Editing Narseh (section)

==Rise==
[[Image:Non-inscribed stone blocks scattered around the Paikuli Tower of Narseh. Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the Paikuli tower in present-day [[Iraqi Kurdistan]].]]
Following the death of Bahram II in 293, his son [[Bahram III]] was unwillingly proclaimed shah in [[Pars (Sasanian province)|Pars]] by a group of nobles led by [[Wahnam]] and supported by Adurfarrobay, governor of [[Meshan]].{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514-522}} However, Bahram III was considered a weak ruler by the other nobles, who decided to pledge allegiance to Narseh, the last remaining son of Shapur, and someone who was perceived as being a stronger leader and one who would be able to bring glory to Iran.<ref name="Henning403">''Henning'' p. 403</ref><ref name="Neusner3">''Neusner'' p. 3</ref> Four months into Bahram III's reign, Narseh was summoned to [[Mesopotamia]] at the request of many members of the Iranian nobility. He met them in the passage of Paikuli in the province of [[Garmekan]], where he was firmly approved and likely also declared shah for the first time. The reasons behind the nobles favour of Narseh might have been due to his jurisdiction as governor, his image as an advocate of the [[Zoroastrian]] religion and as an insurer for harmony and prosperity of the empire. His ancestry from the early Sasanian family probably also played a role.{{sfn|Weber|2016}}

In order to avoid bloodshed, Narseh proposed to make peace with both Bahram III and Wahnam.{{sfn|Weber|2016}} Both seem to have agreed, as no accounts of battles have been made. The reason behind Bahram III and Wahnam's quick agreement to peace may have been due to desertion amongst many of Bahram III's men. Bahram III abdicated as shah and was probably spared, whilst Wahnam was executed when Narseh entered the Sasanian capital of [[Ctesiphon]].{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=269}}{{sfn|Weber|2016}} Narseh then summoned the aristocrats to take part in the royal referendum, a ritual which had been used since the first Sasanian shah, Ardashir I ({{reign|224|242}}), and which Narseh now made use of in order to gain the approval of the aristocracy as a legitimate ruler instead that of a usurper. Narseh was decisively voted in favour by the majority, and guaranteed "to enter the throne of our father and our forefathers with the help of the Gods, in their name and that of our forefathers."{{sfn|Weber|2016}} Amongst those nobles who supported Narseh was the leading priest Kartir, which is attested in the [[Paikuli inscription]].{{sfn|Skjærvø|2011|pp=608-628}}