fromEgypt and parts ofSoutheast Europe in the west to theIndus Valley and parts ofCentral Asia in the east. By 323 BC, the Achaemenid Empire's territories had been conquered by theMacedonian Empire during theWars of Alexander the Great, bringing Iran into theHellenistic sphere. In theWars of the Diadochi, theSeleucid Empire (305–129 BC) assumed control of Iran. Native Iranian rule was revived with the establishment and expansion of theParthian Empire (247 BC–224 AD) and then theSasanian Empire (224–651), which existed until theArab conquest of Iran.
Medieval Iran alternated between being ruled by large foreign empires and being divided into several smaller kingdoms. Most of the Sasanian lands were annexed by theRashidun Caliphate (638–661), which was succeeded by theUmayyad Caliphate (661–750) and then by theAbbasid Caliphate (749–861). Under the Abbasids, many Iranian figures took part in shaping theIslamic Golden Age, while also leveraging the decline of Arab power to establish independent dynasties and kingdoms, thus allowing their native languages to flourish and reviving Sasanian royal iconography and ideology in what became known as theIranian Intermezzo. In the 11th century, Iran was conquered by theSeljuk Empire (1038–1194), which wasTurkic in origin, but culturallyPersianate. Further conquests by entities coming fromCentral Asia occurred over the course of the next five centuries, most notably including the TurkicKhwarazmian Empire (1097–1220/1221), theMongol Empire (1220–1259), the post-MongolIlkhanate (1256–1335), and the Turco-MongolTimurid Empire (1370–1458).
The year 1501 is considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as theSafavid dynasty (1501–1736) rose to power and oversaw theconversion of Iran to Shia Islam, marking the region's largest religious shift since theArab conquests. The collapse of the Safavids led to an intermediate period of turmoil, with rule of Iran contested between Safavid dynasts as well as theAfghan-originHotak dynasty (1722–1729).Nader Shah replaced these with theAfsharid Empire (1736–1796), but after his assassination in 1747, the Afsharids competed with theZand dynasty (1751–1794) underKarim Khan Zand and his successors for supremacy. Iran was eventually reunified by theQajar dynasty (1789–1925), which was succeeded by the Pahlavi dynasty ofReza Khan. The Pahlavi dynasty was the last to reign before the Iranian monarchy was abolished in 1979.
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TheMedian dynasty is traditionally considered to have ruled the earliest Iranian state.[4][5][6] Whether the Medes ruled an imperial state or merely a loose tribal confederation is disputed among historians.[7] Median history is reconstructed almost solely through ancient Greek sources (particularlyHerodotus) and disregards Near Eastern sources, which are fragmentary and do not support the existence of a unified Median Empire.[8] There is also no material or textual evidence left behind by the supposed empire itself.[9][d] The chronology and names of the Median kings mainly derives from the work of Herodotus.[10][e]
No ruling title is securely attested for the Median rulers. They might have usedxšāyaθiya xšāyaθiyānām ("King of Kings"), later used by the Achaemenids.[11]Ecbatana was the Median capital.[12]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
— | Deioces | c. 727–675 BC[13] (c. 52 years) | First king of the Medes according to Herodotus. Perhaps elected by popular assembly.[14] |
— | Phraortes | c. 674–653 BC[13] (c. 21 years) | Son of Deioces[15] |
| Interregnumc. 652 – 625 BC.[13] The Medes were invaded byScythians, perhaps under a ruler namedMadyes, who established some form of hegemony.[16] The Scythian rulers were defeated by Cyaxares after about three decades, restoring the Medes to their previous power.[17] | |||
 | Cyaxares | c. 624–585 BC[13] (c. 39 years) | Son of Phraortes[15] |
— | Astyages | c. 584[13]–550 BC[18] (c. 34 years) | Son of Cyaxares[15] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Phraortes II | 521 BC[19] (less than a year) | Rebel inMedia againstDarius I of theAchaemenid Empire. Claimed kinship withCyaxares.[19] |
 | Tritantaechmes | 521 BC[19] (less than a year) | Rebel inSagartia against Darius I of the Achaemenid Empire. Claimed kinship with Cyaxares.[19] |
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TheAchaemenid dynasty originated as local rulers ofAnshan under Median suzerainty. They are attributed various ancestors in later legends, including an eponymous figure called "Achaemenes". The earliest securely historical Achaemenid ruler isCyrus I, king of Anshan in the second half of the seventh century BC.[20] The Achaemenids united allPersian tribes under Cyrus I's sonCambyses I. Under Cambyses I's son,Cyrus II, the Achaemenids defeated the Medes and established theAchaemenid Empire,[20] the largest ever Iranian state.[7]
The standard title used by Achaemenid rulers in Iran from Cyrus II onwards wasxšāyaθiya xšāyaθiyānām,xšāyaθiya dahyūnām (lit. 'King of Kings,King of the Lands').[21] The royal title varied in other parts of the empire.[f] The Achaemenids had several royal cities, includingPasargadae,Susa,Ecbatana,Babylon,Bactra, andPersepolis.[23]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Cyrus I | c. 620–590 BC[24] (c. 30 years) | Earliest historical Achaemenid ruler[20] |
— | Cambyses I | c. 590–559 BC[24] (c. 31 years) | Son of Cyrus I[20] |
 | Cyrus II | c. 559[24]–550 BC[18] (c. 9 years) | Son of Cambyses I[20] |
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrus II the Great | c. 550[18] – November (?) 530 BC[25] (c. 20 years) | Defeated Astyages and captured Ecbatanac. 550 BC.[18] MarriedAmytis, daughter of Astyages, according to ancient Greek historians.[26] |
 | Cambyses II | August 530 – July 522 BC[25] (7 years and 10 or 11 months) | Son of Cyrus II[20] |
 | Bardiya | 1 July – 29 September 522 BC[25] (2 months and 28 days) | Son of Cyrus II (possibly an impostor).[27] Revolted against Cambyses on 11 March 522 BC and proclaimed himself ruler on 1 July.[25] |
 | Darius I the Great | 29 September 522[25] – October 486 BC[28] (36 years and 0 or 1 month) | Claimed descent fromTeispes (supposed father of Cyrus I). Seized the throne from Bardiya.[29] |
 | Xerxes I the Great | October 486[28] – August 465 BC[30] (20 years and 9 or 10 months) | Son of Darius I[31] andAtossa (daughter of Cyrus II)[32] |
 | Artaxerxes I Longimanus | August 465[30] –c. December 424 BC[33] (41 years andc. 4 months) | Son of Xerxes I[34] |
_(Cropped).jpg) | Xerxes II | c. December 424 –c. January 423 BC[33] (45 days)[33] | Son of Artaxerxes I[33] |
_(Cropped).jpg) | Sogdianus | c. January – February 423 BC[33] (c. 1 month) | Illegitimate son of Artaxerxes I.[33] Seized the throne from Xerxes II.[35] |
 | Darius II (Ochus) | February 423 – March 404 BC[30] (19 years and 0 or 1 month) | Illegitimate son of Artaxerxes I.[33] Seized the throne from Sogdianus.[35] |
 | Artaxerxes II (Arsakes) | March 404[30] – spring (?) 358 BC[36] (46 years) | Son of Darius II[37] |
 | Artaxerxes III (Ochus) | Spring (?) 358 – September (?) 338 BC[38] (20 years) | Son of Artaxerxes II[39] |
 | Artaxerxes IV (Arses) | September (?) 338 – June 336 BC[38] (2 years) | Son of Artaxerxes III[40] |
 | Darius III (Artashata) | June 336[38] – July 330 BC[41] (6 years) | Grandson of Artaxerxes II[40] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
_of_Firdausi_MET_(cropped).jpg) | Artaxerxes V (Bessus) | July 330[41] – spring 329 BC[42] (less than a year) | Satrap ofBactria,[42] part of the Achaemenid dynasty.[41] Murdered Darius III and proclaimed himself as his successor, ruling several eastern satrapies in opposition toAlexander the Great.[41] |
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The Achaemenid Empire was defeated and conquered byAlexander the Great, king ofMacedonia, in 331[43]–329 BC.[42] After Alexander's death in 323 BC, theWars of the Diadochi broke out between his successors, leading to the rapid disintegration of the empire.[7]
