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:
- List of rulers of the pre-Achaemenid kingdoms of Iran
- List of rulers of Parthian sub-kingdoms
- Islamic dynasties of Iran
Median Empire (678–549 BC)
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:
- List of rulers of Parthian sub-kingdoms
Sasanian Empire (224–651)
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:- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Portrait | Title | Name | Kunya | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Al Farooq, Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Umar | Abu Hafs | 583 | Son of Khattab ibn Nufayl. | 642–644 | 644 | Umar became Caliph in 634 and his forces conquered Persia in 642. Killed by Piruz Nahavandi | |
Zonnurain, Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Uthman ibn Affan | Abu Amr | 579 | Son of Affan, of the Umayyad clan. | 644–656 | 656 | Killed by Rebels | |
Al-Mortaza, Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin, Great Imam, Maula Ali | Ali Ibn Abi Talib | Abul-Hasan | 598 | Son of Abu Talib, of the Hashemite clan. Son-in-law of Muhammad. | 656–661 | 661 | Killed by Kharijites |
Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Portrait | Title | Name | Kunya | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Muawiyah I | Abu Abdullah | ? | Son of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, cousin of Uthman ibn Affan and distant cousin of Muhammad | 661–680 | 680 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Yazid I | Abu Khalid | ? | Son of Muawiyah I | 680–683 | 683 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Muawiyah II | Abu Abd ur-Rahman | ? | Son of Yazid I | 683–684 | ? | Abdicated | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Marwan I | Abu Abd al-Malik | ? | Son of Hakam cousin of Muawiyah I | 684–685 | 685 | Killed by his wife | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Abd al-Malik | Abu'l-Walid | ? | Son of Marwan I | 685–705 | 705 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Walid I | Abu'l-Abbas | ? | Son of Abd al-Malik | 705–715 | 715 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Sulayman | Abu Ayyub | ? | Son of Abd al-Malik | 715–717 | 717 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Umar II | Abu Hafṣ | ? | Son of Abd al-Aziz son of Marwan I | 717–720 | 720 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Yazid II | Abu Khalid | ? | Son of Abd al-Malik | 720–724 | 724 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Hisham | Abu'l-Walid | ? | Son of Abd al-Malik | 724–743 | 743 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Walid II | Abu'l-Abbas | ? | Son of Yazid II | 743–744 | 744 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Yazid III | Abu Khalid | ? | Son of Al-Walid I and Shahfarand daughter of Peroz III | 744–744 | 744 | Killed | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Ibrahim | Abu Ishaq | ? | Son of Al-Walid I | 744–744 | 744 | Killed | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Marwan II | Abu Abd al-Malik | ? | Son of Muhammad son of Marwan I | 744–750 | 750 | Ruled 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:- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Portrait | Title | Regnal name | Personal name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | As-Saffah | Abu'l-Abbas Abdullah | 721 | Son of Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah who was Muhammad's paternal uncle | 750–754 | 754 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mansur | Abu Ja'far Abdullah | 714 | Brother of As-Saffah | 754–775 | 775 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mahdi | Abu Abdullah Muhammad | 744/745 | Son of Al-Mansur | 775–785 | 785 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Hadi | Abu Mohammad Musa | 764 | Son of Al-Mahdi | 785–786 | 786 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Ar-Rashid | Abu Ja'far Harun | 763/766 | Son of Al-Mahdi | 786–809 | 809 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Amin | Abu Abdullah Muhammad | 787 | Son of Harun al-Rashid | 809–813 | 813 | Killed by Al-Ma'mun | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Ma'mun | Abu'l-Abbas Abdullah | 786 | Son of Harun al-Rashid | 813–833 | 833 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mu'tasim | Abu Ishaq Muhammad | 795 | Son of Harun al-Rashid | 833–842 | 842 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Wathiq | Abu Ja'far Harun | 816 | Son of Al-Mu'tasim | 842–847 | 847 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mutawakkil | Abu'l-Fazl Ja'far | 821 | Son of Al-Mu'tasim | 847–861 | 861 | Killed by Al-Muntasir | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Muntasir | Abu Ja'far Muhammad | 837 | Son of Al-Mutawakkil | 861–862 | 862 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Musta'in | Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad | 836 | Son of Muhammad son of Al-Mu'tasim | 862–866 | 866 | Deposed and later killed | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mu'tazz | Abu Abdullah Zubayr | 847 | Son of Al-Mutawakkil | 866–869 | 869 | Deposed and later killed | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Muhtadi | Abu Ishaq Muhammad | ? | Son of Al-Wathiq | 869–870 | 870 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mu'tamid | Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad | 844 | Son of Al-Mutawakkil | 870–892 | 892 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Mu'tadid | Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad | 854/861 | Son of Talha al-Muwaffaq son of Al-Mutawakkil | 892–902 | 902 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Muktafi | Abu Mohammad Ali | 877/878 | Son of Al-Mu'tadid | 902–908 | 908 | ||
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Muqtadir | Abul-Fazl Ja'far | 895 | Son of Al-Mu'tadid | 908–929 and 929–932 | 929 | Briefly deposed. | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Qahir | Abu Mansur Muhammad | 899 | Son of Al-Mu'tadid | 929 and 932–934 | 929 | Forced to resign the throne in the face of public protest, later deposed and blinded. | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Abu'l-Abbas Ar-Radi | Muhammad | 907 | Son of Al-Muqtadir | 934–940 | 940 | De facto power in the hands of Ibn Ra'iq 936-938 | |
Caliph, Amir al-Mu'minin | Al-Muttaqi | Abu Ishaq Ibrahim | 908 | Son of Al-Muqtadir | 940–944 | 944 | De 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'minin | Al-Mustakfi | Abu'l-Qasim Abdullah | 905 | Son of Al-Muktafi | 944–946 | 946 | De 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:- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Saffarid Kingdom (861–1003)
- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Ghurid Kingdom (879–1215)
- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Buyid Kingdom (934–1062)
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Ziyarid Kingdom (928–1043)
Seljuk Empire (1029–1194)
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Khwarazmian Empire (1153–1220)
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:
- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Mongol Empire (1220–1256)
- Muslim dynasties of Iran
Portrait | Title | Regnal name | Personal name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Khan | Genghis | Temujin | 1162 | Son of Yesugei Baghatur | 1220–1227 | 1227 | Ruling in Mongolia from 1206 | |
Khan | Tolui | 1192 | Son of Genghis | 25 August 1227 – 13 September 1229 | 13 September 1229 | Regent | ||
