List of monarchs of Persia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shah of Iran
Lion and Sun Emblem of Imperial Persia/Iran
Last to reign Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979
Details
Style	Shah Shahanshah
First monarch	Deioces 700–678 BC (first known ruler) Cyrus the Great 559–530 BC (Emperor of the first unified Persian Empire)
Last monarch	Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 1941–1979 (as Shah of Iran)
Formation	671 BC
Abolition	11 February 1979
Residence	Apadana Tachara Palace of Darius Palace of Ardashir Taq Kasra Ālī Qāpū Palace Hasht Behesht Golestan Palace Sa'dabad Palace Niavaran Palace
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Reza Pahlavi

This article tells the story of the kings and queens who ruled Iran (also known as Persia) for thousands of years. It starts around 678 BC with the Medes and goes all the way to 1979, when the Pahlavi dynasty ended.

Early Kingdoms: Medes and Achaemenids

Iran has a very long history of powerful rulers. Let's explore some of the most important ones.

The Median Kingdom (678–549 BC)

The Median Kingdom at its greatest size.

The Medes were one of the first major groups to form a kingdom in ancient Iran. Their rulers were:

• Deioces (700–678 BC): He was the first known ruler of the Medes.
• Phraortes (678–625 BC): Son of Deioces, he helped the Medes break free from Assyrian rule.
• Cyaxares (624–585 BC): Son of Phraortes, he was a very important Median king.
• Astyages (585–549 BC): Son of Cyaxares, he was the last king of the Medes.

The Mighty Achaemenid Empire (559–334 BC)

The Achaemenid Empire at its greatest size.

The Achaemenid Empire was one of the largest empires in ancient history. It was founded by Cyrus the Great.

• Cyrus the Great (559–530 BC): He was a truly legendary king. He started as the King of Anshan and then created the first huge Persian Empire. He was known for being fair and respectful of different cultures.
• Cambyses II (530–522 BC): Son of Cyrus the Great, he conquered Egypt.
• Bardiya (522 BC): He ruled briefly, but some say he was an imposter.
• Darius the Great (522–486 BC): A very powerful king who expanded the empire even further. He organized the empire well and built many famous structures.
• Xerxes the Great (485–465 BC): Son of Darius I, he is famous for his wars against the ancient Greeks.
• Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC): Son of Xerxes I.
• Darius II (424–404 BC): Son of Artaxerxes I.
• Artaxerxes II (404–358 BC): Son of Darius II.
• Artaxerxes III (358–338 BC): Son of Artaxerxes II.
• Darius III (336–330 BC): The last Achaemenid king. He was defeated by Alexander the Great.

Macedonian and Seleucid Rule

After the Achaemenid Empire, Persia came under the rule of new powers.

Alexander the Great and His Successors (336–306 BC)

The Macedonian Empire at its greatest size.

• Alexander the Great (336–323 BC): A famous conqueror from Macedonia who defeated Darius III and ended the Achaemenid Empire. He was king of Macedonia from 336 BC.
• Philip III (323–317 BC): Half-brother of Alexander the Great.
• Alexander IV (323–309 BC): Son of Alexander the Great, he was king of Macedonia.

The Seleucid Empire (311–129 BC)

The Seleucid Empire at its greatest size.

After Alexander's death, his generals divided his empire. One of them, Seleucus, founded the Seleucid Empire, which ruled over Persia for a long time.

• Seleucus I Nicator (311–281 BC): He was one of Alexander's generals and founded the Seleucid Empire. He became king in 306 BC.
• Antiochus I Soter (281–261 BC): Son of Seleucus I.
• Antiochus III the Great (223–187 BC): A powerful Seleucid king who tried to restore the empire's former glory.

Parthian and Sasanian Empires

These two empires were major powers in ancient Iran, bringing back Persian rule.

The Parthian Empire (247 BC – AD 228)

The Parthian Empire at its greatest size.

The Seleucid Empire slowly lost control of Persia. The Parthians, led by the Arsacid dynasty, took over and created a new empire.

• Arsaces I (247–211 BC): He founded the Arsacid dynasty, which ruled the Parthian Empire.
• Mithridates I (167–132 BC): A great Parthian king who expanded the empire significantly.
• Mithridates II (121–91 BC): Another powerful Parthian king, known as "The Great King of Kings."

The Sasanian Empire (224–651)

The Sasanian Empire at its greatest size.

