Editing List of monarchs of Iran (section)

=== Sasanian Empire (224 AD–651 AD) ===
{{See also|Sasanian dynasty|Sasanian Empire|List of monarchs of the Sasanian Empire}}
[[File:Sasanian Empire (greatest extent).svg|thumb|The [[Sasanian Empire]] under [[Khosrow II]]|190px]]
The [[Sasanian dynasty]] originated as kings of [[Persis]], a Parthian vassal kingdom, and claimed Achaemenid descent. In 224–226, the Sasanian dynast [[Ardashir I]] led a revolt against the Parthians, weakened in a recent civil war, and took control of the empire. Ardashir presented himself as a restorer of both regional unity and Achaemenid glory.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=166}} The Sasanian Empire was a significantly more militarily powerful, centralized, and aggressive state than the Parthian Empire and was also marked by a state-backed and less heterodox form of the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] religion.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=167}}

Sasanian kings continued to use the title ''šāhān šāh'' ({{Literal translation|King of Kings}}).{{Sfn|Gnoli|1989|p=103}} The title was extended by Ardashir to ''šāhān šāh ērān'' ({{Literal translation|King of Kings of Iran}}){{sfn|MacKenzie|1998}} and extended again by his son [[Shapur I]] (240–270) to ''šāhān šāh ērān ud anērān'' ({{Literal translation|King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran}}).{{sfn|MacKenzie|1998}}{{sfn|Yücel|2017|pp=331–344}} Sasanian queens ruled with the title ''bānbišnān bānbišn ērān ud anērān'' ({{Literal translation|Queen of Queens of Iran and non-Iran}}).''{{sfn|Sundermann|1988|pp=678–679}}'' [[Ctesiphon]] was the capital of the Sasanian Empire.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Coin of Ardashir I (phase 3), Hamadan mint.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ardashir I]]'''<br /><small>''the Unifier''</small>
|224 – May 240{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=392}}<br /><small>(16 years)</small>
|Defeated Artabanus IV and took control of the empire{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=166}}
|-
|[[File:ShapurICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Shapur I]]'''
|May 240 – May 270{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}<br /><small>(30 years)</small>
|Son of Ardashir I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}
|-
|[[File:HormizdICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Hormizd I]]'''
|May 270 – June 271{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}<br /><small>(1 year and 1 month)</small>
|Son of Shapur I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Bahram I (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Bahram I]]'''
|June 271 – 274{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}<br /><small>(3 years)</small>
|Son of Shapur I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=168}}
|-
|[[File:Silver coin of Bahram II (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Bahram II]]'''
|274–293{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(19 years)</small>
|Son of Bahram I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Bahram III.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Bahram III]]'''
|293{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(4 months)</small>
|Son or cousin of Bahram II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:NarsehCoin2.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Narseh]]'''
|293–302{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(9 years)</small>
|Son of Shapur I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of the Sasanian king Hormizd II (1, cropped).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Hormizd II]]'''
|303–309/310{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(6/7 years)</small>
|Son of Narseh{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Adur Narseh]]'''<br /><small>(Narseh II)</small>
|309/310{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=392}}<br /><small>(briefly)</small>
|Son of Hormizd II{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=392}}
|-
|[[File:The portrait of Shapur II on the obverse of a silver drachm, struck circa 309–320 (crop).png|65px]]
|'''[[Shapur II]]'''<br /><small>''the Great''</small>
|310–379{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(69 years)</small>
|Son of Hormizd II, acclaimed ruler at birth.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}} The longest-reigning Iranian monarch.