Khan | Ögedei | 1186 | Son of Genghis | 13 September 1229 – 11 December 1241 | 1232 | |||
Khatun | Töregene | ? | Wife of Ögedei | 1242 – March 1246 | ? | Regent | ||
Khan | Güyük | 1206 | Son of Ögedei and Töregene | 1246–1248 | 1248 | |||
Khatun | Oghul Qaimish | ? | Wife of Güyük | 1248–1251 | 1251 | Regent | ||
Khan | Möngke | 10 January 1209 | Son of Tolui | 1 July 1251 – 11 August 1259 | 11 August 1259 |
Ilkhanate and successor kingdoms (1256–1501)
For more comprehensive lists of kings and sub-kings of this Era see:- Muslim dynasties of Iran
[Ilkhanate] (1256–1357)
[Sarbadars] (1332–1386)
Portrait | Title | Name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Amir | Abd al-Razzaq ibn Fazlullah | ? | 1337–1338 | 1338 | Revolted against Togha Temür, stabbed to death by his brother | ||
Amir | Wajih ad-Din Masud ibn Fazlullah | ? | brother of Abd al-Razzaq | 1338–1344 | 1344 | Captured by the Paduspanids and executed. | |
Amir | Muhammad Aytimur | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1344–1346 | 1346 | Overthrown and executed | |
Amir | Kulu Isfendiyar | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1346– 1347 | 1347 | ||
Amir | Shams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah | ? | brother of Abd al-Razzaq | 1347 | ? | Forced to abdicate by successor | |
Amir | Khwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1347–1351/1352 | 1351/1352 | Assassinated by a disgruntled official | |
Amir | Yahya Karawi | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1351/1352–1355/1356 | 1355/1356 | Eliminated Togha Temür, assassinated. | |
Amir | Zahir al-Din Karawi | ? | Nephew of Yahya Karawi | 1355/1356 | 1355/1356 | Deposed by vizier | |
Amir | Haidar Qassab | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1355/1356 | 1356 | Assassinated by a Turkish slave | |
Amir | Lutf Allah | ? | Son of Wajih ad-Din Masud | 1356–1357/1358 or 1361 | 1357/1358 or 1361 | Deposed and executed by his vizier | |
Amir | Hasan al-Damghani | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1357/1358 or 1361–1361/1362 | 1361/1362 | Overthrown by Dervish rebels | |
Amir | Khwaja 'Ali-yi Mu'ayyad ibn Masud | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1361/1362–1376/1377 and 1376/1377–1381 | ? | Restored, became vassal of Tamerlane in 1381 | |
Amir | Rukn ad-Din | ? | Unrelated to predecessors | 1376/1377 | ? | Installed by Dervish rebels. |
[Chupanids] (1335–1357)
Portrait | Title | Name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Amir | Hassan Kuchak | 1319 | Son of Timurtash son of Chupan | 16 July 1338 – 15 December 1343 | 15 December 1343 | Ruled on behalf of his Il-Khanate puppets Sati Beg and Suleiman Khan. | |
Amir | Yagi Basti | ? | Son of Chupan | 1343–1344 | 1344 | Assassinated by his co-ruler Malek Ashraf. | |
Amir | Surgan | 1320 | Son of Chupan and Sati Beg | 1343–1345 | 1345 | Driven out by his co-ruler Malek Ashraf. | |
Amir | Malek Ashraf | ? | Brother of Hassan Kuchak | 1343–1357 | 1357 | Ruled on behalf of his Il-Khanate puppets Anushirwan. Hung by Jani Beg of the Golden Horde. | |
Amir | Temürtas | ? | Son of Malek Ashraf | 1360 | 1360 | Short-lived puppet of the Golden Horde. |
[Jalayirids] (1335–1432)
Portrait | Title | Regnal name | Personal name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Ulus Beg | Taj-ud-Din | Hasan Buzurg | ? | Son-in-law of Chupan | 1336–1356 | 1356 | Ruled through Ilkhanate puppets Muhammad Khan and Jahan Temür. | |
Bahadur Khan | Mu'izz-ud-dunya wa'd-Din | Shaikh Uvais | 1337–1374 | Son of Hasan Buzurg | 1356–1374 | 1374 | ||
Shaikh | Hasan | ? | Son of Shaikh Uvais | 1374–1374 | 1374 | Killed by the Amirs | ||
Shaikh | Jalal-ud-Din | Husain I | ? | Son of Shaikh Uvais | 1374–1382 | 1382 | Executed by his rebellious brother Ahmed | |
Shaikh | Bayazid | ? | Son of Shaikh Uvais | 1382–1384 | 1384 | In opposition to Husain and Ahmed | ||
Sultan | Ghiyath ud-Din | Ahmad | ? | Son of Shaikh Uvais | 1383–1410 | 1410 | In exile 1393-4, 1400-2, 1403-5. Killed in battle by Qara Yusuf | |
Sultan | Ala ud-Dunya | Shah Walad | ? | Son of Ali, son of Uvais | 1410–1411 | 1411 | ||
Sultan | Mahmud | ? | Son of Shah Walad | 1411 | 1425 | Under regency of Tandu Khatun | ||
Sultan | Uvais | ? | Son of Shah Walad | 1415–1421 | 1421 | |||
Sultan | Muhammad | ? | Son of Shah Walad | 1421 | 1421 | |||
Sultan | Mahmud | ? | Son of Shah Walad | 1421–1425 | 1425 | Second reign | ||
Hussain | ? | Son of Ala-ud-Dawlah, son of Ahmed | 1425–1432 | 1432 | Defeated by Kara Koyunlu |
[Injuids] (1335–1357)
Portrait | Title | Name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Sharaf ad-Din Mahmud Shah | ? | 1304–1335 | 1335 | Highly autonomous master of the Ilkhanate royal estates, removed by Abu Sa'id, executed by Arpa Ke'un. | |||
Amir | Ghiyath ad-Din Kai-Khusrau | ? | Son of Mahmud Shah | 1335–1338/9 | 1338/9 | ||
Amir | Jalal ad-Din Mas'ud Shah | ? | Son of Mahmud Shah | 1338–1342 | 1342 | In opposition to Kai-Khusrau. Jalayirid partisan. Assassinated by Chupanids. | |
Amir | Shams ad-Din Muhammad | ? | Son of Mahmud Shah | 1339/40 | 1339/40 | In opposition to Mas'ud Shah. Murdered by his Chupanid supporter. | |
Amir | Shaikh Abu Ishaq | ? | Son of Mahmud Shah | 1343–1357 | ? | Defeated & executed by the Muzaffarids |
Muzaffarids">Muzaffarids (Iran)">Muzaffarids (1314–1393)
Portrait | Title | Name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Emir | Mubariz ad-Din Muhammad ibn al-Muzaffar | 1301 | 1314–1358 | 1368 | Founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty | ||
Emir | Shah Shuja | ? | 1358–1384 | 1384 | |||
Emir | Zain al-Abidin | ? | 1384–1387 | 1387 | |||
Emir | Shah Yahya | ? | 1387–1391 | 1391 | Only ruled in Shiraz | ||
Emir | Shah Mansur | ? | 1391–1393 | 1393 |
[Kara Koyunlu] (1375–1468)
Portrait | Title | Regnal Name | Personal Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Family relations | Notes |
Bey | Qara Muhammad | Qara Muhammad Turmush ibn Bairam Khwaja | ? | 1378–1388 | 1388 | First Bey of Kara Koynulu | ||
Bey | Qara Yusuf | Abu Nasr Qara Yusuf Nuyan ibn Muhammad | ? | 1388–1420 | 1420 | Reign ended by Timurid invasion | ||
Bey | Qara Iskander | Qara Iskander ibn Yusuf | ? | 1420–1436 | 1436 | Killed | ||
Bey | Jahan Shah | Muzaffar al-Din Jahan Shah ibn Yusuf | 1397 | 1438 – 11 November 1467 | 11 November 1467 | Son of Qara Yusuf | Killed by Uzun Hasan of the Ak Koyunlu | |
Bey | Hasan Ali | Hasan Ali ibn Jahan Shah | ? | 11 November 1467 – 1468 | 1468 | Son of Jahan Shah | Killed by Uzun Hasan of the Ak Koyunlu |
Aq Koyunlu">Ak Koyunlu">Aq Koyunlu (1378–1497)
Sources:Portrait | Title | Regnal Name | Personal Name | Birth | Family relations | Reign | Death | Notes |
Bey | Qara Osman | Qara Yuluk | ? | 1378–1435 | 1435 | For aiding Timur, he was given Diyarbakir in 1402 | ||
Bey | Ali | Nur al-Din Ali ibn Qara Yülük | ? | Son of Qara Osman | 1435–1438 | 1438 | ||
Bey | Hamza | ? | 1403–1435 | 1444 | ||||
Bey | Jahangir | M‘uizz al-Din Jahangir ibn Ali ibn Qara Yülük | ? | Son of Qara Osman | 1444–1453 | 1453 | ||
Bey | Uzun Hassan | Uzun Hassan ibn Jahangir | ? | Son of Jahangir | 1453 – 6 January 1478 | 6 January 1478 | ||
Bey | Khalil | Khalil ibn Uzun Hasan | ? | Son of Uzun Hasan | 1478–1479 | 1479 | ||
Bey | Yaqub | Yaqub ibn Uzun Hasan | ? | Son of Uzun Hasan | 1479–1490 | 1490 | ||
Bey | Baysongur | Baysongur ibn Yaqub | ? | Son of Yaqub | 1490–1491 | 1491 | ||
Bey | Rostam | Rostam ibn Maqsud | ? | Son of Maqsud | 1491–1497 | 1497 | ||
Bey | Ahmad Govde | Ahmad Govde ibn Muhammad | ? | Son of Muhammad | 1497 | 1497 |