Sasanian, << sa SAY nee uhn, >> dynasty was a series of Persian kings who ruled what are now Iran, Iraq, parts of the Caucasus region in southwest Asia, and most of Afghanistan. The dynasty lasted from about A.D. 224 to 651. It was noted for the grandeur of its kings and its close ties to the Zoroastrian religion. It was named for Sasan, who was probably the grandfather of the first Sasanian ruler, Ardashir I. The dynasty’s name is also spelled Sassanian, Sasanid, or Sassanid.
Ardashir I was the son of Papak, a minor king in southern Iran, whose lands were part of the Parthian Empire. This empire was centered in what are now Iran and Iraq. Ardashir formed alliances with, and subdued, several nearby small kingdoms and principalities. Encouraged by his initial success, Ardashir overthrew the ruler of the Parthian Empire around 224 A.D. He then took over most of the remaining Parthian provinces. Ardashir established the capital of his empire at the city of Ctesiphon, near what is now Baghdad, Iraq.
Later Sasanian rulers led military campaigns into the Arabian Peninsula, Armenia, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and the Indus River valley, in what is now Pakistan. The Sasanians competed with the Roman and Byzantine empires for control of trade with Asia. In 260, the Sasanian King Shapur I captured the Roman Emperor Valerian, who soon died in captivity.
The Sasanian Empire reached its height under Khusrow I, who ruled from 531 to 579. Khusrow was also known as Anushirvan, meaning of immortal soul, and had a reputation as a just king. Khusrow enacted tax and military reforms that strengthened the government. He organized successful expeditions against the Byzantine Empire, fortified his empire’s borders, and sent soldiers to occupy Yemen.
Zoroastrianism was the state religion under the Sasanian kings, who claimed to receive their power from Ahura Mazda, the greatest Zoroastrian deity. The kings built temples containing fires that symbolized their own lives and power. Priests served in the temples and acted as judges and government administrators. The Zoroastrian religion placed a special responsibility on Sasanian kings to be just. According to the religion, society’s prosperity and welfare depended on the kings’ personal conduct.
In the early 600’s, Sasanian forces occupied Egypt and Syria and laid siege to the Byzantine capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). But the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeated the Sasanians, whose armies were overextended. Sasanian rule nearly collapsed.
Following this crisis, Sasanian rulers struggled to maintain the support of the nobles and the army. A series of kings ruled the empire between 628 and 632. Yazdegerd III restored some stability when he became king in 632. But he could not halt the invasion of Muslim Arabs during the 630’s and 640’s. Yazdegerd was killed, probably by an assassin, in 651, ending the dynasty.
The Sasanian period is considered a golden age (period of advanced development) in Persian history. Sasanian rulers held great power and influence throughout the Middle East, and each one referred to himself as the “king of kings.” Persian literature often describes the Sasanian kings as ideal leaders because of their concern for justice.
See also Iran (History) (Religion) ; Persia, Ancient (History) ; Zoroastrianism .
