The Shahs of Parthia, known to history as extraordinarily rich, and often, depraved sadists who tortured their subjects and supported evil acts of violence. To Parthians, the Shahs are rulers blessed by Ahura Mazda to carry out His will on Earth. For 1800 years, The Sassani dynasty has ruled Parthia with justice or cruelty in a line of kings stretching back to the kings of the province of Persis as early as 250 BCE. Some claim they are descended from the Achaemenids as well.

Shahs of Parthia

(224 to 660)

• Ardeshir I (224-240)
• Shapur I (240-272)
• Hormizd I (272-273)
• Bahram I (273-276)
• Bahram II (276-293)
• Bahram III (293)
• Narseh I (293-302)
• Hormizd II (302-309)
• Shapur II (309-379)
• Ardeshir II (379-383)
• Shapur III (383-388)
• Bahram IV (388-399)
• Yazdegird I (399-421)
• Bahram V (421-439)
• Yazdegird III (439-457)
• Peroz I (457-486)
• Balash I (486-488)
• Kavad I (488-531)
• Khosru I (531-579)
• Hormizd IV (579-590)
• Khosru II (590-628)
• Kavad II (628)
• Yazdegird III (632-660)

660-1220

• Piruz II 660-705
• Narseh II 705-722
• Bahram VI 722-742
• Shapur IV 742-774
• Kavad III 774-782
• Ardeshir III 782
• Ardeshir IV 782-796
• Balash II 796-799
• Sassan I 799-833
• Ardeshir V 833-836
• Bahram VII 836
• Yazdegird IV 836-843
• Ardeshir VI 843-877
• Sassan II 877-880
• Piruz III 880-881
• Ardeshir VII 881-898
• Kavad IV 898-940
• Bahram VIII 940-968
• Shapur V 968-972
• Bahram IX 972-1008
• Sassan III 1008-1045
• Shapur VI 1045-1079
• Shahrbaraz I 1079-1096
• Ardeshir VII 1096-1123
• Shapur VII 1123-1186
• Bahram X 1186-1220

1220-1385

Mongol Interregnum 1220-1266

Ardeshir VIII 1266-1293

Kavad V 1293-1322

Kavad VI 1322-1324

Period of One Hundred Shahs 1324-1385

Timurid Interregnum 1385-1406

1406-The Present

Piruz IV 1406-1454

Narseh II 1454-1502

Papak I 1502-1506

Gaumata I 1506

Gaumata II 1506-1520

Sassan IV 1520-1542

Ardeshir IX 1542-1592

Yazdegird V 1592-1618

Balash III 1618-1657

Shapur VIII 1657-1693

Rostam I 1693-1729

Kavad VII 1729-1750

Bahram IX 1750-1772

Hormizd V 1772-1799

Papak II 1799-1812

Kavad VIII 1812-1829

Ardeshir X 1829-1882

Rostam II 1882-1905

Narseh III 1905-1950

• Ardeshir XI 1950-1979

• Khosru III 1979-

Coat of Arms

The Parthian coat of arms is one which reflects the rich Persian culture of the Shahs of the House of Sassani. In the center, between two lions showing the Shah's power, is the crown of Parthia. In the upper left corner, the lion with a sword and a rising sun is the traditional symbol of the Persian Shahs. The Farohar in the upper right hand corner is a symbol of Zoroastrianism, the faith of Parthia and the Shah. The lower left corner displays a shamshir, displaying the military power of the Persian Shah, while the lower right corner contains a mythical bird creature found on stone reliefs in Persepolis of the Achaemenid Dynasty, showing connection to the first kings of Iran. In the center, Mount Damavand stands, the symbol of Iranian resistance against the foreign rule in Persian poems and literature.