list of kings of Persia

 

History of Greater Iran
Empires of Persia · Kings of Persia
Pre-modern
Before Islam  BCE Zayandeh River Civilization prehistoric–? Sialk civilization 7500–1000 Jiroft civilization (Aratta) 3000–? Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 Bactria-Margiana Complex 2200–1700 Elamite dynasties 2800–550 Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th cent. Median Empire 728–550 Achaemenid Empire 550–330 Seleucid Empire 330–150 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250-125 Parthian Empire 248–CE 224 CE Kushan Empire 30–275 Sassanid Empire 224–651 Hephthalite Empire 425–557 Kabul-Shahi dynasty 565–670
After Islamic Conquest  Patriarchal Caliphate 637–651 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Alavid dynasty 864–928 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Samanid dynasty 819–999 Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043 Buyid Dynasty 934–1055 Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 Ghori dynasty 1149–1212 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarezmid dynasty 1077–1231 Kartids dynasty 1231-1389 Ilkhanate 1256–1353 Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393 Chupanid dyansty 1337–1357 Jalayerid dynasty 1339–1432 Timurid Empire 1370–1506 Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468 Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508 Safavid Empire 1501–1722* Mughal Empire 1526–1857 Hotaki dynasty 1722–1729 Afsharid dynasty 1736–1802 * or 1736
Modern SSR = Soviet Socialist Republic
Afghanistan  Durrani Empire 1748–1823 British and Russian influence 1826–1919 Independence and civil war 1919–1929 Mohammedzai rule 1929–1973 Republic of Afghanistan 1973–1978 Communist rule 1978–1992 Recent history of Afghanistan since 1992 Timeline
Azerbaijan  Independent Khanates 1722–1828 Russian Rule 1828–1917 Democratic Republic 1918–1920 Azerbaijan SSR 1920–1991 Republic of Azerbaijan since 1991
Bahrain  Portuguese rule 1521–1602 British Treaty 1820–1971 Kingdom of Bahrain since 1971
Iran  Zand dynasty 1750–1794 Qajar dynasty 1781–1925 Pahlavi dynasty 1925–1979 Iranian Revolution 1979 Provisional Government 1979 Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979
Iraq  Ottoman Empire 1632–1919 Hashimite monarchy 1920–1958 Coup and Republic 1958–2003 Republic of Iraq since 2004
Tajikistan  Emirate of Bukhara 1785–1920 Bukharan / Uzbek SSR 1920–1929 Tajik Autonomous SSR 1929 Tajik SSR 1929–1991 Republic of Tajikistan since 1991
Uzbekistan  Emirate of Bukhara 1785–1920 Uzbek SSR 1924–1991 Independence 1991 Republic of Uzbekistan since 1991

The following is a comprehensive list of kings of Persia (Iran), which includes all of the Persian (Iranian) Empires and their rulers.

Early realms in Iran

Elamite Kingdom, 3000–660 BC

The Elamites were a people located in Susa, in what is now Khuzestan province. Their language was neither Semitic nor Indo-European, and they were the geographic precursors of the Persian/Median empire that later appeared. Some have offered evidence for a linguistic kinship between Elamite and the modern Dravidian languages of Southern India (see "Elamo-Dravidian languages") but this is not universally accepted. The proto-Elamites lived even as far back as 7,500 years ago in Iran. See remains here.

Avan Dynasty (precise dates unknown)

• Peli (fl. c. 2500 BC)
• Tata (precise dates unknown)
• Ukku-Takhesh (precise dates unknown)
• Khishur (precise dates unknown)
• Shushun-Tarana (precise dates unknown)
• Napil-Khush (precise dates unknown)
• Kikku-Sive-Temti (precise dates unknown)
• Lukh-Ishshan (fl. c. 24th century)
• Khelu (fl. c. 24th century)
• Khita (fl. c. 23rd century)
• Kutik-Inshushinnak (fl. c. 2240)

Simash Dynasty (precise dates unknown)