Alexander did not assume the former Achaemenid royal title of 'King of Kings'.[44][45] His main royal title, appearing on coins intended for his Asian territories, was insteadbasileus (lit. 'king').[44] To mark his rule over the Achaemenid territories he also sometimes used the new title "Lord of Asia" (sometimes "King of Asia").[44] The only royal title recorded for Alexander's two immediate heirs isbasileus.[46] Alexander ruled his empire fromBabylon[47] and planned to establish Babylon andAlexandria in Egypt as the twin imperial capitals.[43] From 319 BC onwards, Alexander's heirs resided in Macedonia while the regency in Asia was contested by several generals.[48]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Alexander[g] the Great | 1 October 331[43][h] – 10/11 June 323 BC[49] (7 years, 8 months and 10/11 days) | Conquered the Achaemenid Empire[7] |
 | Philip Arrhidaeus[i] | June 323 – late 317 BC[49] (6 years) | Brother of Alexander the Great[50] |
 | Alexander Aegus[j] | August 323[49] – 309 BC[51] (305 BC)[k] (14 years, recognized for 18 years) | Son of Alexander the Great[50] |
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The main Hellenistic successors of Alexander's empire in Iran were theSeleucids, descendants of the Macedonian generalSeleucus I Nicator and the Iranian noblewomanApama.[52] Seleucus seized most of the east, includingBabylonia, in theWars of the Diadochi and was firmly in control in the region from 312 BC onwards.[53] After Alexander IV's death became public knowledge in 305 BC, Seleucus proclaimed himself king.[54]
The main royal title used by the Seleucids wasbasileus, as was the case for the other Macedonian successor kingdoms (such as thePtolemaic Kingdom).[55] Only two Seleucid rulers (Antiochus III, 223–187 BC, andAntiochus VII, 139–129 BC) used the greatermegas basileus ('Great King'),[56] the style applied to Achaemenid kings in ancient Greek sources.[21] The Seleucids at first ruled fromSeleucia in Mesopotamia, thoughAntioch was soon made the main capital.[57]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Seleucus I Nicator | 305[54] – September 280 BC[58] (25 years) | Former general under Alexander the Great. Held most of the east of his empire from 312 BC onwards[53] and proclaimed king in 305 BC.[54] |
 | Antiochus I Soter | September 280 – 261 BC[58] (19 years) | Son of Seleucus I[58] |
 | Antiochus II Theos | 261–246 BC[58] (15 years) | Son of Antiochus I[58] |
%2c_Antioch_mint.jpg) | Seleucus II Callinicus | 246–226 BC[58] (20 years) | Son of Antiochus II[58] |
.jpg) | Seleucus III Ceraunus | 226–223 BC[58] (3 years) | Son of Seleucus II[58] |
%2c_late_1st_century_BC%25E2%2580%2593early_1st_century_AD%2c_Louvre_Museum_(7462828632).jpg) | Antiochus III the Great | 223–187 BC[58] (36 years) | Son of Seleucus II[58] |
 | Seleucus IV Philopator | 187–175 BC[58] (12 years) | Son of Antiochus III[58] |
 | Antiochus IV Epiphanes | 175 – late 164 BC[58] (11 years) | Son of Antiochus III[58] |
 | Antiochus V Eupator | Late 164 – 162 BC[58] (2 years) | Son of Antiochus IV[58] |
 | Demetrius I Soter | 162–150 BC[58] (12 years) | Son of Seleucus IV. Overthrew Antiochus IV.[58] |
 | Alexander Balas | 152–145 BC[58] (7 years) | Alleged son of Antiochus IV. Rival king against Demetrius I, supported by theRoman Empire.[58] |
 | Antiochus VI Dionysus | 145–142 BC[58] (3 years) | Son of Alexander Balas[58] |
%2c_Ptolemais_in_Phoenicia_mint.jpg) | Demetrius II Nicator | 147–139 BC[58] (8 years) | Son of Demetrius I. Revolted against Alexander Balas with support from thePtolemaic Kingdom. Sole king after Antiochus VI's death.[58] |
 | Antiochus VII Sidetes | 139–129 BC[58] (10 years) | Son of Demetrius I[58] |
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The Arsacids ofParthia,[54] initially Seleucid vassals,[59] originated as leaders of the Iranian[l]Parni tribe in the northeastern steppes.[62] The Parthians gradually challenged Seleucid rule over Iran.[63] Parthian control of Iran was secured through thec. 142 BC conquest ofBabylonia.[54][63] Although fighting continued for years, the death ofAntiochus VII Sidetes in 129 BC effectively marked the collapse of the Seleucid Empire,[63] which then lingered on as arump state in Syria until conquered by theRoman Empire in the 60s BC.[54]
The Parthians presented themselves as heirs of the Achaemenids, though ruled a much more decentralized state.[62] Greek inscriptions were used on Parthian coins until the time ofVologases I (AD 51–78).[64] Early Parthian rulers used the name of their dynastic founder (Arsaces) as a title. Their coins also have the legendkrny (probably short forautokrator, i.e. autocrat or sole ruler).[64] From the conquest of Babylonia onwards, rulers usedbasileus megas (lit. 'Great King').[63]Mithridates II (123–91 BC) adopted the Achaemenid 'King of Kings' (rendered in Greek asbasileus basileon). After him, this title was used only byMithridates IV (57–54 BC) andOrodes II (57–37 BC) before becoming a standard part of the Parthian title from the time ofPhraates IV (26–2 BC) onwards.[65] The title was used in its Persian form (šāhān šāh) after Greek ceased being used.[66] The first Parthian capital was atNisa in Parthia. In 217 BC, the capital was moved toQumis and in 50 BC a multi-capital system was established, with royal residences atCtesiphon,Ecbatana, andRay.[67]
This list omits rival kings and claimants. Because of poor source material there are alternate chronologies, genealogies, and enumerations of Parthian rulers, with some differences. See thelist of monarchs of Parthia.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
%2c_Nisa_mint_(cropped).jpg) | Arsaces I | c. 250/247–217 BC[68] (30–33 years) | ConqueredParthia from the Seleucid satrapAndragoras[62] |
 | Arsaces II | c. 217–191 BC[68] (26 years) | Son of Arsaces I[68] |
 | Priapatius | c. 191–176 BC[68] (15 years) | Grandson of a brother of Arsaces I[68] |
 | Phraates I | c. 176–171 BC[68] (5 years) | Son of Priapatius[68] |
 | Mithridates I | c. 171[68]–142 BC[54][m] (29 years) | Son of Priapatius[68] |
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mithridates I the Great | c. 142[54][m]–132 BC[68] (c. 10 years) | Established Parthia as an empire.[69] Conquered theIranian plateau in the 160s BC,[62] followed by conquests ofBabylonia (142 BC),[54]Media (141 BC), andPersis (139 BC).[68] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) | Phraates II | c. 132–127 BC[68] (5 years) | Son of Mithridates I[68] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) | Artabanus I[n] | c. 127–124/123 BC[68] (3–4 years) | Son ofPriapatius (and brother of Mithridates I)[68] |
%2c_Ecbatana_mint.jpg) | Mithridates II the Great | c. 123–91 BC[68] (c. 32 years) | Son of Artabanus I[68] |
%2c_Ectbatana_mint.jpg) | Gotarzes I | 91–87(?) BC[68] (c. 4 years) | Son of Priapatius (and brother of Mithridates I and Artabanus I)[68] |
 | Orodes I | 87–79(?) BC[68] (c. 8 years) | Son of Gotarzes I or Mithridates II (?)[71] |
 | Sinatruces | c. 78–70 BC[68] (c. 8 years) | Son of Mithridates I, previously a rival claimant c. 91–88 BC[68] |
 | Phraates III | 70–57 BC[68] (13 years) | Son of Sinatruces[68] |
.jpg) | Mithridates III[o] | 57–54 BC[68] (3 years) | Son of Phraates III.[68] Co-ruler with his brother Orodes II until killed in 54 BC.[68] |
_mint.jpg) | Orodes II | 57–37 BC[68] (20 years) | Son of Phraates III[68] |
 | Phraates IV | 37–32(?) BC[68](1st reign) (5 years?) | Son of Orodes II[68] |
 | Tiridates[p] | 32–31(?) BC[68](1st reign) (1 year?) | Part of the Arsacid dynasty but of unclear lineage[73] |
| Phraates IV | 31–28(?) BC[68](2nd reign) (3 years?) | Retook the throne[68] |
| Tiridates[p] | 28–26(?) BC[68](2nd reign) (2 years?) | Retook the throne[68] |
| Phraates IV | 26(?)–2 BC[68](3rd reign) (24 years?) | Retook the throne[68] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint_(cropped).jpg) | Phraates V | 2 BC – AD 4(?)[74] (6 years?) | Son of Phraates IV, co-ruler with Musa[74] |
 | Musa | 2 BC – AD 4(?)[74] (6 years?) | Widow of Phraates IV, co-ruler with Phraates V.[74] First of only four women to rule in Iranian history.[q] |
 | Orodes III | 4(?)–6/7[74] (2/3 years?) | Part of the Arsacid dynasty but of unclear lineage[75] |
 | Vonones I | 6/7–11/12[74] (4–6 years) | Son of Phraates IV, nominated as king by theRoman Empire[74] |
 | Artabanus II[r] | 11/12–38[74] (26/27 years) | Cousin of Vonones[74] |
 | Gotarzes II | 38–51[74] (13 years) | Son of Artabanus (?)[74] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) | Vardanes | 39–45/46[74] (6/7 years) | Son of Artabanus (?).[74] Rival and later co-ruler of the empire with Gotarzes.[76] |
 | Vonones II | 51[77] (briefly) | Part of the Arsacid dynasty but of unclear lineage[77] |
