List of kings of Persia

The following is a comprehensive list of all Persian 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

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. Arsames of Persia, son of Ariaramnes, king of Persia until 550, died after 520. 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

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 Nothern 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 fell 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
Mohammad ebne Taher, 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

Diylamids of Rey, Isfahan, and Hamedan

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

Seljuk Turks, 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) 1131–1132
Toğrül II (Tughril Beg) 1132–1134
Mas'ud 1134–1152
Malik Shah III 1152–1153
Mehmed II (Muhammad II) 1153–1160
Süleyman Shah (Sulaiman Shah) 1160–1161
Arslan Shah 1161–1176
Toğrül III (Tughril Beg III) 1176–1194

divided, 1194–1256

Khwarazmids, 1096–1230

An empire built from Azerbaidjan, covering part of Iran and neighbouring Central Asia.

Ghotbedeen Mohammad ebne Anushtekeen Gharajeh, Shah 1096–1128
Alaodeen Abol Mozaffar ebne Ghotbedeen ebne Mohammad 1128–1156
Tajedeen Abolfath Il Arsalan 1156–1171
Jalaledeen Mahmud Soltanshah ebne Il Arsalan 1171–1172
Aladdin Takesh ebne Il Arsalan 1172–1199
Soltan Jalaledeen Mohammad ebne Aladdin Takesh1199–1220
Jalaledeen ebne Aladdin Mohammad 1220–1230

Eliminated for good by the Mongol horde

Ilkhans, 1256–1380

The preceding era of disunity, also called First era of fragmentation, was ended through conquest by the Ilkhans, a pagan Mongol horde, nominally subject to the Great Khan. (Ilkhan means governor of an il, i.e. province).

Hülëgü Khan ebne Tulay ebne Genghis, Ilkhan 1256–1265
Abaqa Khan ebne Hulegu, 1265–1282
Sultan Ahmad Tekuder ebne Hulegu, 1282–1284
Arghun Khan ebne Abaqa, 1284–1291
Gaikhatu ebne Abaqa, 1291–1295
Baidukhan ebne Toghay ebne Hulegu, 1295
Ghazan Khan ebne Arghun, 1295–1304
Öljeitü Khoda bandeh ebne Arghun, 1304–1316
Abu Sa'id Bahador Khan ebne Oljeitu, 1316–1335 (last of Chinggisid il-khans)
Arpa Ke'un, 1335–1336
Musa Khan ebne Ali, 1336–1353
Muhammad Khan ebne Mangu, 1337–1338
Sati beg, dauther of Oljeitu, 1338–1340
Shah Jahan Teimoor ebne Alafarang, 1338–1339
Soleiman Khan, 1340–1344
Togha Teimoor Khan, 1335–1352
Anushiravan e Adel, 1343–1355

The Second era of fragmentation begins in 1343, as remnants of the Hordes competed with local dynasts for authority. This era ends with the conquests by Timur, around 1380

Muzaffarid Dynasty, 1314–1393

Mubariz ad-Din Muhammad ibn al-Muzaffar, Emir 1314–1358
Abu'l Fawaris Djamal ad-Din Shah Shuja (at Yazd, 1353 at Shiraz ), 1335–1364 with...
Qutb Al-Din Shah Mahmud (at Isfahan) ( d. 1375), 1358–1366
Abu'l Fawaris Djamal ad-Din Shah Shuja (at Yazd, 1353 at Shiraz ), 1366–1384
Mujahid ad-Din Zain Al-Abidin 'Ali, 1384–1387

In 1387 Timur captured Isfahan.

Imad ad-Din Sultan Ahmad (at Kerman), 1387–1391 with...
Mubariz ad-Din Shah Yahya (at Shiraz), 1387–1391 and...
Sultan Abu Ishaq (in Sirajan), 1387–1391
Shah Mansur (at Isfahan), 1391–1393

Timurid dynasty, 1380–1507

Timur ("Tamerlane"), 1369–1405, nominally under the authority of the Chagatai Khanate

The third era of fragmentation follows, as Timur's Empire loses cohesion and local rulers strive against each other.

