Editing List of monarchs of Iran (section)

=== Medes ({{Circa}} 727–550 BC) ===
{{See also|Median kingdom|Medes}}
[[File:Median (greatest extent).svg|thumb|The "Median Empire according to [[Herodotus]]|190px]]
The [[Median dynasty#Genealogy|Median dynasty]] is traditionally considered to have ruled the earliest Iranian state.{{Sfn|Dandamayev|2021|p=1630}}{{Sfn|Katouzian|2013|p=xii}}{{Sfn|Gaube|2008|p=161}} Whether the Medes ruled an imperial state or merely a loose tribal confederation is disputed among historians.{{Sfn|Shenkar|2014|p=5}} Median history is reconstructed almost solely through ancient Greek sources (particularly [[Herodotus]]) and disregards Near Eastern sources, which are fragmentary and do not support the existence of a unified Median Empire.{{Sfn|Rollinger|2021|pp=337–338}} There is also no material or textual evidence left behind by the supposed empire itself.{{Sfn|Rollinger|2021|p=344}}{{efn|There is no archaeological evidence of any Median imperial centers, no documentary archives from Median administrations, and no contemporary correspondence between foreign kings and Median rulers.{{Sfn|Rollinger|2021|p=344}}}} The chronology and names of the Median kings mainly derives from the work of Herodotus.{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=112}}{{efn|[[Ctesias]], another ancient Greek historian, also wrote a list of Median rulers though it differs completely from that of Herodotus except for the name of the last king ([[Astyages]]).{{Sfn|Rollinger|2021|p=344}}}}

No ruling title is securely attested for the Median rulers. They might have used the title ''xšāyaθiya xšāyaθiyānām'' ({{Literal translation|[[King of Kings]]}}).{{sfn|Frye|1984|p=78}} [[Ecbatana]] was the Median capital.{{Sfn|Kuhrt|2021|p=404}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Portrait
! Name
! Reign
! Succession
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Deioces]]'''
|{{Circa}} 727–675 BC{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=113}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 52 years)</small>
|First king of the Medes according to Herodotus. Perhaps elected by popular assembly.{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=109}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Phraortes]]'''
|{{Circa}} 674–653 BC{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=113}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 21 years)</small>
|Son of Deioces{{Sfn|Dandamayev|Medvedskaya|2006}}
|-
|colspan="4" style="background:#E6E6E6;"|'''Interregnum {{Circa}} 652 – 625 BC'''{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=113}}<br />The Medes were invaded by [[Scythians]], perhaps under a ruler named [[Madyes]], who established some form of hegemony.{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=118}}<br>The Scythian rulers were defeated by Cyaxares after about three decades, restoring the Medes to their previous power.{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Qyzqapan tomb relief 2.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Cyaxares]]'''
|{{Circa}} 624–585 BC{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=113}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 39 years)</small>
|Son of Phraortes{{Sfn|Dandamayev|Medvedskaya|2006}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Astyages]]'''
|{{Circa}} 584{{Sfn|Diakonoff|2003|p=113}}–550 BC{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=32}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 34 years)</small>
|Son of Cyaxares{{Sfn|Dandamayev|Medvedskaya|2006}}
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ Later pretenders (521 BC)
|-
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Tenure
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Behistun Relief Phraortes.jpg|65px]]
|[[Phraortes (rebel)|Phraortes II]]
|521 BC{{Sfn|Brosius|2021|pp=48, 53–54}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Rebel in [[Media (region)|Media]] against [[Darius the Great|Darius I]] of the [[Achaemenid Empire]]. Claimed kinship with [[Cyaxares]].{{Sfn|Brosius|2021|pp=48, 53–54}}
|-
|[[File:Behistun Relief, Tritantaechmes.jpg|65px]]
|[[Tritantaechmes]]
|521 BC{{Sfn|Brosius|2021|pp=48, 53–54}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Rebel in [[Sagartians|Sagartia]] against Darius I of the Achaemenid Empire. Claimed kinship with Cyaxares.{{Sfn|Brosius|2021|pp=48, 53–54}}
|}