 | Vologases I | 51–78[74] (27 years) | Son of Vardanes[74] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) | Pacorus[s] | 78–79[74](1st reign) (1 year) | Son of Vologases I[78] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) | Artabanus III[t] | 79–81[74] (2 years) | Son or brother of Vologases I[79] |
| Pacorus[s] | 81–115[74](2nd reign) (34 years) | Retook the throne[74] |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) | Vologases II[u] | 115–116[74] (1 year) | Son of Pacorus[80] |
 | Parthamaspates | 116–117[74] (1 year) | Grandson of Pacorus, installed as king by the Roman Empire[81] |
%2c_Ecbatana_mint.jpg) | Osroes | 117–128[74] (11 years) | Son of Pacorus and father of Parthamaspates[82] |
 | Mithridates IV[v] | 128–148[74] (20 years) | Part of the Arsacid dynasty but of unclear lineage[81] |
 | Vologases III[w] | 148–191[74] (43 years) | Son of Mithridates IV[81] |
%2c_Hamadan_mint.jpg) | Vologases IV[x] | 191–207[74] (16 years) | Son of Vologases III[83] |
%2c_Ecbatana_mint.jpg) | Vologases V[y] | 207–213[74] (6 years) | Son of Vologases IV.[74] Possibly still in control of some parts of the empire by 228.[84] |
%2c_Hamadan_mint.jpg) | Artabanus IV[z] | 213[74]–224[85] (11 years) | Son of Vologases IV.[85] Fought with Vologases V over control of the empire.[85] |
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TheSasanian dynasty originated as kings ofPersis, a Parthian vassal kingdom, and claimed Achaemenid descent. In 224–226, the Sasanian dynastArdashir I led a revolt against the Parthians, weakened in a recent civil war, and took control of the empire. Ardashir presented himself as a restorer of both regional unity and Achaemenid glory.[86] The Sasanian Empire was a significantly more militarily powerful, centralized, and aggressive state than the Parthian Empire and was also marked by a state-backed and less heterodox form of theZoroastrian religion.[87]
Sasanian kings continued to use the titlešāhān šāh (lit. 'King of Kings').[88][full citation needed] The title was extended by Ardashir tošāhān šāh ērān (lit. 'King of Kings of Iran')[89] and extended again by his sonShapur I (240–270) tošāhān šāh ērān ud anērān (lit. 'King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran').[89][90] Sasanian queens ruled with the titlebānbišnān bānbišn ērān ud anērān (lit. 'Queen of Queens of Iran and non-Iran').[91]Ctesiphon was the capital of the Sasanian Empire.[92]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
%2c_Hamadan_mint.jpg) | Ardashir I the Unifier | 224 – May 240[93][94] (16 years) | Defeated Artabanus IV and took control of the empire[86] |
 | Shapur I | May 240 – May 270[93] (30 years) | Son of Ardashir I[93] |
 | Hormizd I | May 270 – June 271[93] (1 year and 1 month) | Son of Shapur I[93] |
.jpg) | Bahram I | June 271 – 274[93] (3 years) | Son of Shapur I[93] |
.jpg) | Bahram II | 274–293[92] (19 years) | Son of Bahram I[92] |
 | Bahram III | 293[92] (4 months) | Son or cousin of Bahram II[92] |
 | Narseh | 293–302[92] (9 years) | Son of Shapur I[92] |
.jpg) | Hormizd II | 303–309/310[92] (6/7 years) | Son of Narseh[92] |
— | Adur Narseh (Narseh II) | 309/310[94] (briefly) | Son of Hormizd II[94] |
.png) | Shapur II the Great | 310–379[92] (69 years) | Son of Hormizd II, acclaimed ruler at birth.[92] The longest-reigning Iranian monarch. |
 | Ardashir II the Beneficent | 379–383[92] (4 years) | Son of Hormizd II[92] |
 | Shapur III | 383–388[92] (5 years) | Son of Shapur II[92] |
%2c_Herat_mint.jpg) | Bahram IV | 388–399[92] (11 years) | Son of Shapur II[92] |
 | Yazdegerd I the Sinner | 399–420[92] (21 years) | Son of Shapur III[92] |
 | Shapur IV | 420[95] (briefly) | Son of Yazdegerd I[95] |
— | Khosrow (I)[aa] | 420[95] (briefly) | Son of Bahram IV[95] |
 | Bahram V theOnager | 420–438[92] (18 years) | Son of Yazdegerd I[92] |
 | Yazdegerd II | 438–457[92] (19 years) | Son of Bahram V[92] |
 | Hormizd III | 457[92] (briefly) | Son of Yazdegerd II[92] |
 | Peroz I | 457–484[92] (27 years) | Son of Yazdegerd II[92] |
 | Balash | 484–488[92] (4 years) | Son of Yazdegerd II[92] |
 | Kavad I | 488–497[92](1st reign) (9 years) | Son of Peroz[92] |
 | Jamasp | 497–499[92] (2 years) | Son of Peroz[92] |
| Kavad I | 499–531[92](2nd reign) (32 years) | Restored to the throne withHepthalite support[92] |
 | Khosrow I Anushirvan (lit. 'the Immortal Soul') | 531–579[92] (48 years) | Son of Kavad I[92] |
 | Hormizd IV | 579–590[96] (11 years) | Son of Khosrow I[92] |
 | Bahram VI Chobin | 590–591[96] (1 year) | General of Parthian descent (House of Mihran)[97] |
 | Khosrow II Parviz (lit. 'the Victorious') | June 590 – 28 February 628[92] (37 years and 7 or 8 months) | Son of Hormizd IV[92] |
 | Vistahm | 591–597[96] (6 years, usurper in the east) | General of Parthian descent (House of Ispahbudhan) and maternal uncle of Khosrow II. Rival king.[98] |
%2c_minted_at_Ray_in_628.jpg) | Kavad II | 28 February 628 – 628[92] (less than a year) | Son of Khosrow II, overthrew his father[99] |
 | Ardashir III | 628–630[100] (2 years) | Cousin[100] or son[101] of Kavad II |
 | Shahrbaraz | 630[100] (less than a year) | General of Parthian descent (House of Mihran)[102] |
 | Khosrow III | 630[100] (less than a year) | Nephew of Khosrow II[100] |
 | Boran | 630[103] (less than a year) | Daughter of Khosrow II.[100] Second of only four women to rule in Iranian history.[ab] |
— | Shapur V | 630[104] (less than a year) | Son of Shahrbaraz[104] |
 | Azarmidokht | 630–631[105] (1 year) | Daughter of Khosrow II.[94] Third of only four women to rule in Iranian history.[ac] |
 | FarrukhHormizd V | 631–632[100] (1 year) | General of Parthian descent (House of Ispahbudhan). Attempted to seize the throne after Azarmidokht declined his marriage proposal.[105] |
 | Hormizd VI | 630–632[106] (2 years, usurper inNisibis) | Grandson of Khosow II.[106] Proclaimed ruler by the Sasanian troops stationed atNisibis.[106] |
 | Khosrow IV | 632[100] (less than a year) | Great-nephew of Hormizd IV[100] |
— | Peroz II | 632–632/633[100] (1 year?) | Brother of Khosrow IV[100] |
 | FarrukhzadKhosrow V | 632/633–c. 633[100] (1 year?) | Brother of Hormizd V[100] |
 | Yazdegerd III | c. 633–651[100] (c. 18 years) | Grandson of Khosrow II[94] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Peroz III | 651–678/679[107] (27/28 years) | Son of Yazdegerd III, lived in exile in China (Tang dynasty) and led Iranian resistance against the Arabs. Recognized by the Tang dynasty as "king of Persia".[108] Ruled a Tang-supported Iranian kingdom inSistan orTokharistan[109] 661–674.[110] |
— | Narsieh (Narseh III) | 678/679[107]–after 708/709[111] (over 20 years) | Son and successor of Peroz III.[107] Crowned by the Chinese generalPei Xingjian and placed in charge ofTokharistan. Narsieh defended the region for twenty years until defeated by the Arabs in 708/709, whereafter he returned to China.[111] |
— | Bó Qiāng Huó[ad] | fl. 723[112] | Son of Narsieh.[112] Recorded in Chinese sources as "king of Persia" and as being active in Tokharistan against the Arabs in 723.[112] |
— | Mù Shānuò[ae] | fl. 726–731[112] | Recorded in Chinese sources as "king of Persia" and as being active in Tokharistan against the Arabs in 726 and 731.[112] Names of Sasanian claimants disappear from Chinese sources after 731.[112] |
The fall of theSasanian Empire in 651 was followed by nearly a millennium without Iranian political unity, until the rise of theSafavid Empire in 1501.[113][114] In the intervening period, the territories formerly part of the ancient Iranian empires were variously subjected to larger foreign empires or divided into several smaller political units.[113] Although no unified Iranian state existed, shared Iranian identity, culture, and language continued to survive and develop throughout theMiddle Ages.[113][114]
The medieval dynasties and kingdoms featured in this list follow a 2012 list of Iranian ruling dynasties by the IranologistTouraj Daryaee.[115]
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TheMuslim conquest of Persia began when the armies of theRashidun Caliphate attacked parts of SasanianAsoristan in 633.[116] In 637/638, the Sasanians lost Mesopotamia[100] The empire itself was conquered in 640–650.[100][117] By the time ofYazdegerd III's death in 651, the Sasanians only retainedBactria.[100] Following the Muslim victory, the Sasanian Empire was dissolved and Iran came under the direct rule of theRashid caliphs.[118] Although the caliphs implemented forms of ethnic stratification that discriminated against Iranians and their culture, particularly during the laterUmayyad Caliphate (661–750), they also adopted much of the old Sasanian administrative model to govern their empire.[119]
