List of monarchs of Persia


This article lists the monarchs of Persia from the establishment of the Median Empire by Medes around 705 BC until the deposition of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979.
Earlier monarchs in the area of modern-day Iran are listed in:
Minor dynasties and vassal monarchs can be found in:

Achaemenid Kingdom (~705–559 BC)

Achaemenid Empire (559–334/327 BC)

Note: Ancient Persia is generally agreed to have ended with the collapse of the Achaemenid dynasty as a result of the Wars of Alexander the Great.

Macedonian Empire (336–306 BC)

Seleucid Empire (311–129 BC)

Fratarakas

The Fratarakas appear to have been Governors of the Seleucid Empire.

Kings of Persis

Parthian Empire (247 BC – CE 228)

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. Control of eastern territories was permanently lost by Antiochus VII in 129 BC.
For more comprehensive lists of kings, queens, sub-kings and sub-queens of this Era see:
Note: Classical Persia is generally agreed to have ended with the collapse of the Sasanian Empire as a result of the Muslim conquest of Persia.

Dabuyid Kingdom (642–760)

A Zoroastrian Persian dynasty that held power in the north for over a century before finally falling to the Abbasid Caliphate.

Rashidun Caliphate (642–661)

For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
PortraitTitleNameKunyaBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
Al Farooq, Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininUmarAbu Hafs583Son of Khattab ibn Nufayl.642–644644Umar became Caliph in 634 and his forces conquered Persia in 642. Killed by Piruz Nahavandi
Zonnurain, Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininUthman ibn AffanAbu Amr579Son of Affan, of the Umayyad clan.644–656656Killed by Rebels
Al-Mortaza, Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin, Great Imam, Maula AliAli Ibn Abi TalibAbul-Hasan598Son of Abu Talib, of the Hashemite clan. Son-in-law of Muhammad.656–661661Killed by Kharijites

Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)

For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
PortraitTitleNameKunyaBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininMuawiyah IAbu Abdullah?Son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, cousin of Uthman ibn Affan and distant cousin of Muhammad661–680680
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininYazid IAbu Khalid?Son of Muawiyah I680–683683
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininMuawiyah IIAbu Abd ur-Rahman?Son of Yazid I683–684?Abdicated
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininMarwan IAbu Abd al-Malik?Son of Hakam cousin of Muawiyah I684–685685Killed by his wife
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAbd al-MalikAbu'l-Walid?Son of Marwan I685–705705
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Walid IAbu'l-Abbas?Son of Abd al-Malik705–715715
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininSulaymanAbu Ayyub?Son of Abd al-Malik715–717717
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininUmar IIAbu Hafṣ?Son of Abd al-Aziz son of Marwan I717–720720
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininYazid IIAbu Khalid?Son of Abd al-Malik720–724724
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininHishamAbu'l-Walid?Son of Abd al-Malik724–743743
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Walid IIAbu'l-Abbas?Son of Yazid II743–744744
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininYazid IIIAbu Khalid?Son of Al-Walid I and Shahfarand daughter of Peroz III744–744744Killed
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininIbrahimAbu Ishaq?Son of Al-Walid I744–744744Killed
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininMarwan IIAbu Abd al-Malik?Son of Muhammad son of Marwan I744–750750Ruled from Harran in the Jazira. Killed by Saffah

Abbasid Caliphate (750–946)

For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
PortraitTitleRegnal namePersonal nameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAs-SaffahAbu'l-Abbas Abdullah721Son of Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah who was Muhammad's paternal uncle750–754754
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MansurAbu Ja'far Abdullah714Brother of As-Saffah754–775775
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MahdiAbu Abdullah Muhammad744/745Son of Al-Mansur775–785785
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-HadiAbu Mohammad Musa764Son of Al-Mahdi785–786786
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAr-RashidAbu Ja'far Harun763/766Son of Al-Mahdi786–809809
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-AminAbu Abdullah Muhammad787Son of Harun al-Rashid809–813813Killed by Al-Ma'mun
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Ma'munAbu'l-Abbas Abdullah786Son of Harun al-Rashid813–833833
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Mu'tasimAbu Ishaq Muhammad795Son of Harun al-Rashid833–842842
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-WathiqAbu Ja'far Harun816Son of Al-Mu'tasim842–847847
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MutawakkilAbu'l-Fazl Ja'far821Son of Al-Mu'tasim847–861861Killed by Al-Muntasir
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MuntasirAbu Ja'far Muhammad837Son of Al-Mutawakkil861–862862
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Musta'inAbu'l-Abbas Ahmad836Son of Muhammad son of Al-Mu'tasim862–866866Deposed and later killed
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Mu'tazzAbu Abdullah Zubayr847Son of Al-Mutawakkil866–869869Deposed and later killed
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MuhtadiAbu Ishaq Muhammad?Son of Al-Wathiq869–870870
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Mu'tamidAbu'l-Abbas Ahmad844Son of Al-Mutawakkil870–892892
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-Mu'tadidAbu'l-Abbas Ahmad854/861Son of Talha al-Muwaffaq son of Al-Mutawakkil892–902902
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MuktafiAbu Mohammad Ali877/878Son of Al-Mu'tadid902–908908
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MuqtadirAbul-Fazl Ja'far895Son of Al-Mu'tadid908–929
and
929–932		929Briefly deposed.
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-QahirAbu Mansur Muhammad899Son of Al-Mu'tadid929
and
932–934		929Forced to resign the throne in the face of public protest, later deposed and blinded.
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAbu'l-Abbas Ar-RadiMuhammad907Son of Al-Muqtadir934–940940De facto power in the hands of Ibn Ra'iq 936-938
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MuttaqiAbu Ishaq Ibrahim908Son of Al-Muqtadir940–944944De facto power in the hands of Bajkam 940-941, Ibn Ra'iq 941-942, Nasir al-Dawla 942-943 & Tuzun 943-944, who deposed and blinded him.
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'mininAl-MustakfiAbu'l-Qasim Abdullah905Son of Al-Muktafi944–946946De facto power in the hands of Tuzun 944-945 & Abu Jafar 945-946. Deposed and blinded by Mu'izz al-Dawla

Samanid Empire (819–999)

For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
The Buyid Kingdom was divided into a number of separate emirates, of which the most important were Fars, Ray, and Iraq. Generally, one of the emirs held a sort of primus inter pares supremacy over the rest, which would be marked by titles like Amir al-umara and Shahanshah.
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:

Seljuk Empire (1029–1194)

For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
An empire built from Khwarezm, covering part of Iran and neighbouring Central Asia.
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
PortraitTitleRegnal namePersonal nameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
KhanGenghisTemujin1162Son of Yesugei Baghatur1220–12271227Ruling in Mongolia from 1206
KhanTolui1192Son of Genghis25 August 1227 – 13 September 122913 September 1229Regent
KhanÖgedei 1186Son of Genghis13 September 1229 – 11 December 12411232
KhatunTöregene?Wife of Ögedei1242 – March 1246?Regent
KhanGüyük 1206Son of Ögedei and Töregene1246–12481248
KhatunOghul Qaimish?Wife of Güyük1248–12511251Regent
KhanMöngke10 January 1209Son of Tolui1 July 1251 – 11 August 125911 August 1259

Ilkhanate and successor kingdoms (1256–1501)

For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:

[Sarbadars] (1332–1386)

PortraitTitleNameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
AmirAbd al-Razzaq ibn Fazlullah?1337–13381338Revolted against Togha Temür, stabbed to death by his brother
AmirWajih ad-Din Masud ibn Fazlullah?brother of Abd al-Razzaq1338–13441344Captured by the Paduspanids and executed.
AmirMuhammad Aytimur ?Unrelated to predecessors1344–13461346Overthrown and executed
AmirKulu Isfendiyar?Unrelated to predecessors1346– 1347 1347
AmirShams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah?brother of Abd al-Razzaq 1347?Forced to abdicate by successor
AmirKhwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali?Unrelated to predecessors1347–1351/13521351/1352Assassinated by a disgruntled official
AmirYahya Karawi?Unrelated to predecessors1351/1352–1355/13561355/1356Eliminated Togha Temür, assassinated.
AmirZahir al-Din Karawi?Nephew of Yahya Karawi1355/13561355/1356Deposed by vizier
AmirHaidar Qassab?Unrelated to predecessors1355/13561356Assassinated by a Turkish slave
AmirLutf Allah?Son of Wajih ad-Din Masud1356–1357/1358 or 13611357/1358 or 1361Deposed and executed by his vizier
AmirHasan al-Damghani?Unrelated to predecessors1357/1358 or 1361–1361/13621361/1362Overthrown by Dervish rebels
AmirKhwaja 'Ali-yi Mu'ayyad ibn Masud?Unrelated to predecessors1361/1362–1376/1377
and
1376/1377–1381		?Restored, became vassal of Tamerlane in 1381
AmirRukn ad-Din?Unrelated to predecessors1376/1377?Installed by Dervish rebels.

[Chupanids] (1335–1357)

PortraitTitleNameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
AmirHassan Kuchak 1319Son of Timurtash son of Chupan16 July 1338 – 15 December 134315 December 1343Ruled on behalf of his Il-Khanate puppets Sati Beg and Suleiman Khan.
AmirYagi Basti?Son of Chupan1343–13441344Assassinated by his co-ruler Malek Ashraf.
AmirSurgan 1320Son of Chupan and Sati Beg1343–13451345Driven out by his co-ruler Malek Ashraf.
AmirMalek Ashraf?Brother of Hassan Kuchak1343–13571357Ruled on behalf of his Il-Khanate puppets Anushirwan. Hung by Jani Beg of the Golden Horde.
AmirTemürtas?Son of Malek Ashraf13601360Short-lived puppet of the Golden Horde.

