Editing Shapur I (section)

== Early life and co-rule ==
[[Image:Ardachir relief Firuzabad 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|1840 illustration of a [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] relief at [[Firuzabad, Fars|Firuzabad]], showing [[Ardashir I]]'s [[Battle of Hormozdgan|victory]] over [[Artabanus IV of Parthia|Artabanus IV]] and his forces.]]
Shapur, as portrayed in the Sasanian [[rock relief]]s, took part in his father's war with the Arsacids, including the [[Battle of Hormozdgan]].{{sfn|Shahbazi|2002}} The battle was fought on 28 April 224, with Artabanus IV being defeated and killed, marking the end of the Arsacid era and the start of 427 years of Sasanian rule.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2004|pp=469–470}} The chief secretary of the deceased Arsacid king, [[Dad-windad]], was afterwards executed by Ardashir I.{{sfn|Rajabzadeh|1993|pp=534–539}} Ardashir celebrated his victory by having two rock reliefs sculptured at the Sasanian royal city of Ardashir-Khwarrah (present-day [[Firuzabad, Fars|Firuzabad]]) in [[Pars (Sasanian province)|Pars]].{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}}{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=601}} The first relief portrays three scenes of personal fighting; starting from the left, a Persian aristocrat seizing a Parthian soldier; Shapur impaling the Parthian minister Dad-windad with his lance; and Ardashir I ousting Artabanus IV.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=601}}{{sfn|Shahbazi|2004|pp=469–470}} The second relief, conceivably intended to portray the aftermath of the battle, displays the triumphant Ardashir I being given the badge of kingship over a fire shrine from the [[Zoroastrian]] supreme god [[Ahura Mazda]], while Shapur and two other princes are watching from behind.{{sfn|McDonough|2013|p=601}}{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}} Ardashir considered Shapur "the gentlest, wisest, bravest and ablest of all his children" and nominated him as his successor in a council amongst the magnates.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2002}} Shapur was crowned co-ruler of the empire on 12 April 240. He may have been crowned again as sole ruler in 243, but [[Richard N. Frye]] writes that a single coronation in 240 is more likely.{{Sfn|Frye|2000|p=119}}