The style of the caliphs wasamīr al-mu'minīn (lit. 'commander of the faithful').[120] An additional title,khalīfatAllāh (lit. 'deputy of God'), was also introduced beginning withUthman (644–656).[121] The caliphate was initially ruled fromMedina. Under Ali, the capital was transferred toKufa in Iraq.[122]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Umar | 637/638[100] – 3 November 644[123] (6/7 years) | Second Rashid caliph.[124] Oversaw the initialMuslim conquest of Persia.[116] |
 | Uthman | 3 November 644 – 17 June 656[125] (11 years, 7 months and 14 days) | Chosen by tribal acclamation. Challenged byAli.[124] |
 | Ali | 18 June 656 – 28 January 661[126] (4 years, 7 months and 10 days) | Caliph after Uthman's assassination. Challenged byMu'awiya.[124] |
 | Hasan | 28 January – August 661[126] (6 or 7 months) | Son of Ali and grandson ofMuhammad.[127] Challenged by Mu'awiya.[128] |
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TheUmayyad Caliphate was established byMu'awiya I, governor of Syria under the Rashidun caliphs. Mu'awiya opposed the acclamations of Ali and Hasan as caliphs,[122] leading to the civil war known as theFirst Fitna (656–661).[124] Mu'awiya was victorious and became undisputed caliph after Hasan relinquished his claims.[122]
Umayyad caliphs continued to use the stylesamīr al-mu'minīn andkhalīfat Allāh.[129] The Umayyad Caliphate was ruled fromDamascus, though the capital was briefly transferred toHarran under the last caliph,Marwan II.[130]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Mu'awiya I | July/August 661 – April/May 680[131] (18 years and 9 months) | Seized power in theFirst Fitna[124] |
 | Yazid I | April/May 680 – 11 November 683[131] (3 years and 6 or 7 months) | Son of Mu'awiya I[94] |
 | Mu'awiya II | 11 November 683 – 22 June 684[131] (7 months and 11 days) | Son of Yazid I[94] |
 | Marwan I | 22 June 684 – 7 May 685[131] (10 months and 15 days) | Cousin of Mu'awiya I[94] |
_struck_during_the_reign_of_%2527Abd_al-Malik_ibn_Marwan.jpg) | Abd al-Malik | 7 May 685 – 8 October 705[131] (20 years, 5 months and 1 day) | Son of Marwan I[132] |
 | al-Walid I | 8 October 705 – 25 February 715[131] (9 years, 4 months and 17 days) | Son of Abd al-Malik[132] |
 | Sulayman | 25 February 715 – 22 September 717[131] (2 years, 6 months and 28 days) | Son of Abd al-Malik[132] |
 | Umar II | 22 September 717 – 5 February 720[131] (2 years, 4 months and 14 days) | Son of Marwan I[132] |
 | Yazid II | 5 February 720 – 28 January 724[131] (3 years, 11 months and 23 days) | Son of Abd al-Malik[132] |
 | Hisham | 28 January 724 – 6 February 743[131] (19 years and 9 days) | Son of Abd al-Malik[132] |
_Walid_bin_Yazid.jpg) | al-Walid II | 6 February 743 – 16 April 744[131] (1 year, 2 months and 10 days) | Son of Yazid II[132] |
 | Yazid III | 16 April – 20 September 744[131] (5 months and 4 days) | Son of al-Walid I[132] |
 | Ibrahim | 20 September – 25 November 744[131] (2 months and 5 days) | Son of al-Walid I[132] |
 | Marwan II | 25 November 744 – 750[131] (c. 6 years) | Grandson of Marwan I[132] |
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Because Mu'awiya took power in civil war, the rights of his and his descendants to the caliphate was long questioned. Anti-Umayyad insurrections were to a large degree supported by non-Arab converts to Islam (especially Iranians) who were resentful over being relegated to lower social standing. In 747–750, one of these insurrections grew into theAbbasid revolution, in which the Umayyads were replaced with theAbbasids, descendants of Muhammad's uncleAbbas.[133]
Abbasid caliphs continued to use the stylesamīr al-mu'minīn andkhalīfat Allāh.[129] The Abbasid Caliphate was ruled fromKufa, until the capital was transferred to the newly-foundedBaghdad in 762.[134]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | al-Saffah | 6 November 749 – 9 June 754[135] (4 years, 7 months and 3 days) | Seized power in theAbbasid revolution[124] |
.JPG) | al-Mansur | 9 June 754 – 7 October 775[135] (21 years, 3 months and 28 days) | Brother of al-Saffrah[132] |
 | al-Mahdi | 7 October 775 – 4 August 785[135] (9 years, 9 months and 28 days) | Son of al-Mansur[132] |
 | al-Hadi | 4 August 785 – 15 September 786[135] (1 year, 1 month and 11 days) | Son of al-Mahdi[132] |
 | Harun al-Rashid | 15 September 786 – 24 March 809[135] (22 years, 6 months and 9 days) | Son of al-Mahdi[132] |
.jpg) | al-Amin | 24 March 809 – 27 September 813[136] (4 years, 6 months and 3 days) | Son of Harun al-Rashid[132] |
 | al-Ma'mun | 27 September 813 – 7 August 833[136] (19 years, 10 months and 11 days) | Son of Harun al-Rashid[132] |
 | al-Mu'tasim | 7 August 833 – 5 January 842[137] (8 years, 4 months and 29 days) | Son of Harun al-Rashid[132] |
 | al-Wathiq | 5 January 842 – 10 August 847[137] (5 years, 7 months and 5 days) | Son of al-Mu'tasim[132] |
 | al-Mutawakkil | 10 August 847 – 11 December 861[137] (14 years, 4 months and 1 day) | Son of al-Mu'tasim.[132] Regarded as the last Abbasid caliph wielding major political power.[138] |
The political authority of the Abbasid caliphs diminished over the course of the ninth and tenth centuries.[139] In Iran, this led to the establishment of several independent Iranian dynasties,[139] the ousting of Arabs from their scattered bastions across the country, and an Iranian cultural renaissance.[140] The period between the collapse of Abbasid authority and the conquest of Iran by theSeljuk Turks in the eleventh century is referred to as the "Iranian Intermezzo".[140]
The Iranian Intermezzo saw the rise and fall of several major and minor dynasties.[140] This list only includes major dynasties. Both Daryaee (2012)[115] and Mahendrarajah (2019)[140] list the major dynasties of the period as theTahirids,Saffarids,Ziyarids,Buyids, andSamanids. Daryaee also includes theGhaznavids, omitted by Mahendrarajah.
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The Tahirids were a dynasty of Islamic Iranian rulers who governedKhorasan and much of the rest of Iran under the Abbasid caliphs. The Tahirids enjoyed considerable autonomy in practice but were notde jure independent;[141][142][143] Tahirid rulers fully acknowledged that they were subordinate viceroys, were always deferential to the caliphs, and regularly forwarded tribute to Baghdad.[143] The Tahirids wereArabized, but they were nevertheless Persians.[144] The Tahirids claimed descent from the Iranian mythological heroRostam.[145]
As vassals of the Caliphate, the Tahirid rulers used the titleamir.[146] The Tahirids initially ruled fromMerv. The capital was transferred toNishapur under Abdallah.[147]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Tahir I | 821–822[148] (1 year) | Granted governorship ofKhorasan by Caliphal-Ma'mun for his service in theFourth Fitna[147] |
 | Talha | 822–828[148] (6 years) | Son of Tahir I[148] |
— | Abdallah | 828–845[148] (17 years) | Son of Tahir I[148] |
— | Tahir II | 845–862[148] (17 years) | Son of Abdallah[148] |
— | Muhammad | 862–873[148] (11 years) | Son of Tahir II[148] |
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The Saffarids were a dynasty of Islamic Iranian rulers who at their height ruled much of Iran, and at times even reached into modern-day Iraq, from their base of power inSistan.[143] Although the dynastic founderYa'qub (867–879) claimed Sasanian descent,[149] the Saffarid dynasty originated as local ruffians[148] and their power was attained solely through military might.[143] The Saffarid state expanded aggressively under the rule of Ya'qub andAmr I (879–901), under which the Tahirids were defeated and the Abbasid Caliphate was forced to confirm Saffarid control over various Iranian territories.[143]
Since they were nominally Abbasid subordinates, Saffarid rulers used the titleamir.[143]Zaranj served as the Saffarid capital.[143]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ya'qub | 867–879[148] (12 years) | Local ruffian[148] who established control overSistan,Khorasan, and beyond[143] |
 | Amr I | 879–901[148] (22 years) | Brother of Ya'qub[148] |
— | Tahir | 901–909[148] (8 years) | Grandson of Amr I[148] |
— | al-Layth | 909–910[148] (1 year) | Nephew of Ya'qub and Amr I[148] |
