# List of monarchs of the Sasanian Empire

The Sasanian monarchs were the rulers of Iran after their victory against their former suzerain, the Parthian Empire, at the Battle of Hormozdgan in 224. At its height, the Sasanian Empire spanned from Turkey and Rhodes in the west to Pakistan in the east, and also included territory in what is now the Caucasus, Yemen, UAE, Oman, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Central Asia.
The Sasanian Empire was recognized as one of the main powers in the world alongside its neighboring arch rival, the Roman Empire for a period of more than 400 years. The Sasanian dynasty began with Ardashir I in 224, who was a Persian from Istakhr, and ended with Yazdegerd III in 651.
The period from 631 (when Boran died) to 632 (when Yazdgerd III takes the throne) is confusing in determining proper succession because a number of rulers who took the throne were later removed or challenged by other members of the House of Sasan. The period was one of factionalism and division within the Sasanian Empire.

## Titles

Ardashir I (r. 224–242), the founder of the Sasanian Empire, introduced the title "Shahanshah of the Iranians" (Middle Persian: šāhān šāh ī ērān; Parthian: šāhān šāh ī aryān). Ardashir's immediate successor, Shapur I (r. 240/42–270/72) chooses the titles in a precise manner in the inscription at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht. In that Shapur names four of his Sasanian predecessors with different titles and in "an ascending order of importance" by giving the title (Xwaday) "the lord" to Sasan, "the king" to Papag, "King of Kings of Iranians" to Ardashir, and "king of kings of Iranians and non-Iranians" (Middle Persian: šāhān šāh ī ērān ud anērān;; Ancient Greek: βασιλεύς βασιλέων Αριανών basileús basiléōn Arianṓn) to himself. The title "King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians" has also seen on a single silver coin of Shapur I, which indicates that the title was introduced after his victory over Romans and incorporation of non-Iranian lands into the Sasanian realms. The title was later used in coins of all later Sasanian kings.
Yazdegerd I's reign (r. 399–420), marks a shift in the political perspective of the Sasanian Empire, which (originally disposed towards the West) moved to the East. The shift may have been triggered by hostile tribes in eastern Iran. The war with the Iranian Huns may have reawakened the mythical rivalry between the mythological Iranian Kayanian rulers and their Turanian enemies, which is illustrated by Younger Avestan texts. The title of Ramshahr (peacekeeper in [his] dominion) was added to the traditional "King of Kings of the Iranians and non-Iranians" on Yazdegerd I's coins. In the Middle Persian heroic poem Ayadgar-i Zariran (The Testament of Zarer), the title was used by the last Kayanian monarch (Vishtaspa) and occurs in the 10th-century Zoroastrian Denkard. Sasanian interest in Kayanian ideology and history would continue until the end of the empire. Bahram V (r. 420–438), on some rare coins minted in Pars, used the title of kirbakkar ("beneficent").
The reign of Yazdegerd II (r. 438–457) marks the start of a new inscription on the Sasanian coins; mazdēsn bay kay ("The Mazda-worshipping majesty, the king"), which displays his fondness of the Kayanians, who also used the title of kay. Under Peroz I (r. 459–484), the traditional titulature of šāhānšāh ("King of Kings") is omitted on his coins, and only the two aspects of kay Pērōz ("King Peroz") are displayed. However, a seal demonstrates that the traditional titulature was still used, which indicates that coins do not with certainty display the full formal titulature of the Sasanian monarchs. His brother and successor, Balash (r. 484–488), used the title of hukay ("the good king").
Kavad I (r. 488–496, 498–531) was the last Sasanian monarch to have kay inscribed on his coins—the last one issued in 513. The regular obverse inscription on his coins simply has his name; in 504, however, the slogan abzōn ("may he prosper/increase") was added. Khosrow II (r. 590–590, 591–628), during his second reign, added the ideogram GDH, meaning xwarrah ("royal splendor") on his coins. He combined this together with the word abzōt ("he has increased"), making the full inscription thus read as: "Khosrow, he has increased the royal splendor" (Khūsrōkhwarrah abzōt). The title of King of Kings was also restored on his coins. His two successors, Kavad II (r. 628–628) and Ardashir III (r. 628–630), refrained from using the title, seemingly in order distance themselves from Khosrow II.

