he 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 796-800

Sassan I 800-833

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 Ardashir 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- To be continued

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.