— | Muhammad | 910–911[148] (1 year) | Brother of al-Layth[148] |
— | al-Mu'addal | 911[143] (less than a year) | Brother of al-Layth[143] |
— | Amr II | 912–913[148] (1 year) | Great-grandson of Amr I[148] |
| Interregnum 913–923:[143] occupation by theSamanids.[143] | |||
 | Ahmad | 923–963[148] (40 years) | Married to a granddaughter of Amr I[148] |
 | Khalaf | 963–1002[148] (39 years) | Son of Ahmad[148] |
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The Samanids were a dynasty of Islamic Iranian rulers established by four brothers in 819, when they were granted four important cities and regions by the Abbasid Caliphate due to helping against the revolt ofRafi ibn al-Layth.[150] In 875, the Samanids increased dramatically in power through investment as governors ofTransoxiana[150][151] and in 892, all Samanid-held territories were united under a single ruler (Ismail). Under Ismail, the Samanids became autonomous of the Abbasids.[150] The Samanids claimed descent fromBahram VI Chobin (589–590).[149]
Like other dynasties of their time, Samanid rulers used the titleamir.[152]Mansur I (961/962–976/977) assumed the stylešāhānšāh (lit. 'King of Kings') as a response to the use of that title by the Buyids.[153] Mansur I's son,Nuh II (976/977–997), also usedšāhānšāh.[154] The Samanid capital was atSamarkand (875–892) and then atBukhara.[150]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
— | Nasr I | 875[155] – August/September 892[151] (17 years) | Appointed governor ofTransoxiana by the Abbasid Caliphate in 875[151] |
_Usrushana_mint._Dated_AH_280_(AD_893-4).jpg) | Ismail | August/September 892 – 24 November 907[151] (15 years and 2–3 months) | Brother of Nasr I[151] |
%2c_Cream_of_Histories_(Z%25C3%25BCbdet-%25C3%25BCt_Tevarih%2c_1598).jpg) | Ahmad the Martyred Amir | November/December 907 – 24 January 914[151] (6 years and 2–3 months) | Son of Ismail[151] |
 | Nasr II the Fortunate | January 914 – March/April 943[151] (29 years and 2–3 months) | Son of Ahmad[151] |
 | Nuh I | April/May 943 – 954/955[151] (11–12 years) | Son of Nasr II[155] |
 | Abd al-Malik I | 954/955–961/962[151] (8 years) | Son of Nuh I[151] |
 | Mansur I the Righteous Amir | 961/962–976/977[151] (15 years) | Son of Nuh I[155] |
 | Nuh II | 976/977 – 22 July 997[151] (10–11 years) | Son of Mansur I[151] |
 | Mansur II | July/August 997 – 1 February 999[151] (1 year and 6–7 months) | Son of Nuh II[151] |
— | Abd al-Malik II | February 999[151] – 999[155] (less than a year) | Son of Nuh II[151] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
— | Ismail II Muntasir (lit. 'the Victorious') | 999[155]–1005[150] (6 years) | Son of Nuh II.[155] Fought against theKara-Khanid Khanate, which conquered Bukhara, for several years in an effort to restore the Samanids.[150] |
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The Ziyarids were a dynasty of Iranian rulers established in northern Iran byMardavij, a local mountain chief and mercenary who created an extensive kingdom in the late 920s and early 930s. Mardavij claimed descent from local pre-Islamic nobility and aspired to capture Baghdad, overthrow the Abbasids, and restore both the pre-651 empire as well as the Zoroastrian religion.[156] These aspirations came to an end with Mardavij's murder by his Turkic military slaves in 934/935.[156] Most of the Ziyarid realm was lost, except for territories surrounding theCaspian Sea, inherited by Mardavij's Islamic relatives.[157]
Mardavij may have revived the Sasanian ruling titlešāhānšāh (lit. 'King of Kings') since laterBuyid writers attribute the title to him.[149][af] Later Ziyarid rulers used the titleamir.[159] The Ziyarids went through a succession of capitals in northern Iran, includingRay,Amol, andGorgan.[156]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mardavij | 927/928–934/935[160] (7 years) | Mountain chief and mercenary who took control of much of northern Iran[156] |
— | Vushmgir | 934/935–966/967[160] (32 years) | Brother of Mardavij[160] |
 | Bisutun | 966/967–977/978[160] (11 years) | Son of Vushmgir[160] |
.jpg) | Qabus | 977/978–1012/1013 (in exile 981–998)[160] (35 years) | Son of Vushmgir[160] |
— | Manuchihr | 1012/1013–1029/1030[160] (17 years) | Son of Qabus[160] |
— | Anushirvan | 1029/1030–1049/1050[160] (20 years) | Son of Manuchihr[160] |
— | Keikavus | 1049/1050–?[160] | Cousin of Anushirvan[160] |
— | Gilanshah | ?–1090/1091[160] | Son of Keikavus[160] |
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The Buyids were a dynasty of Islamic Iranian rulers established by three brothers who had served underMardavij (the first Ziyarid ruler). After Mardavij's murder, the three carved out their own realm out of the southern Ziyarid territories.[157] The Buyid state was composed of three principalities ruled by three branches of the family, sometimes with divergent goals, rather than a unified realm.[157] The Buyids came to dominate much of Iran, a development that culminated in 945 with the capture ofBaghdad and domination of the caliph himself.[139] The Buyid dynasty claimed descent from the Sasanian kingBahram V (420–438),[149] almost certainly a forgery.[157]
Individual Buyid rulers were styled asamir. The senior of the three was also invested by the caliph with the grander titleamīr al-omarāʾ (lit. 'great emir').[157] The Buyid emirates were transformed into something akin to a restored Iranian monarchy underRukn al-Dawla and his son'Adud al-Dawla, who also reintroduced the Sasanian royal titlešāhānšāh (lit. 'King of Kings').[158] This title continued to be sporadically claimed by Buyid dynasts.[ag]
This list records only the 'main branch' of Buyid rulers, per Daryaee (2012).[148] For a full list of major and minor Buyid rulers, seeBuyid dynasty § Buyid rulers.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Imad al-Dawla (Ali) | 933/934–949/950[163] (16 years,Fars[148]) | Son of aDaylamite chief.[148] Seized power in the southern territories of the Ziyarid state.[157] |
 | Mu'izz al-Dawla (Ahmad) | 935/936–949/950[164] (14 years,Kerman[163] then Iraq[148]) | Brother (and coregent) of Imad al-Dawla[148] |
.jpg) | Rukn al-Dawla (Hasan) | 946/947 – 16 September 976[165] (29–30 years,Ray[148]) | Brother (and coregent) of Imad al-Dawla[148] |
 | 'Adud al-Dawla (Panāh Khusraw) | 949/950 – 26 March 983[163] (33–34 years) | Son of Rukn al-Dawla[148] |
 | Sharaf al-Dawla (Shirdil) | March/April 983 – September/October 989[163] (6 years and 5 or 6 months) | Son of 'Adud al-Dawla[148] |
 | Samsam al-Dawla (Abu Kalijar Marzuban) | 989–998[148] (9 years) | Son of 'Adud al-Dawla[148] |
 | Baha al-Dawla (Abu Nasr Firuz) | 998–1012[148] (14 years) | Son of 'Adud al-Dawla[148] |
 | Sultan al-Dawla (Abu Shuja) | 1012–1024[148] (12 years) | Son of Baha al-Dawla[148] |
 | Abu Kalijar Marzuban | 1024–1048[148] (24 years) | Son of Sultan al-Dawla[148] |
— | Abu Mansur Fulad Sutun | 1048–1062[148] (14 years) | Son of Abu Kalijar Marzuban[148] |
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The Ghaznavids were of Turkic[149][166] slave origin.[166] In the tenth century, Turkish slave commanders became increasingly prominent, and eventually effectively autonomous, in the southern parts of the Samanid realm. In 977, the commanderSabuktigin seized power inGhazni, nominally as a Samanid vassal. Once the Samanids went into terminal decline and collapsed in the late tenth century, Sabuktigin's state became a fully independent realm.[166] Although not Iranian, the Ghaznavid rulers nevertheless claimed descent from the Sasanian rulerYazdegerd III (c. 633–651).[149]
Sabuktigin ruled with the titleal-ḥājeb al-ajall (lit. 'most noble commander').[166] From 999 onwards,[155] the Ghaznavids ruled with the titlesulṭān.[166] Sabuktigin's capital, Ghazni, remained the Ghaznavid capital for the duration of their rule in Iran.[166]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Sabuktigin | 977/978–997/998[167] (20 years) | Seized power inGhazni[166] |
— | Ismail | 997/998–998[167] (less than a year) | Son of Sabuktigin[155] |
 | Mahmud | 998 – 30 April 1030[167] (32 years) | Son of Sabuktigin[155] |
 | Muhammad | 1030[167] (briefly) | Son of Mahmud[167] |
 | Masʽud | 1030 – 23 May 1040[167] (10 years) | Son of Mahmud[167] |
The Ghaznavids lost their territories in Iran to theSeljuks after theBattle of Dandanaqan (1040).[166][167] For later Ghaznavid rulers, seeGhaznavids § List of rulers.