• Gir-Namme (fl. c. 2030)
• Enpi-Luhhan (fl. c. 2010)
• Khutran-Temtt (precise dates unknown)
• Kindattu (precise dates unknown)
• Indattu-Inshushinnak I (precise dates unknown)
• Tan-Rukhurater (precise dates unknown)
• Indattu-Inshushinnak II (precise dates unknown)
• Indattu-Napir (precise dates unknown)
• Indattu-Tempt (precise dates unknown)

Eparti Dynasty (precise dates unknown)

• Eparti I (precise dates unknown)
• Eparti II (precise dates unknown)
• Eparti III (fl. c. 1850)
• Shilkhakha (precise dates unknown)
• Attakhushu (fl. c. 1830)
• Sirukdukh (fl. c. 1792)
• Shimut-Wartash (c. 1772 – c. 1770)

Igehalkid Dynasty (c. 1350 – c. 1200 BC)

• Ige-Halki (c. 1350 – c. 1330)
• Pakhir-Ishshan (c. 1330 – c. 1310)
• Attar-Kittakh (c. 1310 – c. 1300)
• Khuman-Numena (c. 1300 – c. 1275)
• Untash-Naprisha (c. 1275 – c. 1240)
• Unpatar-Naprisha (c. 1240 – c. 1235)
• Kiddin-Khutran (c. 1235 – c. 1210)

Shutrukid Dynasty (c. 1205 – c. 1100 BC)

• Khallutush-In-Shushinak (c. 1205 – c. 1185)
• Shutruk-Nahhunte (c. 1185 – c. 1155)
• Kutir-Nahhunte III (c. 1155 – c. 1150)
• Shilkhak-In-Shushinak (c. 1150 – c. 1120)
• Khutelutush-In-Shushinak (c. 1120 – c. 1110)
• Shilhana-Hamru-Lagamar (c. 1110 – ????)

Late Elam Dynasty (743–644)

• Khumbanigash I (743–717)
• Shuttir-Nakhkhunte (717–699)
• Khallushu (699–693)
• Kutir-Nakhkhunte (693–692)
• Khumma-Menanu (692–689)
• Khumma-Khaldash I (689–681)
• Khumma-Khaldash II (681–680)
• Khumma-Khaldash II & Shilhak-In-Shushinak (680–676)
• Shilhak-In-Shushinak & Urtaku (676–664)
• Shilhak-In-Shushinak & Tempti-Khumma-In-Shushinak (664–653)
• Atta-Khumma-In-Shushinak & Khumbanigash II (653–651)
• Atta-Khumma-In-Shushinak & Tammaritu (651–649)
• Atta-Khumma-In-Shushinak & Indabigash (649–648)
• Indabigash (648–647)
• Khumma-Khaldash III (647–644)

Jiroft Kingdom, c. 2500 BC

The recent archeological findings at Jiroft have uncovered an "independent, Bronze Age, civilization with its own architecture and language" that have led some archeologists to speculate it to be the remains of the lost Aratta Kingdom. 1

Empire of Medians and Persians

Median Dynasty, 728–550 BC

• Deioces, 728–675
• Phraortes, 675–653
• Madius the Scythian, 653–625
• Cyaxares, 625–585
• Astyages, 585–550

The Medes were an Iranian people. The Persians, a closely related and subject people, revolted against the Median empire during the 6th century BC.

Achaemenid dynasty, 550–330 BC

• Achaemenes, founder of the dynasty, king of Persia.
• Teispes of Anshan, his son, king of Persia, king of Anshan, died 640.

Line of Cyrus	Line of Ariaramnes
Cyrus I of Anshan, son of Teispes, king of Anshan 640–580. Cambyses I of Anshan, his son, king of Anshan 580–559. Cyrus II the Great, his son, king of Anshan 559–529. He conquered the Median Empire in 550 and established the Persian Empire.	Ariaramnes of Persia, son of Teispes, king of Persia. His reign is doubtful. Arsames of Persia, son of Ariaramnes, king of Persia until 550, died after 520. His reign is doubtful. His son Hystaspes was Satrap of Parthia under Cambyses II, Smerdis and his son Darius.

