Editing Bahram I (section)

==Life prior to his accession==
[[Image:Gold coin of Shapur I, minted at Ctesiphon between 260–272.jpg|thumb|[[Gold dinar]] of [[Shapur I]]]]
Bahram I was the oldest son of [[Shapur I]], the second shah of the Sasanian Empire. He had three younger brothers: [[Hormizd I|Hormizd-Ardashir]], [[Narseh]], and [[Shapur Meshanshah]]. Although the oldest of Shapur's sons, Bahram I was ranked below his brothers, probably due to his mother's lowly origin: she was either a minor queen or a [[concubine]].{{sfn|Weber|2016}}{{sfn|Frye|1983|p=127}} During Shapur's reign, Bahram I served as the governor of the newly conquered region of [[Gilan]], situated on the southwest shore of the [[Caspian Sea]].{{sfn|Frye|1983|pp=121–122}}{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=233}} He held the title of ''Gelan Shah'' ("king of Gilan"). He is mentioned in an inscription on the wall of the [[Ka'ba-ye Zartosht]] at [[Naqsh-e Rostam]] near [[Persepolis]] in southern Iran, which Shapur I had created in order to praise his sons by citing their names and titles.{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=233}}

Shapur I died in 270, and was succeeded by Hormizd-Ardashir (who became known as Hormizd I), who ruled from May 270 until his death in June 271. Bahram I, who was never considered a candidate for succession of the throne by his father, ascended with the aid of the powerful [[Zoroastrian]] priest [[Kartir]].{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}} He then made a settlement with Narseh, who agreed to give up his entitlement to the throne in return for the governorship of the important frontier province of [[Sasanian Armenia|Armenia]], which was constantly the source of war between the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and Sasanian Empires.{{sfn|Weber|2016}} It is nevertheless likely that despite this settlement, Narseh still viewed Bahram as a [[usurper]].{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}}