The Sasanian Empire was the last great Persian empire before the Muslim conquest. It was a very strong and influential empire.

• Ardashir I (224–242): He founded the Sasanian Empire.
• Shapur I (240–270): Son of Ardashir I, he was a powerful king who fought against the Roman Empire.
• Khosrau I (531–579): Known as "Anushiravan the Just," he was one of the most famous Sasanian kings, known for his wisdom and reforms.
• Khosrau II (590–628): Also known as "Aparviz," he was a very ambitious king who fought many wars.
• Yazdegerd III (632–651): The last Sasanian king. His empire fell to the Muslim armies.

Islamic Dynasties of Iran

After the Sasanian Empire, Iran became part of the larger Islamic world, ruled by different caliphates and local dynasties.

Rashidun Caliphate (642–661)

The Rashidun Empire reached its greatest size under Caliph Uthman in 654.

The Rashidun Caliphate was the first Islamic government. Their forces conquered Persia.

• Umar (642–644): He was the second Caliph and his forces conquered Persia.
• Uthman (644–656): The third Caliph.
• Ali (656–661): The fourth Caliph, also known as Maula Ali.
• Al-Hasan (661): Son of Caliph Ali, he ruled briefly.

Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)

Umayyad Caliphate at its greatest size around 750.

The Umayyad Caliphate was a large Islamic empire that ruled over Persia.

• Muawiyah I (661–680): He founded the Umayyad Caliphate.
• Abd al-Malik (685–705): A strong Umayyad Caliph who made many important changes.
• Hisham (724–743): He built many schools and mosques.

Abbasid Caliphate (748–861)

Abbasid Caliphate at its greatest size around 850.

The Abbasid Caliphate took over from the Umayyads and moved the capital to Baghdad. They ruled Persia until 861.

• As-Saffah (748–754): He founded the Abbasid Caliphate.
• Al-Mansur (754–775): A famous Arab Caliph who built the city of Baghdad.
• Harun al-Rashid (786–809): The most famous Abbasid Caliph, known from the stories of "One Thousand and One Nights."

Samanid Empire (819–999)

Samanid Empire at its greatest size.

The Samanids were a Persian dynasty that became powerful in Central Asia and parts of Iran.

• Ismail Samani (892–907): A very important Samanid ruler who expanded the empire.

Saffarid Kingdom (861–1003)

Saffarid Empire at its greatest size.

The Saffarids were another Persian dynasty that rose to power in eastern Iran.

• Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar (861–879): He founded the Saffarid dynasty.

Ghurid Kingdom (879–1215)

Map of the Ghurid dynasty at its greatest size by 1202.

The Ghurids were a dynasty from Afghanistan that expanded into parts of Iran and India.

• Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad (1163–1202): A powerful Ghurid Sultan.
• Mu'izz al-Din (1173–1206): He conquered much of northern India.

Ziyarid Kingdom (928–1043)

Ziyarid dynasty at its greatest size.

The Ziyarids were a local Iranian dynasty that ruled in northern Iran.

• Mardavij (928–934): He founded the Ziyarid dynasty.

Buyid Kingdom (934–1062)

Buyid dynasty at its greatest size.

The Buyids were a powerful Persian dynasty that took control of much of Iran and Iraq.

• Adud al-Dawla (949–983): A very strong Buyid ruler who expanded his power and was known as "Shahanshah" (King of Kings).

Ghaznavids Empire (977–1186)

Map of the Ghaznavid dynasty at its greatest size.

The Ghaznavids were a Turkic dynasty that ruled from Ghazni (in modern-day Afghanistan) and controlled large parts of Iran.

• Mahmud (998–1030): He was a very famous Ghaznavid ruler who made many conquests.

Seljuk Empire (1037–1194)

A map showing the Great Seljuk Empire at its height in 1092.

The Seljuks were a Turkic group who created a vast empire that included Iran.

• Tughril I (1029–1063): He founded the Great Seljuk Empire.
• Alp Arslan (1063–1072): A famous Seljuk Sultan who won a major victory against the Byzantine Empire.
• Malik Shah I (1072–1092): Under his rule, the Seljuk Empire reached its largest size.

Khwarazmian Empire (1153–1220)

Khwarazmian Empire at its greatest size.

The Khwarazmian Empire grew powerful in Central Asia and then expanded into Iran.

• Tekish (1172–1200): A strong Khwarazmshah.
• Muhammad Sanjar (1200–1220): The last major Khwarazmshah, whose empire was destroyed by the Mongols.

Mongol and Turkic Dynasties

The Mongol invasions changed the face of Iran, leading to new rulers.

Mongol Empire (1220–1256)

Mongol Empire at its greatest size.

The Mongol Empire, led by Genghis Khan, conquered vast lands, including Iran.

• Genghis (1220–1227): The founder of the Mongol Empire, a legendary conqueror.
• Ögedei (1229–1241): Son of Genghis Khan, he continued the expansion of the empire.

Ilkhanate (1256–1357)

Ilkhanate at its greatest size.

The Ilkhanate was a Mongol kingdom that ruled over Iran after the main Mongol Empire split.

• Hulagu (1256–1265): Grandson of Genghis Khan, he founded the Ilkhanate.
• Ghazan (1295–1304): A powerful Ilkhanid ruler who converted to Islam.
• Öljaitü (1304–1316): Brother of Ghazan.
• Abu Sa'id (1316–1335): The last strong Ilkhanid ruler.

Timurid Empire (1370–1467)

Locator map of the Timurid Empire around 1400.

The Timurid Empire was founded by Timur, a great conqueror who aimed to restore the Mongol Empire.

• Timur (1370–1405): Also known as Tamerlane, he was a famous and powerful conqueror who built a vast empire.
• Shah Rukh (1405–1447): Son of Timur, he ruled a large and stable empire, known for its cultural achievements.
• Ulugh Beg (1447–1449): Grandson of Timur, he was a famous astronomer and scholar.

Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu (1375–1497)

These were two rival Turkic groups that ruled parts of Iran.

Qara Qoyunlu (Black Sheep Turkomans)

Qara Qoyunlu at its greatest size.

• Qara Yusuf (1388–1420): A key leader of the Qara Qoyunlu.
• Jahan Shah (1438–1467): A powerful Qara Qoyunlu ruler who expanded their territory.

Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkomans)

Ag Qoyunlu at its greatest size.

• Uzun Hassan (1453–1478): A strong leader of the Aq Qoyunlu who defeated the Qara Qoyunlu.

Modern Persian Empires

These dynasties shaped modern Iran.

Safavid Empire (1501–1736)

The maximum size of the Safavid Empire under Shah Abbas I.

The Safavid Empire was a very important period in Iranian history. It established Shia Islam as the official religion of Iran.

• Ismail I (1501–1524): He founded the Safavid Empire and made Shia Islam the state religion.
• Tahmasp I (1524–1576): Son of Ismail I, he ruled for a long time and faced many challenges.
• Abbas I the Great (1587–1629): He was one of the greatest Safavid rulers. He made the empire very strong and developed arts and trade.
• Suleiman I (1666–1694): A later Safavid Shah.
• Sultan Husayn (1694–1727): The last Safavid Shah before a period of Afghan rule.
• Tahmasp II (1722–1740): He tried to restore Safavid rule after the Afghan invasion.

Afsharid Empire (1736–1796)

Afsharid dynasty at its greatest size.

The Afsharid Empire was founded by a brilliant military leader who took control after the Safavids weakened.

• Nader Shah (1736–1747): A very powerful military genius who became Shah. He conquered many lands and was known as "the Napoleon of Persia."

Zand Kingdom (1751–1794)

Map of the Zand dynasty during the reign of Lotf Ali Khan.

The Zand dynasty ruled parts of Iran after the Afsharids.

• Karim Khan Zand (1751–1779): He was a kind and fair ruler, known as "Vakil e-Ro'aayaa" (Regent of the People). He brought peace and prosperity to Iran.
• Lotf Ali Khan (1789–1794): The last Zand ruler, known for his bravery in fighting against the Qajars.

Qajar Empire (1794–1925)

Map of the Qajar dynasty during the reign of Agha Mohammad Shah.

The Qajar dynasty ruled Iran for over a century, facing many changes and challenges.

• Agha Mohammad Shah (1794–1797): He founded the Qajar dynasty and unified Iran.
• Fath-Ali Shah (1797–1834): A Qajar Shah known for his long beard and many portraits.
• Naser al-Din Shah (1848–1896): He was one of the longest-reigning Qajar kings. He tried to modernize Iran.
• Ahmad Shah (1909–1925): The last Qajar Shah, who was deposed.

Pahlavi Empire (1925–1979)

Map of the Pahlavi dynasty with modern international borders.

The Pahlavi dynasty was the last royal family to rule Iran.

• Reza Shah (1925–1941): He founded the Pahlavi dynasty and began many modernizing reforms in Iran.
• Mohammad Reza Shah (1941–1979): Son of Reza Shah, he was the last Shah of Iran. He was deposed in 1979.

Images for kids

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  Deioces, first known ruler of Media.

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  Phraortes, son of Deioces.

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  Cyaxares, a powerful Median king.

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  Astyages, the last king of the Medes.

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  Cyrus I, an early Achaemenid ruler.

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  Cambyses II, son of Cyrus the Great.

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  Bardiya, possibly an imposter.

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  Darius the Great, a powerful Achaemenid king.

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  Xerxes the Great, son of Darius I.

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  Artaxerxes I, son of Xerxes I.

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  Xerxes II, son of Artaxerxes I.

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  Sogdianus, who ruled briefly.

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  Darius II, son of Artaxerxes I.

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  Artaxerxes II, son of Darius II.

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  Artaxerxes III, son of Artaxerxes II.

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  Artaxerxes IV, son of Artaxerxes III.

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  Darius III, the last Achaemenid king.

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  Alexander the Great, who conquered the Achaemenid Empire.

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  Philip III, half-brother of Alexander the Great.

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  Alexander IV, son of Alexander the Great.

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  Perdiccas, regent for Alexander IV.

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  Antipater, another regent.

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  Cassander, regent and murderer of Alexander IV.

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  Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Empire.

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  Antiochus II Theos, a Seleucid king.

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  Seleucus II Callinicus, a Seleucid king.

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  Antiochus III the Great, a powerful Seleucid king.

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  Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king.

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  Antiochus V Eupator, a Seleucid king.

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  Demetrius I Soter, a Seleucid king.

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  Alexander Balas, who claimed to be the son of Antiochus IV.

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  Demetrius II Nicator, a Seleucid king.

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  Antiochus VI Dionysus, who competed with Demetrius II.

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  Antiochus VII Sidetes, a Seleucid king.

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  Bagadates, a Frataraka governor.

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  Ardakhshir I, another Frataraka.

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  Vahbarz, a Frataraka governor.

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  Vadfradad II, a Frataraka governor.

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  An unknown king of Persis.

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  Darayan I, a sub-king of the Parthian Empire.

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  Wadfradad III, a sub-king.

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  Darev II, son of Vadfradad III.

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  Ardakhshir II, son of Darev II.

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  Vahshir I, son of Darev II.

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  Pakor I, son of Vahshir I.

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  Pakor II, a sub-king.

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  Nambed, son of Ardashir II.

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  Napad, son of Nambed.

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  An unknown king of Persis.

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  Vadfradad IV, a sub-king.

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  Manchihr I, a sub-king.

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  Ardashir III, son of Manchihr I.

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  Manchihr II, son of Ardashir III.

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  An unknown king of Persis.

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  Manchihr III, son of Manchihr II.

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  Ardashir IV, son of Manchihr III.

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  Vahshir II, the last of the Bazarangids.

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  Shapur, brother of Ardashir I.

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  Ardashir V, who became Ardashir I of the Sasanian Empire.

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  Arsaces I, founder of the Parthian Empire.

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  Arsaces II, a Parthian king.

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  Phriapatius, a Parthian king.

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  Phraates I, a Parthian king.

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  Mithridates I, a great Parthian king.

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  Phraates II, a Parthian king.

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  Artabanus II, a Parthian king.

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  Mithridates II, a powerful Parthian king.

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  Gotarzes I, a Parthian king.

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  Orodes I, a Parthian king.

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  Sanatruces, a Parthian king.

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  Arsaces XVI, an obscure Parthian monarch.

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  Phraates III, a Parthian king.

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  Mithridates III, a Parthian king.

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  Orodes II, a Parthian king.

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  Pacorus I, son of Orodes II.

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  Phraates IV, a Parthian king.

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  Tiridates II, a Parthian king.

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  Musa, Queen of Phraates IV.

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  Phraates V, son of Phraates IV and Musa.

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  Orodes III, a Parthian king.

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  Vonones I, son of Phraates IV.

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  Artabanus III, a Parthian king.

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  Gotarzes II, a Parthian king.

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  Vardanes I, a Parthian king.

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  Vonones II, a Parthian king.

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  Vologases I, a Parthian king.

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  Vardanes II, son of Vologases I.

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  Vologases II, son of Vologases I.

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  Pacorus II, son of Vologases I.

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  Artabanus IV, a Parthian king.

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  Osroes I, brother of Pacorus II.

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  Vologases III, a Parthian king.

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  Parthamaspates, son of Osroes I.

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  Mithridates IV, son of Osroes I.

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  Vologases IV, a Parthian king.

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  Vologases V, a Parthian king.

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  Osroes II, a Parthian king.

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  Vologases VI, a Parthian king.

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  Artabanus V, a Parthian king.

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  Ardashir I, founder of the Sasanian Empire.

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  Shapur I, son of Ardashir I.

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  Hormizd I, son of Shapur I.

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  Bahram I, son of Shapur I.

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  Bahram II, son of Bahram I.

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  Bahram III, son of Bahram II.

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  Narseh I, son of Shapur I.

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  Hormizd II, son of Narseh I.

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  Adhur Narseh, son of Hormizd II.

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  Shapur II, son of Hormizd II.

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  Ardashir II, son of Hormizd II.

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  Shapur III, son of Shapur II.

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  Bahram IV, son of Shapur II.

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  Yazdegerd I, son of Shapur III.

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  Bahram V, son of Yazdegerd I.

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  Yazdegerd II, son of Bahram V.

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  Hormizd III, son of Yazdegerd II.

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  Peroz I, son of Yazdegerd II.

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  Balash, son of Yazdegerd II.

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  Kavadh I, son of Peroz I.

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  Djamasp, son of Peroz I.

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  Khosrau I, son of Kavadh I.

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  Hormizd IV, son of Khosrau I.

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  Khosrau II, son of Hormizd IV.

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  Bahram VI, a general who became Shah.

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  Vistahm, an uncle of Khosrau II.

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  Kavadh II, son of Khosrau II.

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  Ardashir III, son of Kavadh II.

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  Shahrbaraz, a Sasanian general.

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  Khosrau III, nephew of Khosrau II.

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  Borandukht, daughter of Khosrau II.

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  Azarmidokht, daughter of Khosrau II.

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  Khosrau IV, son of Khosrau II.

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  Farrokh Hormizd, a Sasanian general.

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  Hormizd VI, grandson of Khosrau II.

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  Yazdegerd III, the last Sasanian king.

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  Gil Gavbara, an Ispahbadh.

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  Farrukhan the Great, an Ispahbadh.

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  Dadhburzmihr, an Ispahbadh.

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  Khurshid, an Ispahbadh.

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  Umar, the second Rashidun Caliph.

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  Uthman, the third Rashidun Caliph.

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  Ali, the fourth Rashidun Caliph.

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  Al-Hasan, son of Caliph Ali.

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  Muawiyah I, founder of the Umayyad Caliphate.

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  Yazid I, son of Muawiyah I.

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  Muawiya II, son of Yazid I.

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  Marwan I, a Umayyad Caliph.

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  Abd al-Malik, a powerful Umayyad Caliph.

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  Al-Walid I, son of Abd al-Malik.

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  Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, son of Abd al-Malik.

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  Umar II, a Umayyad Caliph.

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  Yazid II, son of Abd al-Malik.

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  Hisham, a Umayyad Caliph.

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  Al-Walid II, son of Yazid II.

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  Yazid III, son of Al-Walid I.

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  Ibrahim ibn al-Walid, son of Al-Walid I.

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  Marwan II, the last Umayyad Caliph.

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  As-Saffah, founder of the Abbasid Caliphate.

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  Al-Mansur, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Mahdi, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Hadi, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Harun al-Rashid, the most famous Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Amin, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Ma'mun, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Mu'tasim, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Wathiq, an Abbasid Caliph.

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  Al-Mutawakkil, the last great Abbasid Caliph.

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  Ismail Samani, a Samanid ruler.

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  Ahmad Samani, a Samanid ruler.

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  Nasr II, a Samanid ruler.

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  Nuh I, a Samanid ruler.

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  Abd al-Malik I, a Samanid ruler.

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  Mansur I, a Samanid ruler.

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  Nuh II, a Samanid ruler.

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  Mansur II, a Samanid ruler.

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  Isma'il Muntasir, a Samanid ruler.

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  Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar, founder of the Saffarid dynasty.

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  Amr ibn al-Layth, a Saffarid ruler.

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  Ahmad Ja’far Ahmad ibn Muhammad, a Saffarid ruler.

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  Khalaf ibn Ahmad, a Saffarid ruler.

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  Muhammad ibn Suri, a Ghurid Malik.

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  Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, a Ghurid Sultan.

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  Mu'izz al-Din, a Ghurid Sultan.

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  Ghiyath al-Din Mahmud, a Ghurid Sultan.

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  Mardavij, founder of the Ziyarid dynasty.

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  Imad al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Adud al-Dawla, a powerful Buyid Emir.

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  Sharaf al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Samsam al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Baha' al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Sultan al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Abu Kalijar, a Buyid Emir.

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  Rukn al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Mu'ayyad al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Majd al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Shams al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Mu'izz al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Izz al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Sultan al-Dawla, a Buyid Emir.

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  Tughril I, founder of the Seljuk Empire.

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  Alp Arslan, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Malik Shah I, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Mahmud I, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Barkiyaruq, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Muhammad I Tapar, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Mahmud II, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Ahmed Sanjar, a powerful Seljuk Sultan.

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  Muhammad II, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Toghrul III, a Seljuk Sultan.

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  Atsiz, a Khwarazmshah.

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  Il-Arslan, a Khwarazmshah.

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  Tekish, a Khwarazmshah.

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  Muhammad Sanjar, a Khwarazmshah.

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  Mingburnu, a Khwarazmshah.

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  Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire.

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  Tolui, son of Genghis Khan.

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  Ögedei Khan, son of Genghis Khan.

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  Töregene Khatun, regent.

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  Güyük Khan, son of Ögedei.

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  Möngke Khan, son of Tolui.

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  Hulagu Khan, founder of the Ilkhanate.

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  Abaqa, son of Hulagu Khan.

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  Tekuder, son of Hulagu Khan.

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  Arghun, son of Abaqa.

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  Gaykhatu, son of Abaqa.

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  Baydu, grandson of Hulagu Khan.

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  Ghazan, son of Arghun.

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  Öljaitü, son of Arghun.

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  Abu Sa'id, son of Öljaitü.

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  Togha Temür, a claimant to the Ilkhanate throne.

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  Anushirwan, a puppet ruler.

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  Shaikh Uvais, a Jalayirid ruler.

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  Shah Mansur, a Muzaffarid ruler.

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  Timur, founder of the Timurid Empire.

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  Khalil Sultan, grandson of Timur.

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  Shah Rukh, son of Timur.

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  Ulugh Beg, grandson of Timur.

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  Qara Muhammad, first Bey of Qara Qoyunlu.

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  Qara Yusuf, a Qara Qoyunlu ruler.

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  Qara Iskander, a Qara Qoyunlu ruler.

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  Jahan Shah, a Qara Qoyunlu ruler.

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  Hasan Ali, son of Jahan Shah.

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  Uzun Hassan, a powerful Aq Qoyunlu ruler.

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  Khalil, son of Uzun Hasan.

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  Yaqub, son of Uzun Hasan.

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  Rostam, an Aq Qoyunlu ruler.

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  Ahmad Govde, an Aq Qoyunlu ruler.

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  Ismail I, founder of the Safavid Empire.

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  Tahmasp I, son of Ismail I.

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  Ismail II, son of Tahmasp I.

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  Mohammed Khodabanda, son of Tahmasp I.

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  Abbas I the Great, a famous Safavid Shah.

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  Safi, grandson of Abbas I.

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  Abbas II, son of Safi.

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  Suleiman I, son of Abbas II.

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  Sultan Husayn, son of Suleiman I.

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  Mahmud Hotak, an Afghan ruler.

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  Ashraf Hotak, an Afghan ruler.

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  Tahmasp II, a Safavid Shah.

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  Nader Shah, founder of the Afsharid Empire.

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  Adel Shah, brother of Nader Shah.

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  Ebrahim Afshar, brother of Nader Shah.

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  Shahrukh Afshar, grandson of Nader Shah.

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  Suleiman II, a Safavid pretender.

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  Karim Khan Zand, founder of the Zand Kingdom.

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  Sadeq Khan Zand, a Zand ruler.

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  Ali-Morad Khan Zand, a Zand ruler.

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  Jafar Khan, a Zand ruler.

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  Sayed Morad Khan, a Zand ruler.

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  Lotf Ali Khan, the last Zand ruler.

See also

• Achaemenid Empire
• History of Iran
• List of ancient Persians
• List of royal consorts of Persia
• Monarchism in Iran