[Jalayirids] (1335–1432)

PortraitTitleRegnal namePersonal nameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
Ulus BegTaj-ud-DinHasan Buzurg?Son-in-law of Chupan1336–13561356Ruled through Ilkhanate puppets Muhammad Khan and Jahan Temür.
Bahadur KhanMu'izz-ud-dunya wa'd-DinShaikh Uvais 1337–1374Son of Hasan Buzurg1356–13741374
ShaikhHasan?Son of Shaikh Uvais1374–13741374Killed by the Amirs
ShaikhJalal-ud-DinHusain I ?Son of Shaikh Uvais1374–13821382Executed by his rebellious brother Ahmed
ShaikhBayazid?Son of Shaikh Uvais1382–13841384In opposition to Husain and Ahmed
SultanGhiyath ud-DinAhmad?Son of Shaikh Uvais1383–14101410In exile 1393-4, 1400-2, 1403-5. Killed in battle by Qara Yusuf
SultanAla ud-DunyaShah Walad?Son of Ali, son of Uvais1410–14111411
SultanMahmud?Son of Shah Walad14111425Under regency of Tandu Khatun
SultanUvais?Son of Shah Walad1415–14211421
SultanMuhammad?Son of Shah Walad14211421
SultanMahmud?Son of Shah Walad1421–14251425Second reign
Hussain?Son of Ala-ud-Dawlah, son of Ahmed1425–14321432Defeated by Kara Koyunlu

[Injuids] (1335–1357)

PortraitTitleNameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
Sharaf ad-Din Mahmud Shah?1304–13351335Highly autonomous master of the Ilkhanate royal estates, removed by Abu Sa'id, executed by Arpa Ke'un.
AmirGhiyath ad-Din Kai-Khusrau?Son of Mahmud Shah1335–1338/91338/9
AmirJalal ad-Din Mas'ud Shah?Son of Mahmud Shah1338–13421342In opposition to Kai-Khusrau. Jalayirid partisan. Assassinated by Chupanids.
AmirShams ad-Din Muhammad?Son of Mahmud Shah1339/401339/40In opposition to Mas'ud Shah. Murdered by his Chupanid supporter.
AmirShaikh Abu Ishaq?Son of Mahmud Shah1343–1357?Defeated & executed by the Muzaffarids

Muzaffarids">Muzaffarids (Iran)">Muzaffarids (1314–1393)

PortraitTitleNameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
EmirMubariz ad-Din Muhammad ibn al-Muzaffar13011314–13581368Founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty
EmirShah Shuja?1358–13841384
EmirZain al-Abidin?1384–13871387
EmirShah Yahya?1387–13911391Only ruled in Shiraz
EmirShah Mansur?1391–13931393

[Kara Koyunlu] (1375–1468)

PortraitTitleRegnal NamePersonal NameBirthReignDeathFamily relationsNotes
BeyQara MuhammadQara Muhammad Turmush ibn Bairam Khwaja?1378–13881388First Bey of Kara Koynulu
BeyQara YusufAbu Nasr Qara Yusuf Nuyan ibn Muhammad?1388–14201420Reign ended by Timurid invasion
BeyQara IskanderQara Iskander ibn Yusuf?1420–14361436Killed
BeyJahan ShahMuzaffar al-Din Jahan Shah ibn Yusuf13971438 – 11 November 146711 November 1467Son of Qara YusufKilled by Uzun Hasan of the Ak Koyunlu
BeyHasan AliHasan Ali ibn Jahan Shah?11 November 1467 – 14681468Son of Jahan ShahKilled by Uzun Hasan of the Ak Koyunlu

Aq Koyunlu">Ak Koyunlu">Aq Koyunlu (1378–1497)

Sources:
PortraitTitleRegnal NamePersonal NameBirthFamily relationsReignDeathNotes
BeyQara OsmanQara Yuluk ?1378–14351435For aiding Timur, he was given Diyarbakir in 1402
BeyAliNur al-Din Ali ibn Qara Yülük?Son of Qara Osman1435–14381438
BeyHamza?1403–14351444
BeyJahangirM‘uizz al-Din Jahangir ibn Ali ibn Qara Yülük?Son of Qara Osman1444–14531453
BeyUzun HassanUzun Hassan ibn Jahangir?Son of Jahangir1453 – 6 January 14786 January 1478
BeyKhalilKhalil ibn Uzun Hasan?Son of Uzun Hasan1478–14791479
BeyYaqubYaqub ibn Uzun Hasan?Son of Uzun Hasan1479–14901490
BeyBaysongurBaysongur ibn Yaqub?Son of Yaqub1490–14911491
BeyRostamRostam ibn Maqsud?Son of Maqsud1491–14971497
BeyAhmad GovdeAhmad Govde ibn Muhammad?Son of Muhammad14971497

Timurid Empire (1370–1507)

Note: Medieval Persia is generally agreed to have ended with rise of the Safavid Empire

Safavid Empire (1501–1736)

Afsharid Empire (1736–1796)

Zand Kingdom (1751–1794)

Qajar Empire (1794–1925)

Pahlavi Empire (1925–1979)