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The Seljuk Empire was established by theTurkoman chieftainTughril I, who invaded the Ghaznavids in the late 1030s.[168] In 1040, the Seljuks conquered the Ghaznavid-held parts of Iran[166][167] and over the following decades they established control over most of the Middle East,[169] ending the Iranian Intermezzo.[140] Though they were not of Iranian origin, the Seljuk rulers bolstered their legitimacy by claiming descent fromAfrasiab, a legendary figure from theShahnameh.[149]
From the empire's inception, the Seljuk rulers minted coins with the titlešāhānšāh (lit. 'King of Kings') in its Persian form,[169] perhaps adopting it from the Buyids.[162] Later on, the rulers more prominently used the Arabic titlesulṭān and royal styles such as the Arabicmalik and Persianšāh were bestowed on vassals.[169]Šāhānšāh continued to be used on the majority of Seljuk coinage, sometimes in the new variant "šāhānšāh king of Islam".[170]Nishapur served as the first capital of the Seljuk Empire. In 1143, the capital was moved toRay and a few years later it was moved again toIsfahan. From 1118 onwards, the Seljuk regime became increasingly unstable and rival claimants used various bases of power, includingBaghdad,Hamadan, andMerv.[171]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Tughril I | June/July 1038[172] – 4 September 1063[173] (25 years and 2–3 months) | Initiated the Seljuk conquest of Iran[172] |
.png) | Alp Arslan | 4 September 1063 – 15 December 1072[173] (9 years, 3 months and 11 days) | Nephew of Tughril I[174] |
.jpg) | Malik-Shah I | 15 December 1072[173] – 14 October 1092[175] (19 years, 9 months and 29 days) | Son of Alp Arslan[174] |
 | Mahmud I | 14 October 1092[175] – 1093[174] (c. 1 year) | Son of Malik-Shah I[174] |
.jpg) | Berkyaruq | October/November 1092[176] – 22 December 1104[177] (12 years and 1–2 months) | Son of Malik-Shah I[174] |
— | Malik-Shah II | 22 December 1104 – February/March 1105[177] (2–3 months) | Son of Berkyaruq[177] |
.png) | Muhammad I Tapar | February/March 1105[177] – 5 August 1118[173] (13 years and 5–6 months) | Son of Malik-Shah I[174] |
 | Mahmud II | 5 August 1118[173] – 11 September 1131[178] (13 years, 1 month and 6 days) | Son of Muhammad I Tapar.[179] Defeated by his uncle Ahmad Sanjar after eight months of rule, thereafter sultan only in Iraq.[180] |
.jpg) | Ahmad Sanjar | 1118[181] – 8 May 1157[178] (39 years) | Son of Malik-Shah I.[174] Previously Seljuk ruler inKhorasan.[182] |
— | Dawud | December 1132/January 1133[183] (briefly) | Son of Mahmud II; sultan in Iraq[181] |
— | Tughril II | December 1132/January 1133 – October/November 1134[184] (1 year and 10 months) | Son of Muhammad I Tapar; sultan in Iraq[181] |
— | Mas'ud | October/November 1134[184] – 10 October 1152[184] (18 years) | Son of Muhammad I Tapar; sultan in Iraq[181] |
— | Malik-Shah III | October 1152 – December 1152/January 1153[184] (2–3 months) | Son of Mahmud II; sultan in Iraq[181] |
— | Muhammad II | December 1152/January 1153[185] – December 1159/January 1160[186] (7 years) | Son of Mahmud II; sultan in Iraq[181] |
— | Suleiman-Shah | 22 March[187] – September/October 1160[188] (6–7 months) | Son of Muhammad I Tapar; sultan in Iraq[181] |
— | Arslan-Shah | September/October 1160[188] – January/February 1176[189] (15 years and 4 months) | Son of Tughril II; sultan in Iraq[181] |
 | Tughril III | January/February 1176[189] – 1194[190] (18 years) | Son of Arslan-Shah; sultan in Iraq[181] |
.svg)
The Seljuk Empire fractured after the death of Ahmad Sanjar in 1157 and its vassals became effectively independent.[191] One of these vassals was theAnushtegin dynasty, which ruled theKhwarazm region. The ruling dynasty were descendants ofAnushtegin Gharchai, a former Turkic slave of the Seljuq sultans.[192] In 1194, the Khwarazmian rulerTekish conquered western Iran and Iraq from the remnants of the Seljuk Empire.[190]
The Khwarazmian rulers used the ancient titlexwârazmšāh, traditionally held by Iranian rulers of Khwarazm.[193]Urganj was the Khwarazmian capital.[193]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muhammad I | 1096/1097 – 1127/1128[190] (31 years) | Seljuk vassal in Khwarazm[190] | |
 | Atsiz | 1127/1128 – 30 July 1156[190] (28–29 years) | Son of Muhammad I. Seljuk vassal.[190] |
.jpg) | Il-Arslan | 22 August 1156 – March 1172[190] (15 years and 7 months) | Son of Atsiz[190] |
— | Sultan Shah | 1172 – 11 December 1172[190] (less than a year) | Son of Il-Arslan.[190] Deposed by Tekish, who he continued to oppose as a rival claimant until 1193.[190] |
— | Tekish | 11 December 1172 – 3 July 1200[190] (27 years, 6 months and 22 days) | Son of Il-Arslan.[190] Conquered western Iran and Iraq from the remnants of the Seljuk Empire in 1194.[190] |
 | Muhammad II | 3 August 1200 – 1220/1221[190] (20–21 years) | Son of Tekish[190] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
._Qal_%2527a_Nay_mint.jpg) | Mangburni | 1220/1221 – August 1231[190] (10–11 years) | Son of Muhammad II.[190] Fled to India for three years (1221–1224) after the Mongol conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire and was then involved in various wars in western Iran.[193] |
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The Mongol Empire was established byGenghis Khan in 1206 through uniting theMongol clans.[194] The unification of the clans was followed by aggressive imperial expansion throughout Asia and parts of Europe.[194] In the early thirteenth century, the Mongols under reached Iran. The region aroundBukhara was conquered in 1220[195] and the Khwarazmian Empire was destroyed.[193] Over the following decades, further conquests followed in the Middle East, culminating in thefall of Baghdad and end of theAbbasid Caliphate's rule there in 1258.[196]
The rulers of the Mongol Empire used the ruling titlekhagan (lit. 'Great Khan' or 'emperor').[197] In the 1230s, the Mongol Empire established its capital atKarakorum in Mongolia.[198]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Genghis Khan | 1220[195] – 25 August 1227[199] (7 years) | Founder of the Mongol Empire.[200] Conquered the region aroundBukhara in 1220, initiating Mongol rule in Iran.[195] |
 | Ögedei Khan | 13 September 1229[199] – 11 December 1241[201] (12 years, 2 months and 28 days) | Son of Genghis[196] |
 | Güyük Khan | 24 August 1246 – April 1248[202] (1 year and 8 months) | Son of Ögedei[203] |
 | Möngke Khan | 2 May 1252[204] – 11 August 1259[205] (7 years, 3 months and 9 days) | Grandson of Genghis[206] |
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After the death of Möngke Khan, the Mongol Empire was fractured by civil war, both over the succession of the next Great Khan and between nomadic traditionalists and the new settled princes of China and the Middle East.Kublai Khan (1260–1294) was eventually universally recognized but the empire was irreversibly fragmented.[196] In much of the south-west of the empire (including Iran), power fell toHulegu Khan,[207] who had been made a deputy there under Möngke Khan.[196] Hulegu was swiftly accepted as a legitimate ruler in Iran and was further legitimized through afatwa issued by the Shia scholarAli ibn Tawus al-Hilli.[208] Iran experienced a cultural renaissance under Ilkhanid rule.[208]Ghazan Khan (1295–1304) converted to Islam in the late thirteenth century, turning the state further away from the other Mongol realms.[207]
The rulers of the Ilkhanate adopted the styleilkhan (lit. 'subordinate khan') to show deference to the Great Khan in China and Mongolia.[207] From the time of Ghazan Khan onwards, they also used the titlepādishāh-i Īrān (lit. 'emperor of Iran'), sometimes extended topādishāh-i Īrān wa Islām (lit. 'emperor of Iran and Islam').[209] The versionpādishāh-i Islām (lit. 'emperor of Islam') is also recorded.[210] The Ilkhanate went through a succession of capitals, beginning withMaragheh (1256–1265),Tabriz (1265–1306), andSoltaniyeh (1306–1335).[211] After the empire disintegrated in the 1330s, various claimants established different centers of power. The last ilkhan,Luqman, ruled fromAstarabad underTimurid suzerainty.[212]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Hulegu Khan | 1256[173] – 8 February 1265[213] (9 years) | Grandson of Genghis Khan.[174] Granted power in Iran under Möngke Khan.[196] |
 | Abaqa Khan | 8 February 1265[213] – 1 April 1282[214][215] (17 years, 1 month and 24 days) | Son of Hulegu[174] |
 | Ahmad Tekuder | 1 April 1282[214] – 10 August 1284[216] (2 years, 4 months and 9 days) | Son of Hulegu[174] |
.png) | Arghun Khan | 11 August 1284 – 10 March 1291[216] (6 years, 6 months and 27 days) | Son of Abaqa[174] |
 | Gaykhatu | 10 March 1291 – 26 March 1295[214] (4 years and 16 days) | Son of Abaqa[174] |
.jpg) | Baydu | 26 March – summer? 1295[214] (a few months) | Grandson of Hulegu[174] |
.JPG) | Ghazan Khan | Summer? 1295 – 11 May 1304[214] (9 years) | Son of Arghun[174] |
 | Öljaitü | 11 May 1304 – 16 December 1316[214] (12 years, 7 months and 5 days) | Son of Arghun[214] |
.jpg) | Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan | 16 December 1316[214] – 30 November 1335[216] (18 years, 11 months and 14 days) | Son of Öljaitü[174] |
 | Musa Khan | 1335/1336–1336[216] (less than a year) | Grandson of Baydu[216] |
 | Arpa Khan | 1335–1336[217] (1 year) | Descendant ofTolui, the father of Hulegu[174] |
_Dinar%2c_Al-Jazira_mint%2c_Dated_AH_737_(1336-1337).jpg) | Muhammad Khan | 1336–1338[217] (2 years) | Great-great-great-grandson of Hulegu[217] |
 | Togha Temür | 1337–1353 (6 years) | Descendant ofQasar, a brother of Genghis Khan[217] |
— | Jahan Temür | 1338/1339–1340/1341[216] (2 years) | Grandson of Gaykhatu[216] |
— | Sati Beg | 1338/1339–1339/1340[216] (1 year) | Daughter of Öljaitü.[216] Fourth and last of only four women to rule in Iranian history.[ah] |
— | Suleiman Khan | 1339/1340 – 1343/1344[216] (4 years) | Great-great-grandson of Hulegu[217] |
 | Anushirwan Khan | 1344–1356[217] (12 years) | Unknown lineage[217] |
— | Ghazan II | 1356–1357[217] (1 year) | Son of Togha Temür[217] |
— | Luqman | 1356[218]–1388[219] (32 years) | Son of Togha Temür.[217] Puppet ruler under various warlords, includingAmir Vali[218] and laterTimur.[212] |
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The Timurid Empire was established byTimur, a conqueror who claimed both Turkic and Mongol descent. Timur began as a minor brigand chief under theChagatai Khanate.[220] In the middle 1360s, Timur rose to become the effective ruler ofTransoxiana. He went on to establish his seat of power inKhorasan and conquered most of Iran through campaigns in the 1380s and 1390s.[220]
During his conquests, Timur made some effort to portray himself as the heir of the Ilkhanate, adopting the Ilkhanid titlepādishāh-i Islām (lit. 'emperor of Islam').[210] Timur also used the styleguregen (lit. 'son-in-law') to stress his marriage toSaray Mulk Khanum, a descendant of Genghis Khan.[221]Pādishāh continued to be used by Timur's successors, who at times also adopted the style ofsulṭān.[221]Samarkand was the capital of the Timurid Empire.[222]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Timur | 9 April 1370 – 18 February 1405[222] (34 years, 10 months and 9 days) | Conquered Iran in the 1370s–1390s.[220] |
— | Pir Muhammad | February 1405 – 1407[220] (2 years) | Grandson of Timur[220] and his designated heir.[210] Ruler inFars.[220] |
_f.32a.jpg) | Khalil Sultan | February 1405[220] – 1409/1410[222] (4–5 years) | Grandson of Timur.[222] Senior Timurid ruler and ruler of Persia.[220] |
 | Shah Rukh | February 1405[220] – 1446/1447[222] (41–42 years) | Son of Timur. Initially only ruler inKhorasan; ruler of the entire empire from 1415/1416 onwards.[222] |
 | Ulugh Beg | 1446/1447 – October/November 1449[222] (2–3 years) | Son of Shah Rukh[222] |
— | Abdal-Latif Mirza | October/November 1449 – May 1450[222] (6–7 months) | Son of Ulugh Beg[222] |
 | Abdullah Mirza | May 1450 – 1451/1452[222] (1–2 years) | Grandson of Shah Rukh[222] |
_22.jpg) | Abu Sa'id Mirza | 1451/1452[222]–1458[223] (6–7 years) | Great-grandson of Timur[222] |
The Timurids lost almost all of their territories in Iran to theQara Qoyunlu in 1452–1458.[223] For later Timurid rulers in Khorasan and elsewhere, seeTimurid Empire § Emperors (Emir).
