List of kings of Persia Totally Explained

Everything about Persian Kings totally explained

The following is a comprehensive list of kings of Persia (Iran), which includes all of the empires ruling over Iran 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 isn't universally accepted. The proto-Elamites lived 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)

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.

Macedonian rulers

Argead Dynasty, 330–310 BC

Alexander III the Great (330 BC–323)

Philip III Arrhideus (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 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, ie 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

Dynasties after the advent of Islam in Iran

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

Seljuks, 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

Mesud I 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 Takesh 1199–1220

Jalaledeen ebne Aladdin Mohammad 1220–1230 Permanently destroyed by Mongol empire.

Ilkhans, 1256–1380

The preceding era of disunity, also called First era of fragmentation, was ended through conquest by the Ilkhans, a Mongol khanate, nominally subject to the Great Khan. (Ilkhan means governor of an il, for example 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, daughter 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, 1392-1407, effectively ruled from Qandahar

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

‘Abdullah 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

Safavi Line

Ismail I 1501–1524

Tahmasp I 1524–1576

Ismail II 1576–1578

Mohammed Khodabanda 1578–1587

Abbas I 1587–1629

Safi 1629–1642

Abbas II 1642–1666

Suleiman I 1666–1694

Sultan Hoseyn I 1694–1722

Tahmasp II 1722–1726 First Time Marashi-Safavi Line

Shah Ahmad Marashi 1726–1728 Safavi Line

Tahmasp II 1728–1732

Abbas III 1732–1736 Marashi-Safavi Line

Suleiman II 1749–1750 Sultani-Safavi Line

Ismail III 1750 First Time Unknown House

Mohammad Hossain Shah III 1750 –175] in Mazandaran. Deposed 1757. Sultani-Safavi Line

Ismail III 1752–1761 Second Time Unknown-Sultani-Safavi Line

Mohammad Shah 1786 He married the daughter of Ismail III and was installed by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar Quyunlu. From his descendants come the Beys of Tunisia (through his daughter).

Afsharid dynasty, 1736–1797

Nader Shah, 1736–1747

Adil Shah, 1747–1748

Ebrahim Afshar, 1748

Shah Rukh, 1748–1797, he lost power in 1750 but nominally remained Shah.

Modern history of Iran

Here begins the modern history of the nation-state Iran. After the fall of the Afsharids, the eastern lands of Persia were lost to Pashtun tribes who created their own independent kingdom, which later became known as Afghanistan. For more information, see History of Afghanistan.

Zand dynasty, 1750–1794

Karim Khan, 1750–1779

Abol Fath Khan, 1779

Ali Murad Khan, 1779

Mohammad Ali Khan, 1779

Sadiq Khan, 1779–1782

Ali Murad Khan, 1782–1785

Jafar Khan, 1785–1789

Lotf Ali Khan, 1789–1794

Qajar dynasty, 1794–1925

Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, 1794–1797

Fath Ali Shah, 1797–1834

Ali Mirza Qajar, usurper, 1834 (40 days)

Mohammad Shah Qajar, 1834–1848

Nasser-al-Din Shah, 1848–1896

Mozzafar-al-Din Shah, 1896–1907

Mohammad Ali Shah, 1907–1909

Ahmad Shah Qajar 1909–1925

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.

Further Information

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