2021-04-27 Tue

Ardashir III was the Sasanian King of Kings (Shahanshah) of Iran reigning from 6 September 628 to 27 April 630.

Ardashir was the son of king Kavad II and Anzoy, who was a princess from the Byzantine Empire, which made Ardashir less popular among the Iranians, who had recently been in a long and devastating war against the Byzantines. In 628, a devastating plague spread through western Iran, which claimed the lives of half of the population, including Kavad II himself.

After the death of Kavad II, the Wuzurgan elected Ardashir as his successor, who was only a 7-year-old boy. In reality, however, he exercised little power and his empire was controlled by his vizier Mah-Adhur Gushnasp, whose duty was to protect the empire until Ardashir became old enough to rule.

Iranian Historian says “Mah-Adhur Gushnasp carried on the administration of the kingdom in such an excellent fashion, [and with such] firm conduct, [that] no one would have been aware of Ardashir III's youthfulness." Like his father, Ardashir III refrained from using the title of shahanshah ("King of Kings") on his coin engravings. This was probably done in order to distance themselves from Khosrow II, who had restored the title.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org