Kings of Persis
Kings of Persis | |||||||||
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after 132 BC–AD 224 | |||||||||
Status | Vassal of the Parthian Empire | ||||||||
Capital | Istakhr | ||||||||
Common languages | Middle Persian | ||||||||
Religion | Zoroastrianism | ||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
King | |||||||||
• after 132 BCE – ? | Darayan I (first) | ||||||||
• 211/2–224 | Ardakhshir V (last) | ||||||||
Historical era | Late antiquity | ||||||||
• Established | after 132 BC | ||||||||
• Incorporated into the Sasanian Empire | AD 224 | ||||||||
Currency | Drachm | ||||||||
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Today part of | Iran |
The Kings of Persis, also known as the Darayanids, were a series of
History
Sub-kings of the Parthian Empire
According to Strabo, the early kings of Persis were tributaries to the Seleucid rulers, until c.140 BC, when the Parthians conquered the region:[5]
The Persians have kings who are subject to other kings, formerly of the kings of
The Parthian Empire then took control of Persis under
Under the Parthians, these dynasts were called kings and their title appeared on their coins: for example "dʾryw MLKʾ BRH wtprdt MLKʾ" (Dārāyān the King, son of Wādfradād the King).[1] The Arsacid influence is very clear in the coinage, and Strabo also reports (15. 3.3) that during the time of Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE), the kings of the Persians were as subservient to the Parthians as they had been earlier to the Macedonians:[1]
But afterwards different princes occupied different palaces; some, as was natural, less sumptuous, after the power of Persis had been reduced first by the Macedonians, and secondly still more by the Parthians. For although the Persians have still a kingly government, and a king of their own, yet their power is very much diminished, and they are subject to the king of Parthia.
Establishment of the Sasanian Empire
Under Vologases V (r. 191–208), the Parthian Empire was in decline, due to wars with the Romans, civil wars and regional revolts.[8] The Roman emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211) invaded Parthian domains in 196, and two years later did it again, this time sacking the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon.[8] At the same time, revolts occurred in Media and Persis.[8]
The
There he appointed his eldest son Shapur as his heir.[8] This was much to the dislike of Ardashir, who had become the commander of Darabgerd after the death of Tiri.[8][11] Ardashir in an act of defiance, left for Ardashir-Khwarrah, where he fortified himself, preparing to attack his brother Shapur after Pabag's death.[8][a] Pabag died a natural death sometime between 207 and 210 and was succeeded by Shapur, who became king of Persis.[13] After his death, both Ardashir and Shapur started minted coins with the title of "king" and the portrait of Pabag.[14] The obverse of Shapur's coins had the inscription "(His) Majesty, king Shapur" and the reverse had "son of (His) Majesty, king Pabag".[15] Shapur's reign, however, proved short; he died under obscure conditions in 211/2.[15][8] Ardashir thus succeeded Shapur as Ardashir V, and went on to conquer the rest of Iran, establishing the Sasanian Empire in 224 as Ardashir I.[16]
Coinage
The coinage of the Kings of Persis consists in individualized portraits of the rulers on the obverse, and often the rulers shown in a devotional role on the reverse.
Legend, written from right to left, counterclock-wise: |
List of the Kings of Persis, as Sub-Kings of the Parthian Empire
The Kings of Persis were preceded by the
Name | Date | Coinage | Family Relations | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Darayan I | 2nd century BCE (end) | ? | Darayan I and his successors were sub-kings of the Parthian Empire. Crescent emblem on top of stylized kyrbasia. Aramaic coin legend d’ryw mlk (𐡃𐡀𐡓𐡉𐡅 𐡌𐡋𐡊, "King Darius"). | |
2 | Wadfradad III | 1st century BCE (1st half) | ? | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire. Coin legend wtprdt mlk (𐡅𐡕𐡐𐡓𐡃𐡕 𐡌𐡋𐡊, "King Wadfradad") in Aramaic script. | |
3 | Darayan II | 1st century BCE | son of Wadfradad III | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire. Aramaic coin legend d’ryw mlk brh wtprdt mlk’ (𐡃𐡀𐡓𐡉𐡅 𐡌𐡋𐡊 𐡁𐡓𐡄 𐡅𐡕𐡐𐡓𐡃𐡕 𐡌𐡋𐡊, "King Darius, son of King Wadfradad"). | |
4 | Ardakhshir II | 1st century BCE (2nd half) | son of Darayan II | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire. Killed by his brother Vahshir I | |
5 | Wahsir | 1st century BCE (2nd half) | son of Darayan II | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
6 | Pakor I | 1st century CE (1st half) | son of Vahshir I | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
7 | Pakor II | 1st century CE (1st half) | ? | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
8 | Nambed | 1st century CE (mid) | son of Ardakhshir II | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
9 | Napad | 1st century CE (2nd half) | son of Nambed | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
10 | ‘Unknown king II’ | 1st century CE (end) | ? | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
11 | Wadfradad IV | 2nd century CE (1st half) | ? | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
12 | Manchihr I | 2nd century CE (1st half) | ? | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
13 | Ardakhshir III | 2nd century CE (1st half) | son of Manchihr I | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
14 | Manchihr II | 2nd century CE (mid) | son of Ardakhshir III | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
15 | Uncertain King III/ tentatively Pakor III[18] |
2nd century CE (2nd half) | ? | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
16 | Manchihr III | 2nd century CE (2nd half) | son of Manchihr II | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
17 | Ardakhshir IV | 2nd century CE (end) | son of Manchihr III | Sub-king of the Parthian Empire | |
18 | Vahshir II (Oxathres) | c. 206-210 CE | ? | Sub-king of the Bazarangids .
| |
19 | Shapur | 3rd century CE (beg.) | Brother of the first Sasanian, Ardashir I | Independent | |
20 | Ardashir V (Sasanian Dynasty Ardashir I) |
3rd century CE (beg.) | First Sasanian ruler, under the name of Ardashir I | Independent |
See also
History of Iran | |
---|---|
3200–2700 | |
Jiroft culture | c. 3100–2200 |
Lullubi Kingdom/Zamua | c. 3100-675 |
Elam | 2700–539 |
Marhaši | c. 2550-2020 |
Oxus Civilization | c. 2400–1700 |
Akkadian Empire | 2400–2150 |
Kassites | c. 1500–1155 |
Avestan period | c. 1500–500 |
Neo-Assyrian Empire | 911–609 |
Urartu | 860–590 |
Mannaea | 850–616 |
Zikirti | 750-521 |
Saparda | 720-670 |