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The Qara Qoyunlu were a semi-nomadicTurkoman confederation that grew in power west of Iran following the collapse of the Ilkhanate. The origins of the Qara Qoyunlu are obscure and they are first recorded as an identifiable group in the 1330s.[224] Under the leaderJahan Shah, the Qara Qoyunlu seized most of Iran from the Timurids. This began with the conquest ofJibal in 1452, and continued with further conquests ofIsfahan,Fars, andKerman in 1458.[223]
The Qara Qoyunlu rulers presented themselves as rulers of Iran and political successors of the Ilkhanate, using titles such aspādishāh-i Īrān (lit. 'emperor of Iran') andkesra-yi Īrān (lit. 'Caesar of Iran').[225]Tabriz served as the Qara Qoyunlu capital 1436–1467.[226]
This list only includes the Qara Qoyunlu rulers who ruled Iran.[227] For a full list, see thelist of rulers of Qara Qoyunlu.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
_Wastan_mint.jpg) | Jahan Shah | 1452–1467[227] (15 years) | Conquered much of Iran from the Timurid Empire in 1452–1458[223] |
 | Hasan Ali | 1467–1469[227] (2 years) | Son of Jahan Shah[228] |
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Like the Qara Qoyunlu, the Aq Qoyunlu were a semi-nomadicTurkoman confederation that rose to power after the Ilkhanate's collapse. The Aq Qoyunlu was a more long-lived and better recorded group.[224] In the 1450s and 1460s, the Aq Qoyunlu underUzun Hasan defeated both the Qara Qoyunlu and Timurid forces and by 1469, Uzun Hasan ruled all of Iraq and Iran.[229]
Like the preceding Qara Qoyunlu, the Aq Qoyunlu rulers titled themselves aspādishāh-i Īrān (lit. 'emperor of Iran') andkesra-yi Īrān (lit. 'Caesar of Iran'), among other titles.[225]Amida was the original Aq Qoyunlu capital.[230] The capital was transferred toTabriz under Uzun Hasan.[229]
This list only includes the Aq Qoyunlu rulers who ruled Iran.[227] For a full list, see thelist of rulers of Aq Qoyunlu.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Uzun Hasan | 1465/1469–1478[227] (9–13 years) | Conquered Iran in the 1460s[229] |
.jpg) | Sultan-Khalil | 1478[227] (less than a year) | Son of Uzun Hasan[231] |
.jpg) | Yaqub | 1478–1490[227] (12 years) | Son of Uzun Hasan[231] |
 | Baysunghur | 1490–1492[227] (2 years) | Son of Yaqub[231] |
.png) | Rustam Beg | 1492–1496[227] (4 years) | Grandson of Uzun Hasan[231] |
.jpg) | Ahmad Beg | 1496–1497[227] (1 year) | Grandson of Uzun Hasan[231] |
.jpg) | Alvand Beg | 1497–1502[231] (5 years, inDiyar Bakr and thenAzerbaijan) | Grandson of Uzun Hasan[231] |
— | Muhammad Beg | 1499–1500[227] (1 year, in Iraq and southern Persia) | Grandson of Uzun Hasan[231] |
 | Sultan Murad | 1500–1508[231] (8 years, inFars andKerman) | Son of Yaqub[231] |
— | Zayn al-Abidin | 1504–1508[231] (4 years, inDiyar Bakr) | Great-grandson of Uzun Hasan[231] |
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Of native Iranian (possiblyKurdish) origins,[ai] theSafavid dynasty originated as the leaders of the medieval mysticSafavid order. In 1499, the SafavidsheikhIsmail defeated theShirvanshahs of Azerbaijan and began to wrest control of Iran from the Aq Qoyunlu. The power of the Aq Qoyunlu was decisively broken in 1501 with the defeat ofAlvand Beg.[232] In 1502, Ismail crowned himselfšâhanšâh atTabriz.[233] The rise of the Safavids is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, with their state being the earliest stage of the modern Iraniannation state.[232][234] Through further conquests, the Safavids restored Iran as a single Iranian political unit and retransformed the tribal nomadic order of the land, established during its period under Turko-Mongol rule, into a sedentary society.Shia Islam was for the first time established as the state religion.[232]
The Safavids ruled asšâhanšâh-e Irân (lit. 'King of Kings of Iran').[235] The initial capital of the Safavid Empire was at Tabriz. Due to conflict with theOttoman Empire in the west, the capital was moved eastwards toQazvin in 1548, and then toIsfahan in the 1590s.[232]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ismail I | 11 May 1502 – 22/23 May 1524[236] (22 years and 11 days) | Conquered and reunified Iran[232] |
.jpg) | Tahmasp I | 22/23 May 1524 – 22 August 1576[236] (52 years and 3 months) | Son of Ismail I[236] |
 | Ismail II | 22 August 1576 – 11 February 1578[236] (1 year, 5 months and 20 days) | Son of Tahmasp I[236] |
 | Mohammad Khodabanda | 11 February 1578 – 2 December 1587[236] (9 years, 9 months and 21 days) | Son of Tahmasp I[236] |
 | Abbas I the Great | 2 December 1587 – 21 January 1629[236] (41 years, 1 month and 19 days) | Son of Mohammad Khodabanda[236] |
 | Safi I | 21 January 1629 – 12 May 1642[236] (13 years, 3 months and 21 days) | Grandson of Abbas I[236] |
 | Abbas II | 12 May 1642 – 27 September 1667[236] (25 years, 4 months and 15 days) | Son of Safi I[236] |
.jpg) | Safi II[aj](1667–1668) Suleiman I(1668–1694) | 3 October 1667 – 30 January 1694[236] (26 years, 3 months and 27 days) | Son of Abbas II[236] |
 | Soltan Hoseyn I | 28 April 1694 – 22 October 1722[236] (28 years, 5 months and 24 days) | Son of Suleiman I[236] |
Complex rivalries in the region ofKhorasan led to the AfghanHotak dynasty invading Iran. In 1722, this conflict led to the collapse of the Safavid Empire after thesiege of Isfahan.[232][237] The brief interlude between 1722 and the rise of theQajar dynasty in 1789–1796 was marked by widespread political turmoil in Iran and several rival attempts to establish power over the country. The Safavids failed to regain power and the Hotaks failed to establish control. The rivalAfsharid andZand dynasties were established byNader Shah (1736–1747) andKarim Khan (1751–1779), respectively. Although both of these founding figures established their rule over large parts of the former Safavid domain, the political influence of their dynasties swiftly collapsed under their successors.[237]
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In 1701, unrest among theGhiljiPashtun tribe ofAfghanistan led to a rebellion against the Safavids. This uprising was suppressed by the local commander,George XI of Kartli, but the Afghan anti-Safavid movement continued underMirwais Hotak and his son,Mahmud Hotak. Mahmud initially feigned loyalty and was officially appointed as governor ofKandahar. In 1720, he began raiding theKerman area and in March 1722, a larger hastily assembled and more powerful Safavid army was defeated at theBattle of Gulnabad. Following a six-monthsiege of Isfahan,Soltan Hoseyn I formally submitted to Mahmud and recognized him as the newshah of Iran.[232] The Hotak rulers of Iran ruled from the former Safavid capital of Isfahan.[238]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mahmud Hotak | 22 October 1722 – April/May 1725[236] (2 years and 5 or 6 months) | Invaded and seized power from Soltan Hoseyn I[238] |
 | Ashraf Hotak | April/May 1725 – 1729[236] (4 years) | Cousin of Mahmud Hotak; murdered and overthrew Mahmud[238] |
When news of the fall of Isfahan reached Soltan Hoseyn I's sonTahmasp II at Qazvin, Tahmasp proclaimed himselfshah.[232] Pro-Safavid forces successfully defeated Ashraf Hotak in 1729 and forced to Afghan forces out of Iran.[238] Tahmasp failed to assert his authority in the aftermath of the Hotak invasion and the effective ruler of Iran was instead the generalNader Khan. In 1732, Nader deposed Tahmasp and replaced him with the eight-month oldAbbas III. Abbas was in turn deposed in 1736 and Nader Khan was proclaimed the newshah of Iran under the name Nader Shah, terminating the Safavid dynasty.[239] Safavid descendants continued to emerge for some time after 1736 as pretenders or as figurehead rulers put forward by warlords vying for power in Iran.[240]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Tahmasp II | 31 October 1722[236] – August 1732[239] (9 years and 9 or 10 months) | Son of Soltan Hoseyn I[236] |
 | Abbas III | 7 September 1732 – 8 March 1736[239] (3 years, 6 months and 1 day) | Son of Tahmasp II[236] |
| No recognized Safavid ruler 1736–1750 | |||
 | Suleiman II | 13 January – March 1750[241] (2 months) | Grandson of Suleiman I.[242] Proclaimedshah atMashhad after the deposition of Shahrokh Shah (Afsharid) and ruled until Shahrokh was restored.[241] |
 | Ismail III | Summer 1750 – 1773[240] (23 years) | Grandson of Soltan Hoseyn I. Proclaimedshah at Isfahan byKarim Khan Zand in 1750, as a puppet ruler.[240] |