• Cyrus II the Great, established the Persian Empire and ruled it from 550–529.
• Cambyses II, his son, ruled 530–522.
• Smerdis, his alleged brother, ruled 522.
• Darius I the Great, son of Hystaspes, ruled 521–486.
• Xerxes I, his son, ruled 486–465.
• Artaxerxes I Longimanus, his son, ruled 464–424.
• Xerxes II, his son, ruled 424.
• Sogdianus, his half-brother, ruled 424–423.
• Darius II Nothus, his half-brother and rival, ruled 423–404.
• Artaxerxes II Memnon, his son, ruled 404–358 (see also Xenophon).
• Artaxerxes III Ochus, his son, ruled 358–338.
• Artaxerxes IV Arses, his son, ruled 338–336.
• Darius III Codomannus, great-grandson of Darius II, ruled 336–330.
• Artaxerxes V Bessus, a usurper who murdered Darius and continued the resistance against Alexander the Great from 330–329.

The epigraphic evidence for ancestors of Darius I the Great is highly suspect and might have been invented by that king.

Hellenistic rulers

Argead Dynasty, 330–310 BC

• Alexander of Macedon (Alexander the Great) (330 BC–323)
• Philip III Arrihadeus (323 BC–317)
• Alexander IV (323 BC–310)

Seleucid dynasty, 305–164 BC

• Seleucus I Nicator (312/305–281)
• Antiochus I Soter (co-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261)
• Antiochus II Theos (261–246)
• Seleucus II Callinicus (246–225)
• Seleucus III Ceraunus (225–223)
• Antiochus III the Great (223–187)
• Seleucus IV Philopator (187–175)
• Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164)
• Antiochus V Eupator (164–162)
• Demetrius I Soter (162–150)
• Alexander Balas (150–145)
• Demetrius II Nicator (145–139)

The Seleucid Dynasty gradually lost control of Persia. In 253, the Arsacid Dynasty established itself in Parthia. The Parthians gradually expanded their control, until by the mid 2nd century BC, the Seleucids had completely lost control of Persia. There were more Seleucid rulers of Syria and, for a time, Babylonia, after Antiochus IV, but none had any effective power in Persia).

Parthian dynasty (Arsacid dynasty), 247 BC – AD 224

• Arsaces I c. 247–211 BC
  • (In some histories, Arsaces's brother Tiridates I is said to have ruled c. 246–211 BC.)
• Arsaces II c. 211–191 BC (frequently called Artabanus by early scholars)
• Phriapatius c. 191–176 BC
• Phraates I c. 176–171 BC
• Mithridates I c. 171–138 BC
• Phraates II c. 138–127 BC
• Artabanus I c. 127–124 BC
• Mithridates II c. 123–88 BC
  • Gotarzes I c. 95–90 BC
• Orodes I c. 90–80 BC
• Unknown king, c. 80–77 BC
• Sanatruces c. 77–70 BC
• Phraates III c. 70–57 BC
• Mithridates III c. 57–54 BC
• Orodes II c. 57–38 BC
  • Pacorus I c. 39–38 BC (co-ruler with his father Orodes II)
• Phraates IV c. 38–2 BC
  • Tiridates II c. 30–26 BC
• Phraates V (Phraataces) c. 2 BC–AD 4
  • Musa c. 2 BC–AD 4 (co-ruler with her son Phraates V)
• Orodes III c. AD 6
• Vonones I c. 8–12
• Artabanus II c. 10–38
  • Tiridates III c. 35–36
• Vardanes I c. 40–47
• Gotarzes II c. 40–51
  • Sanabares c. 50–65
• Vonones II 51
• Vologases I c. 51–78
  • Vardanes II c. 55–58
• Vologases II c. 77–80
• Pacorus II c. 78–105
  • Artabanus III c. 80–90
• Vologases III c. 105–147
  • Osroes I c. 109–129
  • Parthamaspates c. 116
  • Mithridates IV c. 129–140
  • Unknown king c. 140
• Vologases IV c. 147–191
  • Osroes II c. 190 (rival claimant)
• Vologases V c. 191–208
• Vologases VI c. 208–228
  • Artabanus IV c. 216–224