Pir Muhammad, grandson of Timur, 1405–1407, effectively ruled in Fars
Djalal Ud-Din Miran Shah, son of Timur, 1405–1408, ruled Azerbaijan
Rustam, 1405–1409, ruled Arabistan
Khalil Sultan (Timurid dynasty), son of Miran Shah, 1405–1409, ruled in Samarkand, surrendered to Shah Rukh, became governor of Rayy until his death in 1411
Shah Rukh, son of Timur, 1405–1447, ruled first in Transoxiana
- Ayyal, 1414, opposed Shah Rukh
- Ailankar, 1414–1415, opposed Shah Rukh
Bayqara, 1409–1412, ruled in Fars
Iskandar, 1412–1414, ruled first in Fars, then Azerbaijan & Arabistan

In 1410 the Turcoman horde Kara Koyunlu (Black Sheep) captured Baghdad and their leaders ruled the western parts of the Timurid realm. In the East however, Shah Rukh was able to secure his rule in Transoxiana and Fars.

Ulugh Beg, son of Shah Rukh, 1447–1449

Rulers in Transoxiana:

'Abd al-Latif, son of Ulugh Beg, 1449–1450
Abd-Allah Mirza, grandson of Shah Rukh, 1450–1451
Abu Sa'id ibn Muhammad, grandson of Miran Shah, 1451–1469, conquered Khurasan in 1459

Rulers in Khurasan:

Babur Ibn-Baysunkur, grandson of Shah Rukh, 1449–1457
Shah Mahmud, son of Babur, 1457
Ibrahim, 1457
Jahan Shah, leader of the Black Sheep Turcomans, 1457–1458

Abu Sa'id, agreed to divide Iran with the Black Sheep Turcomans under Jahan Shah, but the White Sheep Turcomans under Uzun Hassan defeated and killed first Jahan Shah and then Abu Sa'id.

After Abu Sa'id's death a fourth era of fragmentation follows. While the White Sheep Turcomans dominated in the western parts until the ascent of the Safavid dynasty, the Timurides could maintain their rule in Samarkand and Herat.

Rulers in Samarkand:

Sultan Ahmad, son Abu Sa'id, 1469–1494
Sultan Mahmud, son of Abu Sa'id, 1494–1495
Masud, 1495
Sultan Baysunghur, 1495–1497
Sultan Ali Mirza 1495–1500

conquered by the Uzbeks

Rulers in Herat:

Sultan Mahmud, son of Abu Sa'id, 1469
Husayn Bayqarah, 1469–1506
Badi' al-Zaman, son of Husayn, 1506–1507, fled to the court of Ismail I

conquered by the Uzbeks, later recaptured by the Safavids

Shahs of modern Iran

The modern Iranian monarchy was established in 1502 after the Safavid Dynasty came to power under Shah Ismail I, and ended the so-called "fourth era" of political fragmentation.

Safavid dynasty, 1502–1736

Ismail I, 1502–1524
Tahmasp I, 1524–1576
Ismail II, 1576–1578
Mohammad I Khodabanda, 1578–1587 or 1588
Abbas I the Great, 1587 or 1588 -1629
Safi I, 1629–1642
Abbas II, 1642–1666 or 1667
Suleiman I (Safi II), 1666 or 1667–1694
Husayn, 1694–1722
Tahmasp II, 1723–1732
Abbas III, 1732–1736

Afsharid dynasty, 1736–1797

Nadir Shah, 1736–1747
Adil Shah, 1747–1748
Ebrahim Afshar, 1748
Shah Rukh, 1748–1797, he lost power in 1750 but nominally remained Shah.

Zand dynasty, 1750–1794

Qajar dynasty, 1794–1925

Pahlavi dynasty, 1925–1979

Reza Shah Pahlavi, 15 December 1925 – 16 September 1941 (crowned 25 April 1926)
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, 16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979 (crowned 26 October 1967) and his wife Empress Farah Pahlavi (born 14 October 1938).

In 1979 a revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini forced Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi into exile, and established an Islamic Republic on 1 April 1979.

External links

http://www.family-of-man.com/CatalogEnglish/Asia/Central_Asia/timurid_emirate.html

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