— | Soltan Hoseyn II | 1752[236]/1753[243] | Son of anAzeri man and anArmenian woman, but claimed to be a son of Tahmasp II.[243] Proclaimedshah at Baghdad byAli Mardan Khan Bakhtiari, as a puppet ruler.[243] |
.svg)
TheAfsharid dynasty was established byNader Shah, a general under the Safavids who seized control of the empire in 1736 after the deposition of Abbas III.[239] Nader was a powerful conqueror but the Afsharid Empire quickly collapsed after his assassination in 1747. Large territories fell to the rivalZand dynasty as well as the AfghanDurrani Empire. The domain of Nader's heirs became largely confined to the Iranian parts ofKhorasan. For most of its later history, the Afsharid state was dominated by military leaders or other court factions.[241] The Afsharids ruled with the style ofšâhanšâh[244] and their capital was atMashhad.[241]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Nader Shah | 8 March 1736 – 20 June 1747[236] (11 years, 3 months and 12 days) | General; deposed Abbas III[239] |
 | Adel Shah | 6 July 1747[241] – 24 September 1748[236] (1 year, 1 month and 18 days) | Nephew of Nader Shah; proclaimed ruler after Nader's assassination[241] |
_(cropped).jpg) | Shahrokh Shah | 1 October 1748[236] – 13 January 1750[241] (1st reign) (1 year, 3 months and 12 days) | Grandson of Nader Shah and matrilineal grandson of Soltan Hoseyn I (Safavid). Proclaimed ruler by tribal leaders at Mashhad in opposition to Adel.[241] |
.jpg) | Ebrahim Shah | 8 December 1748 – December 1749[236] (~1 year) | Brother of Adel Shah; proclaimed ruler (in opposition to Shahrokh Shah) after deposing and blinding Adel[241] |
| Shahrokh Shah was removed from the throne in January–March 1750 in favor of the Safavid rulerSuleiman II[241] | |||
| Shahrokh Shah | March 1750[241] – 1796[236] (2nd reign) (46 years) | Restored to the throne[241] |
In the aftermath of Nader Shah's assassination, theZand family grew to become the most powerful rivals of the Afsharids and seized control of much of Iran in the 1750s.[245] Established by the tribal leaderKarim Khan Zand, the Zand rulers never proclaimed themselves to beshahs.[245][246] Instead, they presented themselves as regents of Iran, at first on behalf of the Safavid puppetIsmail III (1750–1773) and then on behalf of the Iranian people.[245][246] Karim Khan Zand ruled with the title ofkhân, as well as the style ofwakil (regent) orwakil-al-raʿāyāʾ (lit. 'regent of the people').[246] His successors ruled simply askhân, though were often considered to be "kings" by European observers.[246] The Zand dynasty ruled fromShiraz.[246]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Karim Khan | 1751 – 1 March 1779[247] (28 years) | Seized power over much of Iran[245] |
— | Mohammad-Ali Khan | 2 March – 19 June 1779[248] (3 months and 17 days) | Son of Karim Khan.[246] Joint co-ruler with his brother Abol-Fath Khan.[248] |
— | Abol-Fath Khan | 2 March – 22 August 1779[248] (5 months and 20 days) | Son of Karim Khan.[246] Initially joint co-ruler with his brother Mohammad-Ali Khan.[248] |
 | Sadeq Khan | 22 August 1779 – 14 March 1781[249] (1 year, 6 months and 20 days) | Brother of Karim Khan[246] |
— | Ali-Morad Khan | 14 March 1781 – 10 January 1785[249] (3 years, 9 months and 27 days) | Member of the 'Hazāra' branch of the Zand family[246] |
 | Jafar Khan | 17 January 1785 – 23 January 1789[249] (4 years and 6 days) | Son of Sadeq Khan[246] |
— | Sayed Morad Khan | 23 January – 7 May 1789[249] (3 months and 14 days) | Cousin of Ali-Morad Khan. Mutinied against Jafar Khan (leading to Jafar's death) and opposed the accession of Jafar's son, Lotf Ali Khan.[246] |
 | Lotf Ali Khan | 7 May 1789[249] – November 1794[246] (5 years and 5 or 6 months) | Son of Jafar Khan.[249] |
.svg)
The Qajar dynasty originated as a localTurkoman[250] noble family in northern Iran, under the Safavids.[245] The Qajars gradually increased in power as other families fought each other in Iran, culminating inAgha Mohammad Shah proclaiming himself ruler in 1789, in opposition to the Afsharids and Zands.[250] Agha Mohammad defeated the Zand dynasty in 1794[245] and was officially crowned in 1796.[250] Shortly thereafter, he captured and deposed the Afsharid Shahrokh Shah, reunifying Iran under a single ruler.[250]
Agha Mohammad Shah ruled with the titlekhân and lateršâh, never assuming the more grandiosešâhanšâh.[251] Agha Mohammad's successor,Fath-Ali Shah, assumed bothšâhanšâh and the Mongolkhagan,[251] titles frequently used by later Qajar rulers.[252] Many other honorifics of imperial and religious significance were also used by the Qajar rulers.[251] The Qajar dynasty ruled fromTehran, inaugurated as Iran's capital in the 1780s under Agha Mohammad Shah.[253]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
.JPG) | Agha Mohammad Khan | 1789[250] – 17 June 1797[254] (8 years) | Seized power and reunified Iran 1789–1796[250] |
%2c_Persia%2c_second_half_of_the_19th_Century.jpg) | Fath-Ali Shah | 17 June 1797 – 23 October 1834[254] (37 years, 4 months and 6 days) | Nephew of Agha Mohammad Shah[255] |
 | Mohammad Shah | 23 October 1834 – 5 September 1848[254] (13 years, 10 months and 13 days) | Grandson of Fath-Ali Shah[255] |
 | Naser al-Din Shah | 5 September 1848 – 1 May 1896[254] (47 years, 7 months and 26 days) | Son of Mohammad Shah[255] |
 | Mozaffar ad-Din Shah | 1 May 1896 – 3 January 1907[254] (10 years, 8 months and 2 days) | Son of Naser al-Din Shah[255] |
 | Mohammad Ali Shah | 3 January 1907 – 16 July 1909[254] (2 years, 6 months and 13 days) | Son of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah[255] |
.jpg) | Ahmad Shah | 16 July 1909 – 15 December 1925[254] (16 years, 4 months and 29 days) | Son of Mohammad Ali Shah[255] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmad Shah | 15 December 1925[254] – 27 February 1930[256] (4 years, 2 months and 12 days) | Ruler of Iran 1909–1925. Died in exile in France.[257] |
 | Mohammad Hassan Mirza | 27 February 1930[256] – 7 January 1943[258] (11 years, 10 months and 11 days) | Son of Mohammad Ali Shah and designated successor of Ahmad Shah (his brother).[258] |
 | Hamid Mirza | No formal claim put forth | Son of Mohammad Hassan Mirza. Viewed himself as the rightful heir after his father's death but did not officially claim the throne.[259] Was monitored by theUS Department of State in 1943 over whether he would declare himself Shah of Iran.[260] |
 | Fereydoun Mirza | No formal claim put forth | Son of Ahmad Shah. While he lived in Switzerland in 1943, theUS Department of State intercepted and suppressed messages from relatives urging Fereydoun to declare himself the rightful Shah of Iran.[260] |
| There continues to be recognized heads of the Qajar family in exile to the present day, though the family has renounced all claims to rule through lineage and does not endorse political activity under its coat of arms.[261][better source needed] | |||
.svg)
During the late Qajar dynasty, Iran became increasingly embroiled in internal political turmoil over the extent of the monarch's power, among other events leading to thePersian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911). In 1923, the brigade commanderReza Khan quickly rose through the ranks to becomeprime minister.[262] In 1925, Reza succeeded in deposing Ahmad Shah and having himself proclaimed by Iran's National Assembly first as regent and then as the new monarch.[263] As his family name, Reza tookPahlavi, after thePahlavi language of the pre-IslamicSasanian Empire.[263]
The Pahlavi rulers styled themselves asšâhanšâh-e Irân (lit. 'King of Kings of Iran').[263][264]Tehran remained the capital of Iran under Pahlavi rule.[265]
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Reza Shah | 15 December 1925 – 16 September 1941[266] (15 years, 9 months and 1 day) | Former prime minister[262] |
.png) | Mohammad Reza Shah | 16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979[266] (37 years, 4 months and 26 days) | Son of Reza Shah[263] |
| Portrait | Name | Tenure | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mohammad Reza Shah | 11 February 1979[266] – 27 July 1980[267] (1 year, 5 months and 16 days) | Ruler of Iran 1941–1979. Died in exile in Egypt.[267] |
 | Reza Pahlavi ("Reza Shah II"[268]) | 31 October 1980[268] – present (45 years and 23 days) | Son of Mohammad Reza Shah. Proclaimed himself "Reza Shah II", rightful ruler of Iran, in October 1980.[268] Has voiced support for democracy but has not renounced his claim to the throne.[269] |
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