There were various regional client dynasties, often with significant autonomy. Like the Elymais client Kingdom that occupied the area of ancient Elam, and kingdoms of Mesene in Lower Mesopotamia and Persis (Fars) in Central Iran, as well as Adiabene in Northern Mesopotamia..

Sassanid Empire, AD 224–651

• Ardashir I, 224 to 241.
• Shapur I, 241–272, the first to claim universal rule: Iran and Aniran, i.e. the rest of the world.
• Hormizd I, 272–273.
• Bahram I, 273–276.
• Bahram II, 276–293.
• Bahram III year 293.
• Narseh, 293–302.
• Hormizd II, 302–310.
• Shapur II, 310–379
• Ardashir II, 379–383.
• Shapur III, 383–388.
• Bahram IV, 388–399.
• Yazdegerd I, 399–420.
• Bahram V, 420–438.
• Yazdegerd II, 438–457.
• Hormizd III, 457–459.
• Peroz I, 457–484.
• Balash, 484–488.
• Kavadh I, 488–531.
  • Djamasp, 496–498.
• Khosrau I, 531–579.
• Hormizd IV, 579–590.
• Khosrau II, 590–628.
  • Bahram VI, 590–591.
  • Bistam, 591–592.
  • Hormizd V year 593.
• Kavadh II, 628.
• Ardashir III, 628–630.
  • Peroz II, 629.
• Shahrbaraz, 630.
• Boran (Purandokht) and others, 630–631.
• Hormizd VI (or V), 631–632.
• Yazdegerd III, 632–651.

Rulers after the advent of Islam in Iran

Arab caliphs rule

All Persian provinces served under The Arabic Caliphate from 661 to 867.

• Umayyad dynasty, 661–750
• Abbasid dynasty, 750–867

divided, 867–1029

Tahirids in Khorasan, 821–872

• Taher ebne Hosein ebne Mos'ab, Emir 821–822
• Talhat ebne Taher, 822–828
• Abdollah ebne Taher, 828–844
• Taher ebne Abdollah, 844–862
• Muhammad of Khorasan, 862–872

Alavids, 864–928

• Hasan ebne Zeid Hasani, Emir 864–884
• Mohammad ebne Zeid, 884–900
• Hasan ebne Ali Hoseini, 913–916
• Hasan ebne Ghasem Hasani, 916–928

Ziyarids, 928–1043

• Abolhojaj Mardavij ebne Ziyar, Emir 928–934
• Abu Taher Voshmgeer ebne Ziyar, 934–967
• Zahir-ol-doleh Behsotoon, 967–976
• Shams ol Mo'ali Abol-hasan Ghaboos, 976–1012
• Falak ol Mo'ali Manuchehr ebne Ghabus, 1012–1031
• Anushiravan ebne Manuchehr, 1031–1043

Buyyids, 932–1056

Diylamids of Fars

• Emad o-dowleh Abol Hasan, Emir 932–939
• Azad o-dowleh, 939–982
• Sharaf o-dowleh, 982–989
• Samsam o-dowleh, 989–998
• Baha o-dowleh, 998–1012
• Soltan o-dowleh, 1012–1024
• Emad o-dowleh Abu Kalijar, 1024–1048
• Malek Rahim Abu Nasr Khosrow Firuz, 1048–1055

Diylamids of Khuzestan and Kerman

• Mo'ez o-dowleh, 932–966
• Azad o-dowleh, Bakhtiar 966–977
• Azado o-dowleh Abu Shoja', 977–982
• Baha o-dowleh, 989–1012
• Soltan o-dowleh, 1012–1021
• Abu Kalijar Marzban, 1043–1048
• Ghavam o-dowleh, 1012–1028
• Abu Mansur Fulad sotoon, 1048–1056