|-
|[[File:ArdashirIICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ardashir II]]'''<br /><small>''the Beneficent''</small>
|379–383{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(4 years)</small>
|Son of Hormizd II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Shapur III, Merv mint.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Shapur III]]'''
|383–388{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(5 years)</small>
|Son of Shapur II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Bahram IV (cropped), Herat mint.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Bahram IV]]'''
|388–399{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(11 years)</small>
|Son of Shapur II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:YazdegerdICroppedCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Yazdegerd I]]'''<br /><small>''the Sinner''</small>
|399–420{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(21 years)</small>
|Son of Shapur III{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Drachm of Shapur IV.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Shapur IV]]'''
|420{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514-522}}<br /><small>(briefly)</small>
|Son of Yazdegerd I{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514-522}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Khosrow (son of Bahram IV)|'''Khosrow''' ('''I''')]]{{Efn|Khosrow's rule was brief and ephemeral and he is not counted in the numbering of later kings of this name.}}
|420{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514-522}}<br /><small>(briefly)</small>
|Son of Bahram IV{{sfn|Klíma|1988|pp=514-522}}
|-
|[[File:Drachma of Bahram V - cropped.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Bahram V]]'''<br /><small>''the [[Onager]]''</small>
|420–438{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(18 years)</small>
|Son of Yazdegerd I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:YazdegerdIICroppedCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Yazdegerd II]]'''
|438–457{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(19 years)</small>
|Son of Bahram V{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:King Hormizd II or Hormizd III Hunting Lions, 400-600.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Hormizd III]]'''
|457{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(briefly)</small>
|Son of Yazdegerd II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:PerozICroppedCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Peroz I]]'''
|457–484{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(27 years)</small>
|Son of Yazdegerd II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of the Sasanian king Balash from Susa.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Balash]]'''
|484–488{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(4 years)</small>
|Son of Yazdegerd II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Gold coin of Kavad I, possibly minted at Susa, in 529 or 530.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Kavad I]]'''
|488–497{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}} <small>(''1st reign'')</small><br /><small>(9 years)</small>
|Son of Peroz{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of the Sasanian king Jamasp from Susa.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Jamasp]]'''
|497–499{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(2 years)</small>
|Son of Peroz{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Gold coin of Kavad I, possibly minted at Susa, in 529 or 530.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Kavad I]]'''
|499–531{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}} <small>(''2nd reign'')</small><br /><small>(32 years)</small>
|Restored to the throne with [[Hephthalites|Hepthalite]] support{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Plate of the Sasanian king Khosrow I Anushirvan.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Khosrow I]]'''<br /><small>''Anushirvan'' ({{Literal translation|the Immortal Soul}})</small>
|531–579{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(48 years)</small>
|Son of Kavad I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Drachma of Hormidz IV - cropped.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Hormizd IV]]'''
|579–590{{Sfn|Chegini|Nikitin|p=77|1996}}<br /><small>(11 years)</small>
|Son of Khosrow I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:BahramChobinCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|[[Bahram Chobin|'''Bahram VI''' Chobin]]
|590–591{{Sfn|Chegini|Nikitin|p=77|1996}}<br /><small>(1 year)</small>
|General of Parthian descent ([[House of Mihran]]){{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=103}}
|-
|[[File:KhosrauIIGoldCoinCroppedHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Khosrow II]]'''<br /><small>''Parviz'' ({{Literal translation|the Victorious}})</small>
|June 590 – 28 February 628{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>({{Age in years, months and days|590|6||628|2|28}})</small>
|Son of Hormizd IV{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Vistahm, minted at Ray in 595 or 596.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Vistahm]]'''
|591–597{{Sfn|Chegini|Nikitin|p=77|1996}}<br /><small>(6 years, usurper in the east)</small>
|General of Parthian descent ([[House of Ispahbudhan]]) and maternal uncle of Khosrow II. Rival king.{{Sfn|Shahbazi|1989}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of the Sasanian king Kavadh II (cropped), minted at Ray in 628.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Kavad II]]'''
|28 February 628 – 628{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=169}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Son of Khosrow II, overthrew his father{{Sfn|Venning|2023|pp=169–170}}
|-
|[[File:ArdashirIIICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Ardashir III]]'''
|628–630{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(2 years)</small>
