House of Sasan

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Sassanid dynasty
Senmurv.svg
CountryDerafsh Kaviani flag of the late Sassanid Empire.svg Sasanian Empire
Founded224
Founder Ardashir I
Final ruler Yazdegerd III
Titles
Deposition651
Cadet branches Dabuyid dynasty

The House of Sasan was the house that founded the Sasanian Empire, ruling this empire from 224 to 651 in Persia (modern day Iran). It began with Ardashir I, who named the dynasty as Sasanian in honour of his grandfather (or father), Sasan, and after the name of his tribe.

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The Shahanshah was the sole regent, head of state and head of government of the empire. At times, power shifted de facto to other officials, namely the spahbed.

The Sasanian monarchs claimed descent from the Kayanids [1] , a legendary Persian dynasty mentioned in the Avesta, the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, that is commonly thought to be based upon the late Achaemenid dynasty. As such, Dara II, the Kayanid king Sasan supposedly traced his lineage to, was most likely based upon Darius III, whose empire was conquered by Alexander the Great just like Dara’s [1] .

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