Diylamids of Rey, Isfahan, and Hamedan

• Rokn o-dowleh, Sultan 932–976
• Mo'ayyed o-dowleh, 976–983
• Fakhr o-dowleh, 976–997
• Majd o-dowleh, 997–1029
• Shams o-dowleh, 997–1021
• Sama o-dowleh, 1021–1023

Saffarids in Seistan and beyond, 861–1002,

• Yagub Leith Saffar
• Abu Yusef Yaqub ebne Lais, surnamed "the coppersmith", Emir 861–878
• Amr o ebne Lais, 878–900
• Abol Hasan Taher ebne Mohammad ebne Amro ebne Lais, 900–908
• Lais ebne Ali ebne Lais, 908–910
• Abu Ali Mohammad ebne Ali ebne Lais, 910–910
• Abu Jafar Ahmad ebne Mohammad ebne Khalf, 923–963
• Abu Ahmad Khalf ebne Ahmad, 963–1002

Samanids (Proto-Tajiks), 892–998

• Adel; Amir Mazi Abyu Ebrahim Esmail ebne Ahmad, Emir 892–907
• Shaheed; Abu Nasr Ahmad ebne Esmail, 907–913
• Saeed; Abol Hasan Nasr ebne Ahmad, 913–942
• Hamid; Abu Mohammad Nuh ebne Nasr, 942–954
• Rashid; Abul Foares Abdolmaleh ebne Nuh, 954–961
• Mo'ayyed; Amir Sadeed Abu Saleh Mansur ebne Nuh, 961–976
• Radhi; Shahanshah Abolqasem Nuh ebne Mansur, 976–996
• Abol Hareth; Mansur ebne Nuh, 996–998
• Abol Foares; AbdolMalek ebne Nuh, 998–998

Ghaznavids, 997–1186

• Yameen o-dowleh AbolQasem Mahmud ebne Saboktekeen, Sultan 997–1030
• Jalal o-dowleh Abu Ahmad Mohammad ebne Mahmud, 1030–1030
• Shahab o-dowleh Abu Sa'd Masud ebne Mahmud, 1030–1040
• Shahab o-dowleh Abolfath Modud ebne Masud, 1040–1049
• Baha o-dowleh Abol Hasan Ali ebne Masud, 1049–1049
• Azad o-dowleh Abu Mansur Abdol Rashid ebne Mahmud ebne Saboktekeen, 1049–1052
• Jamal o-dowleh Abolfazl Farrokhzaad ebne Masud ebne Mahmud, 1052–1059
• Zaheer o-dowleh Abol Mozaffar Ebrahim, 1059–1098
• Ala o-dowleh Abu Saeed Masud ebne Ebrahim, 1098–1115
• Soltan o-dowleh Abol-fath Arsalan Shah, 1115–1117
• Yameen o-dowleh Abol Mozaffar Baharm Shah ebne Masud, 1117–1153
• Taj o-dowleh Abol Shoja Khosro Shah ebne Bahram Shah, 1153–1160
• Saraj o-dowleh Abolmolook Khosrow Malek ebne Khosro Shah, 1160–1186

Seljuqs, 1029–1194

• Toğrül bin Mikail (Tughril Beg), Sultan 1037–1063
• Alp Arslan bin Chaghri 1063–1072
• Jalal ad-Dawlah Malik Shah I 1072–1092
• Nasir ad-Din Mahmud I 1092–1094
• Rukn ad-Din Barkiyaruq 1094–1105
• Mu'izz ad-Din Malik Shah II 1105
• Ghiyath ad-Din Mehmed I Tapar (Muhammad) 1105–1118
• Mu'izz ad-Din Ahmed Sanjar 1097–1157
• Mahmud II 1118–1131
• Dawud (David) 1131–