|Cousin{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}} or son{{sfn|Shahbazi|1986|pp=381–382}} of Kavad II
|-
|[[File:ShahrbarazCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Shahrbaraz]]'''
|630{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|General of Parthian descent ([[House of Mihran]]){{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=181}}
|-
|[[File:XusravIIICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Khosrow III]]'''
|630{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Nephew of Khosrow II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}
|-
|[[File:BorandukhtCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Boran]]'''
|630{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=185, 204–205}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Daughter of Khosrow II.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}} Second of only four women to rule in Iranian history.{{efn|The other three were [[Musa of Parthia|Musa]] (2 BC–AD 4), [[Azarmidokht]] (630–631), and [[Sati Beg]] (1338/1339–1339/1340).}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Shapur-i Shahrvaraz|Shapur V]]'''
|630{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=204–205}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Son of Shahrbaraz{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=204–205}}
|-
|[[File:Obverse coin of Azarmidokht.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Azarmidokht]]'''
|630–631{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=204–210}}<br /><small>(1 year)</small>
|Daughter of Khosrow II.{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=392}} Third of only four women to rule in Iranian history.{{efn|The other three were [[Musa of Parthia|Musa]] (2 BC–AD 4), [[Boran]] (630), and [[Sati Beg]] (1338/1339–1339/1340).}}
|-
|[[File:FarrokhHormizdVCoin.jpg|65px]]
|[[Farrukh Hormizd|Farrukh '''Hormizd V''']]
|631–632{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(1 year)</small>
|General of Parthian descent ([[House of Ispahbudhan]]). Attempted to seize the throne after Azarmidokht declined his marriage proposal.{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|pp=204–210}}
|-
|[[File:HormizdVICoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Hormizd VI]]'''
|630–632{{Sfn|Shahbazi|2004}}<br /><small>(2 years, usurper in [[Nusaybin|Nisibis]])</small>
|Grandson of Khosow II.{{Sfn|Shahbazi|2004}} Proclaimed ruler by the Sasanian troops stationed at [[Nusaybin|Nisibis]].{{Sfn|Shahbazi|2004}}
|-
|[[File:KhosrauIVCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Khosrow IV]]'''
|632{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(less than a year)</small>
|Great-nephew of Hormizd IV{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|'''[[Peroz II]]'''
|632–632/633{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(1 year?)</small>
|Brother of Khosrow IV{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}
|-
|[[File:FarrukhzadKhosrauVCoin - Cropped.jpg|65px]]
|[[Farrukhzad Khosrow V|Farrukhzad '''Khosrow V''']]
|632/633–{{Circa}} 633{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>(1 year?)</small>
|Brother of Hormizd V{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}
|-
|[[File:YazdegerdIIICoinCroppedHistoryofIran.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Yazdegerd III]]'''
|{{Circa}} 633–651{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=170}}<br /><small>({{Circa}} 18 years)</small>
|Grandson of Khosrow II{{Sfn|Daryaee|2012|p=392}}
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
|+ Later pretenders (651–731)
|-
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Tenure
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Headless Statue of Foreign Envoy, Qianling Mausoleum.jpg|65px]]
|[[Peroz III]]
|651–678/679{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=147}}<br /><small>(27/28 years)</small>
|Son of Yazdegerd III, lived in exile in China ([[Tang dynasty]]) and led Iranian resistance against the Arabs. Recognized by the Tang dynasty as "king of Persia".{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|pp=144, 147}} Ruled a Tang-supported Iranian kingdom in [[Sistan]] or [[Tokharistan]]{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|pp=144, 146}} 661–674.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=144}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Narsieh]]<br /><small>(Narseh III)</small>
|678/679{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=147}}–after 708/709{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=148}}<br /><small>(over 20 years)</small>
|Son and successor of Peroz III.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=147}} Crowned by the Chinese general [[Pei Xingjian]] and placed in charge of [[Tokharistan]]. Narsieh defended the region for twenty years until defeated by the Arabs in 708/709, whereafter he returned to China.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=148}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Bó Qiāng Huó]]{{Efn|Name in Chinese sources. His original name in Persian may have been ''Pušang''.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}}}}
|{{Floruit}} 723{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}}
|Son of Narsieh.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}} Recorded in Chinese sources as "king of Persia" and as being active in Tokharistan against the Arabs in 723.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}}
|-
|{{Centre|—}}
|[[Mù Shānuò]]{{Efn|Name in Chinese sources.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}} The original Persian name is unknown.}}
|{{Floruit}} 726–731{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}}
|Recorded in Chinese sources as "king of Persia" and as being active in Tokharistan against the Arabs in 726 and 731.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}} Names of Sasanian claimants disappear from Chinese sources after 731.{{Sfn|Afkande|2014|p=150}}
|}