ARDASHIR I

flourished 3rd century the founder of the Sasanian empire in ancient Persia (reigned AD 224241). Ardashir was the son of Babak, who was the son or descendant of Sasan and was a vassal of the chief petty king in Persis, Gochihr. After Babak got Ardashir the military post of argabad in the town of Darabgerd (near modern Darab, Iran), Ardashir extended his control over several neighbouring cities. Meanwhile, Babak had slain Gochihr and taken the title of king. Although Babak's request that the Parthian king Artabanus V allow him to transmit the crown to his eldest son, Shapur, was refused, Shapur nevertheless succeeded him. In the ensuing struggle between him and Ardashir, Shapur was killed, and Ardashir was crowned king of Persis in 208. Having suppressed a revolt in Darabgerd, he gradually conquered the neighbouring province of Kerman and the coastal Persian Gulf lands. He made his capital at Gur (modern Firuzabad), which he renamed Ardashir-Kwarrah. Ardashir then moved against western Iran, taking Esfahan, Kerman, Elymais, and Mesene. Withdrawing again to Persis, he met the Parthian army at Hormizdagan (site unknown) in AD 224 and won a decisive victory, slaying Artabanus. Soon after, Ardashir entered the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon, in Mesopotamia, in triumph and was crowned king of kings of Iran. With his son and successor, Shapur I, Ardashir established the Sasanian empire. Nothing is known of Ardashir's personal life; his deeds, however, indicate that he was ruthless, a great soldier, and a capable king. He founded or rebuilt many cities and is credited with digging canals and building bridges. Several great rock carvings commemorate his reign. Ardashir made Zoroastrianism the state religion, and he and his priest Tosar are credited with collecting the holy texts and establishing a unified doctrine. Two treatises, The Testament of Ardashir and The Letter of Tosar, are attributed to them. As patron of the church, Ardashir appears in Zoroastrian tradition as a sage. As founder of the dynasty, he is celebrated in a 5th-century book in Pahlavi, the Karnamag-i Ardashir.