## The king

The head of the Sasanian Empire was the [shahanshah] (king of kings), also simply known as the shah (king). His health and welfare were always important and the phrase “May you be immortal" was used to reply to him with. By looking on the Sasanian coins which appeared from the 6th-century and afterward, a moon and sun are noticeable. The meaning of the moon and sun, in the words of the Iranian historian [Touraj Daryaee], “suggest that the king was at the center of the world and the sun and moon revolved around him. In effect, he was the “king of the four corners of the world," which was an old Mesopotamian idea." The king saw all other rulers, such as the Romans, Turks, and Chinese, as being beneath him. The king wore colorful clothes, makeup, a heavy crown, while his beard was decorated with gold. The early Sasanian kings considered themselves of divine descent; they called themselves for “bay" (divine).
When the king went to the publicity, he was hidden behind a curtain, and had some of his men in front of him, whose duty was to keep the masses away from the king and to make his way clear. When one came to the king, he/she had to prostrate before him, also known as proskynesis. The king was guarded by a group of royal guards, known as the pushtigban. On other occasions, the king was protected by a group of palace guards, known as the darigan. Both of these groups were enlisted from royal families of the Sasanian Empire, and were under the command of the hazarbed, who was in charge of the king's safety, controlled the entrance of the kings palace, presented visitors to the king, and was allowed to be given military command or used in negotiations. The hazarbed was also allowed in some cases to serve as the royal executioner. During Nowruz (Iranian new year) and Mihragan (Mihr's day), the king would hold a speech.

