Sasanian Empire

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Sasanian Empire
Eranshahr[1][2]
224651
Flag
Derafsh Kaviani
Simurgh
Simurgh

The Sasanian Empire at its greatest extent c. 620 CE, under Khosrau II
Normal domains
Greatest temporary extent during ByzantineSasanian War of 602628
Capital
Istakhr (224226)[3]
Ctesiphon (226637)
Languages
Middle Persian (official)[4][5]
Middle Aramaic (lingua franca)[6]
Parthian (administration, until the late 3rd-century) spoken in the north and east,
and by the seven Parthian clans)[4]
Greek (administration, until the late 3rd-century, and regional)[4]
Other languages
Religion Zoroastrianism
(also Babylonian, Christianity, Manichaeism, Judaism, Mandaeism, Paganism,
Mithraism, Hinduism, Buddhism)
Government Feudal monarchy[7]
Shahanshah
224241 Ardashir I (first)
632651 Yazdegerd III (last)
Historical era Late Antiquity
Battle of Hormozdgan 28 April 224
Climactic RomanPersian War of 602-628 602628
Civil war[8] 628-632
Muslim conquest 633651
Empire collapses 651
Area
550[9][10] 3,500,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by
Parthian Empire
Indo-Scythians
Kingdom of Iberia
Kushan Empire
Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)
Lakhmids
Qarinvand dynasty
Zarmihrids
Rashidun Caliphate
Dabuyid dynasty
Masmughans of Damavand
Bavand dynasty
Part of a series on the
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v t e
The Sasanian Empire (s?'s??ni?n or s?'se?ni?n), also known as the Sassanian,
Sasanid, Sassanid or Neo-Persian Empire,[11] known to its inhabitants as
Eranshahr[1] in Middle Persian,[a] was the last period of the Persian Empire (Iran)
before the rise of Islam, named after the House of Sasan who ruled from 224 to 651
AD.[2][13] The Sasanian Empire, which succeeded the Parthian Empire, was recognised
as one of the leading world powers alongside its neighbouring arch-rival the Roman-
Byzantine Empire, for a period of more than 400 years.[14][15][16]

The Sasanian Empire was founded by Ardashir I, after the fall of the Parthian
Empire and the defeat of the last Arsacid king, Artabanus V. At its greatest
extent, the Sasanian Empire encompassed all of today's Iran, Iraq, Eastern Arabia
(Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatif, Qatar, UAE), the Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon,
Israel, Jordan), Armenia, the Caucasus (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, South
Ossetia, Abkhazia), Egypt, large parts of Turkey, much of Central Asia
(Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan), Yemen and Pakistan. According
to a legend, the vexilloid of the Sasanian Empire was the Derafsh Kaviani.[17]

The Sasanian Empire during Late Antiquity is considered to have been one of Iran's
most important and influential historical periods and constituted the last great
Iranian empire before the Muslim conquest and the adoption of Islam.[18] In many
ways, the Sasanian period witnessed the peak of ancient Iranian civilisation.
Persia influenced Roman culture considerably during the Sasanian period.[19] The
Sasanians' cultural influence extended far beyond the empire's territorial borders,
reaching as far as Western Europe,[20] Africa,[21] China and India.[22] It played a
prominent role in the formation of both European and Asian medieval art.[23] Much
of what later became known as Islamic culture in art, architecture, music and other
subject matter was transferred from the Sasanians throughout the Muslim world.[24]

Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Origins and early history (205310)
1.2 First Golden Era (309379)
1.3 Intermediate Era (379498)
1.4 Second Golden Era (498622)
1.5 Decline and fall (622651)
1.6 Descendants
2 Government
2.1 Sasanian military
2.1.1 Role of priests
2.1.2 Infantry
2.1.3 Navy
2.1.4 Cavalry
3 Relations with neighboring regimes
3.1 Frequent warfare with the Romans and to a lesser extent others
3.2 War with Axum
3.3 Relations with China
3.4 Relations with India
4 Society
4.1 Urbanism and Nomadism
4.2 Shahanshah
4.3 Class division
4.4 Slavery
5 Culture
5.1 Education
5.2 Society
5.3 Art, science and literature
6 Economy
6.1 Industry and trade
7 Religion
7.1 Zoroastrianism
7.1.1 Tansar and his justification for Ardashir I's rebellion
7.1.2 Influence of Kartir
7.1.3 Zoroastrian calendar reforms under the Sasanians
7.1.4 Three Great Fires
7.1.5 Iconoclasm and the elevation of Persian over other Iranian languages
7.1.6 Developments in Zoroastrian literature and liturgy by the Sasanians
7.2 Christianity
7.3 Other religions
8 Language
8.1 Official languages
8.2 Regional languages
9 Legacy and importance
9.1 In Europe
9.2 In Jewish history
9.3 In India
10 Chronology
11 See also
12 Notes
13 References
14 Bibliography
15 Further reading
16 External links
History
See also Timeline of Sasanian Empire
Origins and early history (205310)

Ghal'eh Dokhtar (or The Maiden's Castle) in present-day Fars, Firuzabad, Iran,
built by Ardashir in 209, before he was finally able to defeat the Parthian empire.

Taq Kasra is the most famous Persian monument from the Sasanian era.
Conflicting accounts shroud the details of the fall of the Parthian Empire and
subsequent rise of the Sasanian Empire in mystery.[25] The Sassanid Empire was
established in Estakhr by Ardashir I.

Papak was originally the ruler of a region called Khir. However, by the year 200,
he managed to overthrow Gochihr, and appoint himself as the new ruler of the
Bazrangids. His mother, Rodhagh, was the daughter of the provincial governor of
Pars. Papak and his eldest son Shapur managed to expand their power over all of
Pars. The subsequent events are unclear, due to the elusive nature of the sources.
It is certain, however, that following the death of Papak, Ardashir, who at the
time was the governor of Darabgerd, got involved in a power struggle of his own
with his elder brother Shapur. Sources reveal that Shapur, leaving for a meeting
with his brother, was killed when the roof of a building collapsed on him. By the
year 208, over the protests of his other brothers who were put to death, Ardashir
declared himself ruler of Pars.[26][27]

Once Ardashir was appointed shahanshah, he moved his capital further to the south
of Pars and founded Ardashir-Khwarrah (formerly Gur, modern day Firuzabad). The
city, well supported by high mountains and easily defendable through narrow passes,
became the center of Ardashir's efforts to gain more power. The city was surrounded
by a high, circular wall, probably copied from that of Darabgird, and on the north-
side included a large palace, remains of which still survive today. After
establishing his rule over Pars, Ardashir I rapidly extended his territory,
demanding fealty from the local princes of Fars, and gaining control over the
neighboring provinces of Kerman, Isfahan, Susiana and Mesene. This expansion
quickly came to the attention of Artabanus V, the Parthian king, who initially
ordered the governor of Khuzestan to wage war against Ardashir in 224, but the
battles were victories for Ardashir. In a second attempt to destroy Ardashir,
Artabanus V himself met Ardashir in battle at Hormozgan, where Artabanus V met his
death. Following the death of the Parthian ruler, Ardashir I went on to invade the
western provinces of the now defunct Parthian Empire.[28]

Rock-face relief at Naqsh-e Rustam of Persian emperor Shapur I (on horseback)

capturing Roman emperor Valerian (standing) and Philip the Arab (kneeling), suing
for peace, following the victory at Edessa.
At that time the Arsacid dynasty was divided between supporters of Artabanus V and
Vologases VI, which probably allowed Ardashir to consolidate his authority in the
south with little or no interference from the Parthians. Ardashir was aided by the
geography of the province of Fars, which was separated from the rest of Iran.[29]
Crowned in 224 at Ctesiphon as the sole ruler of Persia, Ardashir took the title
shahanshah, or