Editing List of monarchs of Iran (section)

=== Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC) ===
{{See also|Achaemenid dynasty|Achaemenid Empire|List of Achaemenid emperors}}
[[File:Achaemenid (greatest extent).svg|thumb|The [[Achaemenid Empire]] under [[Darius the Great]]|190px]]
The [[Achaemenid dynasty]] originated as local rulers of [[Anshan (Persia)|Anshan]] under Median suzerainty. They are attributed various ancestors in later legends, including an eponymous figure called "[[Achaemenes]]". The earliest securely historical Achaemenid ruler is [[Cyrus I]], king of Anshan in the second half of the seventh century BC.{{Sfn|Middleton|2015|p=148}} The Achaemenids united all [[Persians|Persian]] tribes under Cyrus I's son [[Cambyses I]]. Under Cambyses I's son, [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus II]], the Achaemenids defeated the Medes and established the [[Achaemenid Empire]],{{Sfn|Middleton|2015|p=148}} the largest ever Iranian state.{{Sfn|Shenkar|2014|p=5}}

The standard title used by Achaemenid rulers in Iran from Cyrus II onwards was ''xšāyaθiya xšāyaθiyānām'', ''xšāyaθiya dahyūnām'' ({{Literal translation|King of Kings, [[King of the Lands]]}}).{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=55}} The royal title varied in other parts of the empire.{{efn|In [[Babylonia]], the standard title up until the reign of [[Xerxes I]] was '[[List of kings of Babylon|King of Babylon]], King of the Lands'.{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=55}} In more elaborate contexts, the royal style could be augmented with additional titles, such as "the Great King" and "King in Persia".{{Sfn|Waters|2016|p=99}} The Achaemenid king was referred to as "the Great King" by the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] and as the "Lord of Kings" by the [[Phoenicia|Phoenicians]].{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=55}}}} The Achaemenids had several royal cities, including [[Pasargadae]], [[Susa]], [[Ecbatana]], [[Babylon]], [[Bactra]], and [[Persepolis]].{{Sfn|Brosius|2021|pp=67–68}}

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ Early local rulers in Anshan ({{Circa}} 620–550 BC)
|-
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Cyrus I on horseback, seal.png|65px]]
|[[Cyrus I]]
|{{Circa}} 620–590 BC{{Sfn|Bryce|2009|p=800}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 30 years)</small>
|Earliest historical Achaemenid ruler{{Sfn|Middleton|2015|p=148}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Cambyses I]]
|{{Circa}} 590–559 BC{{Sfn|Bryce|2009|p=800}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 31 years)</small>
|Son of Cyrus I{{Sfn|Middleton|2015|p=148}}
|-
|[[File:Olympic Park Cyrus-3.jpg|87x87px]]
|[[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus II]]
|{{Circa}} 559{{Sfn|Bryce|2009|p=800}}–550 BC{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=32}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 9 years)</small>
|Son of Cambyses I{{Sfn|Middleton|2015|p=148}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"

! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Olympic Park Cyrus-3.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus II]]'''<br/><small>''the Great''</small>
|{{Circa}} 550{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=32}} – November (?) 530 BC{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=351}}<br/><small>({{Circa}} 20 years)</small>
|Defeated Astyages and captured Ecbatana {{Circa}} 550 BC.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=32}} Married [[Amytis (daughter of Astyages)|Amytis]], daughter of Astyages, according to ancient Greek historians.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=33}}
|-
|[[File:Gambyses II.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Cambyses II]]'''
|August 530 – July 522 BC{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=351}}<br/><small>({{Age in years, months and days|-530|8||-522|7|}})</small>
|Son of Cyrus II{{Sfn|Middleton|2015|p=148}}
|-
|[[File:Gaumata portrait on the Behistun inscription.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Bardiya]]'''
|1 July – 29 September 522 BC{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=351}}<br/><small>({{Age in years, months and days|-522|7|1|-522|9|29}})</small>
|Son of Cyrus II (possibly an impostor).{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=107}} Revolted against Cambyses on 11 March 522 BC and proclaimed himself ruler on 1 July.{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=351}}
|-
|[[File:Portrait of Darius the Great at Behistun.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Darius the Great|Darius I]]'''<br/><small>''the Great''</small>
|29 September 522{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=351}} – October 486 BC{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=178}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|-522|9|29|-486|10|}})</small>
|Claimed descent from [[Teispes]] (supposed father of Cyrus I). Seized the throne from Bardiya.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=110}}
|-
|[[File:National Meusem Darafsh 37.JPG|65px]]
|'''[[Xerxes I]]'''<br/><small>''the Great''</small>
|October 486{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=178}} – August 465 BC{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=353}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|-486|10||-465|8|}})</small>
|Son of Darius I{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=524}} and [[Atossa]] (daughter of Cyrus II){{Sfn|Llewellyn-Jones|2017|p=74}}
|-
|[[File:Relief of Artaxerxes I, from his tomb in Naqsh-e Rustam.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Artaxerxes I]]'''<br/><small>''Longimanus''</small>
|August 465{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=353}} – {{Circa}} December 424 BC{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}}<br /><small>(41 years and {{Circa}} 4 months)</small>
|Son of Xerxes I{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=570}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Achaemenid Empire (Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II) (Cropped).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Xerxes II]]'''
|{{Circa}} December 424 – {{Circa}} January 423 BC{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}}<br /><small>(45 days){{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}}</small>
|Son of Artaxerxes I{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}}
|-
|[[File:Daric coin of the Achaemenid Empire (Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II) (Cropped).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Sogdianus]]'''
|{{Circa}} January – February 423 BC{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}}<br /><small>({{Circa}} 1 month)</small>
|Illegitimate son of Artaxerxes I.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}} Seized the throne from Xerxes II.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=772}}
|-
|[[File:Darius ii.png|65px]]
|'''[[Darius II]]'''<br/><small>(Ochus)</small>
|February 423 – March 404 BC{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=353}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|-423|2||-404|3|}})</small>
|Illegitimate son of Artaxerxes I.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=588}} Seized the throne from Sogdianus.{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=772}}
|-
|[[File:Artaxerxes II relief portrait detail.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Artaxerxes II]]'''<br/><small>(Arsakes)</small>
|March 404{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=353}} – spring (?) 358 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=160}}<br /><small>(46 years)</small>
|Son of Darius II{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=521}}
|-
|[[File:Rock relief of Artaxerxes III in Persepolis.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Artaxerxes III]]'''<br/><small>(Ochus)</small>
|Spring (?) 358 – September (?) 338 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=161}}<br /><small>(20 years)</small>
|Son of Artaxerxes II{{Sfn|Briant|2002|p=681}}
|-
|[[File:Artaxerxes IV Arses.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Arses of Persia|Artaxerxes IV]]'''<br/><small>(Arses)</small>
|September (?) 338 – June 336 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=161}}<br /><small>(2 years)</small>
|Son of Artaxerxes III{{Sfn|Sparkes|2010|p=495}}
|-
|[[File:Darius III mosaic.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Darius III]]'''<br/><small>(Artashata)</small>
|June 336{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=161}} – July 330 BC{{Sfn|Binder|2021|p=469}}<br /><small>(6 years)</small>
|Great-grandson of Darius II{{Sfn|Sparkes|2010|p=495}}
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ Later pretenders (330–329 BC)
|-
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Tenure
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Alexander Executes Janusiyar and Mahiyar, the Slayers of Darius", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi MET (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Bessus|Artaxerxes V]]<br/><small>(Bessus)</small>
|July 330{{Sfn|Binder|2021|p=469}} – spring 329 BC{{Sfn|Stark|2021|pp=701–702}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|[[Satrap]] of [[Bactria]],{{Sfn|Stark|2021|pp=701–702}} part of the Achaemenid dynasty.{{Sfn|Binder|2021|p=469}} Murdered Darius III and proclaimed himself as his successor, ruling several eastern satrapies in opposition to [[Alexander the Great]].{{Sfn|Binder|2021|p=469}}
|}