## List of rulers

The table below lists the rulers of the Sasanian Empire.
| Portrait | Name | Title(s)/Slogans | Reign | Relationship to Predecessor | Notes |
| House of Sasan ||||||
| | Ardashir I 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥 (Ardašīr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) | 224 – 242 | — | Declared himself as Shahanshah after defeating Artabanus IV of Parthia at the Battle of Hormizdegan Died of natural causes in 242 |
| | Shapur I 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 240 – May 270 | Son | Co-ruled with his father since 12 April 240 Died of natural causes in May 270 |
| | Hormizd I 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | May 270 – June 271 | Son | Reigned only for 1 year |
| | Bahram I 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | June 271 – September 274 | Brother | Committed the persecution of Manichaeism, including the death of Mani Died of disease/natural causes in September 274 |
| | Bahram II 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 274 – 293 | Son | Died of natural causes in 293 |
| | Bahram III 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 293 – 293 | Son | Possibly executed during the uprising which had been led by his own grand uncle Narseh |
| | Narseh 𐭭𐭥𐭮𐭧𐭩 (Narsē) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 293 – 302 | Grand-uncle | Enthroned after seizing power from Bahram III in a rebellion led against him |
| | Hormizd II 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 302 – 309 | Son | Enthroned after abdicating the throne from his father |
| | Adur Narseh | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 309 – 309 | Son | Also known as Narseh II Deposed by Sasanian nobles because of his cruelty |
| | Shapur II 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 309 – 379 | Brother | After the death of his brother, Adarnases, Shapur II was still in his mother's womb when he was crowned. |
| | Ardashir II 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥 (Ardašīr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 379 – 383 | Brother | Died of natural causes in 384 |
| | Shapur III 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 383 – 388 | Nephew | |
| | Bahram IV 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 388 – 399 | Son | |
| | Yazdegerd I 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 (Yazdekert) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Ramshahr ("peacekeeper in [his] dominion") | 399 – 420 | Brother | |
| | Shapur IV 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 420 – 420 | Son | |
| | Khosrow | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 420 – 420 | Cousin | |
| | Bahram V 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭 (Warahrān) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kirbakkar ("beneficent") | 420 – 438 | Cousin | |
| | Yazdegerd II 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 (Yazdekert) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay ("king") | 438 – 457 | Son | |
| | Hormizd III 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 457 – 459 | Son | |
| | Peroz I | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay (king) | 457 – 484 | Brother | |
| | Balash | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Hukay ("the good king") | 484 – 488 | Brother | Two rebellions rose from two of Peroz's sons (his nephews) The first rebellion was from Zarir, but he was unsuccessful and executed The second rebellion was from Kavad, who at first unsuccessful requested help from Hephthalites |
| | Kavad I 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲 (Kawād) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay ("king") | 488 – 496 | Nephew | Enthroned after leading a rebellion against his uncle Balash with assistance from Hephthalites |
| | Jamasp | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 496 – 498 | Brother | |
| | Kavad I 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲 (Kawād) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Kay ("king") Abzōn ("may he prosper/increase") | 498 – 531 | Brother | Restored to the throne with the aid of Zarmihr Karen and the Hephthalites |
| | Khosrow I | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Ērān abē-bēm kard ("Iranians has become fearless") Ērān abzonhēnēd ("Iranians became strong") | 531 – 579 | Son | |
| | Hormizd IV 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 579 – 590 | Son | |
| | Khosrow II | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) Khūsrōkhwarrah abzōt ("Khosrow, he has increased the royal splendor") | 590 – 590 | Son | Rebelled against his father and proclaimed himself as king of Persia, however he was then overthrown by Bahram Chobin |
| House of Mihran ||||||
| | Bahram VI Chobin | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 590 – 591 | Rebel | Rebelled against Hormizd IV and Khosrow II and proclaimed himself to be king |
| House of Sasan ||||||
| | Khosrow II | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 591 – 628 | Son of Hormizd IV | Restored as Sasanian king after defeating Bahram Chobin |
| House of Ispahbudhan ||||||
| | Vistahm | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 591 – 595 | Uncle | Uncle of Khosrow II Founded the city of Bastam |
| House of Sasan ||||||
| | Kavad II 𐭪𐭥𐭠𐭲 (Kawād) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 628 – 628 | Son of Khosrow II | Enthroned after killing his father and eighteen brothers Died after a few months of reign |
| | Ardashir III 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥 (Ardašīr) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 628 – 630 | Son | |
| House of Mihran ||||||
| | Shahrbaraz | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 27 April 630 – 17 June 630 | General | Participated at the Siege of Constantinople (626) |
| House of Sasan ||||||
| | Khosrow III | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Nephew of Khosrow II | Briefly ruled in Khorasan as rival king |
| | Boran | Queen of Queen of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Daughter of Khosrow II | Daughter of Khosrow II One of two only women who attained the Sasanian throne |
| | Shapur V | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Son of Shahrbaraz and a sister of Khosrow II | |
| | Peroz II | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 630 | Descended from Khosrow I | |
| | Azarmidokht | Queen of Queen of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 631 | Daughter of Khosrow II | Daughter of Khosrow II and sister of Boran Second woman to attain the Sassanid throne |
| House of Ispahbudhan ||||||
| | Hormizd V | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 631 | Claimed the throne after Azarmidokht rejected his hand in marriage | Overthrew Shahrbaraz in favor of Azarmidokht. Murdered on Azarmidokht's orders after usurping the throne from her as well |
| House of Sasan ||||||
| | Hormizd VI 𐭠𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭬𐭦𐭣 (Ōhrmazd) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 632 | Grandson of Khosrow II | |
| | Khosrow IV | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | 630 – 636 | Brother of Peroz II | |
| | Farrukhzad Khosrow V | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | March 631 – April 631 | Son of Khosrow II | |
| | Boran | Queen of Queen of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | June 631 – June 632 | Daughter of Khosrow II | Was restored to the Sasanian throne by Rostam Farrokhzad |
| | Yazdegerd III 𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩 (Yazdekert) | King of Kings of Iran(ians) and non-Iran(ians) | June 632 – 651 | Grandson of Khosrau II | Enthroned through a series of internal conflicts and murders The Muslim conquest of Persia began in his first year of reign |
| Destruction of the Sassanid Empire ||||||
| | Peroz III | Unknown | 651 – 679 (In exile) | Son | Retreated to Chinese territory where he served as a Tang General Served as the head of the Governorate of Persia, an exiled extension of the Sassanid court |
| | Narsieh | Unknown | 679 – after 708/709 (In exile) | Son | Served as a Tang general, like his father Also known as Narseh III |
| | Pushang Name in Chinese sources: Bó Qiāng Huó | King of Persia | fl. 723 (In exile) | Son | Served as a Tang general, recognized in Chinese sources as "king of Persia" |
| | Name in Chinese sources: Mù Shānuò | King of Persia | fl. 726 – 731 (In exile) | Unknown | Served as a Tang general, recognized in Chinese sources as "king of Persia" |