Sassanid,Sasanid , or Sassanian, last dynasty of native rulers to reign in Persia before the Arab conquest.
The period of their dominion extended from c.A.D. 224, when the Parthians were overthrown and the capital, Ctesiphon, was taken, until c.640, when the country fell under the power of the Arabs.
The last Sassanian king died a fugitive in 651, but he had been forced
to yield Ctesiphon to the Arabs in 636. Under the Sassanids, who revived
Achaemenid tradition, Zoroastrianism was reestablished as the state religion. The name of the dynasty was derived
from Sassan, an ancestor of the founder of the dynasty, Ardashir I, who took and ruled Ctesiphon (224–40). During his reign and many that
followed, war with the Romans occupied much attention. Sassanian persecution
of Christians led to wars with Byzantium. Syria and Armenia suffered
particularly from invading armies. Ardashir I was succeeded by his son
Shapur I, who was victorious over Roman Emperor Valerian and ruled until 272. The next
reign of importance was that of Shapur II (309–79), a period of particular significance and glory. Bahram V, ruling
420–38, was defeated by the Emperor Theodosius but succeeded against
the White Huns. The Armenians were overwhelmed by Yazdagird II in 451,
and their land was overrun by Sassanians under Khosrow I, who reigned 531–79 and who also invaded Syria. Both countries were again
overrun by Khosrow II (ruled 590–628), whose conquest of Egypt was the final victorious achievement
of the dynasty. The last representative of the family on the throne
was Yazdagird III, who began his reign in 632. His struggle against
the Arabs ended in the fall of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia.
Sassanid, Sasanid , or Sassanian, last dynasty of native rulers to reign in Persia before the Arab conquest. The period of their dominion extended from c.A.D. 224, when the Parthians were overthrown and the capital, Ctesiphon, was taken, until c.640, when the country fell under the power of the Arabs. The last Sassanian king died a fugitive in 651, but he had been forced to yield Ctesiphon to the Arabs in 636. Under the Sassanids, who revived Achaemenid tradition, Zoroastrianism was reestablished as the state religion. The name of the dynasty was derived from Sassan, an ancestor of the founder of the dynasty, Ardashir I, who took and ruled Ctesiphon (224–40). During his reign and many that followed, war with the Romans occupied much attention. Sassanian persecution of Christians led to wars with Byzantium. Syria and Armenia suffered particularly from invading armies. Ardashir I was succeeded by his son Shapur I, who was victorious over Roman Emperor Valerian and ruled until 272. The next reign of importance was that of Shapur II (309–79), a period of particular significance and glory. Bahram V, ruling 420–38, was defeated by the Emperor Theodosius but succeeded against the White Huns. The Armenians were overwhelmed by Yazdagird II in 451, and their land was overrun by Sassanians under Khosrow I, who reigned 531–79 and who also invaded Syria. Both countries were again overrun by Khosrow II (ruled 590–628), whose conquest of Egypt was the final victorious achievement of the dynasty. The last representative of the family on the throne was Yazdagird III, who began his reign in 632. His struggle against the Arabs ended in the fall of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia.