List of monarchs of Persia

Shah of Persia/Iran
Lion and Sun Emblem of Imperial Persia/Iran
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran
Details
Style	Shah Shahanshah
First monarch	Deioces 705–647 BC (first known ruler) Cyrus the Great 549–530 BC (Emperor of the first unified Persian Empire)
Last monarch	Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 16 December 1941 – 11 February 1979 (as Shah of Iran)
Formation	678 BC
Abolition	11 February 1979
Residence	Apadana Tachara Palace of Darius Palace of Ardashir Taq Kasra Ālī Qāpū Palace Hasht Behesht Golestan Palace Sa'dabad Palace Niavaran Palace
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Reza Pahlavi (Crown Prince of Pahlavi dynasty) Mohammad Hassan Mirza II (Crown Prince of Qajar dynasty)

This article lists the monarchs of Iran (Persia) from the establishment of the Medes around 678 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

Minor dynasties and vassal monarchs can be found in:

• List of rulers of Parthian sub-kingdoms
• Islamic dynasties of Iran

Median Dynasty (678–549 BC)[]

The Median Kingdom at its greatest extent

Portrait	Name	Family relations	Reign	Notes
Median Kingdom (678 BC–549 BC)
	Deioces		700–647 BC	First known ruler of Media
	Phraortes	Son of Deioces	647–625 BC
Scythian rule (624–597 BC)
	Cyaxares	Son of Phraortes	624–585 BC	The dynasty of the Median kings was known as Cyaxarid dynasty, named after him or a pre-Deicoes king.[1]
	Astyages	Son of Cyaxares	585–549 BC	Last king of the Medes

Achaemenid Kingdom (~705–559 BC)[]

Portrait	Name	Family relations	Reign	Notes
Achaemenid dynasty (~705–559 BC)
	Achaemenes		~705 BC	First ruler of the Achaemenid kingdom
	Teispes	Son of Achaemenes	~640 BC
	Cyrus I	Son of Teispes	~580 BC
	Cambyses I	Son of Cyrus I and father of Cyrus II	~550 BC

Achaemenid Empire (559–334/327 BC)[]

The Achaemenid Empire at its greatest extent

Portrait	Titles	Regnal name	Personal name	Birth	Family relations	Reign	Death	Notes
Achaemenid dynasty (559–334/327 BC)
	The Great King, King of Kings, King of Anshan, King of Media, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the Four Corners of the World	Cyrus the Great	–	600 BC	Son of Cambyses I king of Anshan and Mandana daughter of Astyages	559–530 BC	530 BC	King of Anshan from 559 BC. Killed in battle with Massagetes
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt^	Cambyses II	–	?	Son of Cyrus the Great	530–522 BC	522 BC	Died while in route to put down a rebellion. Pharaonic titulary: Horus: Smatawy, Nswbty: Mesutire[2]
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Bardiya	Gaumata (?)	?	Son of Cyrus the Great (possibly an imposter claiming to be Bardiya)	522 BC	522 BC	Killed by Persian aristocrats
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Darius the Great	–	550 BC	Son of Hystaspes	522–486 BC	486 BC	Pharaonic titulary: Horus: Menkhib Nswbty: Stutre[3]
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Xerxes I	–	519 BC	Son of Darius I	485–465 BC	465 BC	Most likely is the King Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther[4]
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Artaxerxes I	Arses	?	Son of Xerxes I	465–424 BC	424 BC	Believed by some to be the King Ahaseurus of the Book of Esther
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Xerxes II	Artaxerxes	?	Son of Artaxerxes I	424 BC	424 BC	Only recognised in Persia itself, killed by Sogdianus
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	?	Sogdianus	?	Son of Artaxerxes I	424–423 BC	423 BC	Only recognised in Persia and Elam, killed by Darius II
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Darius II	Ochus	?	Son of Artaxerxes I	424–404 BC	404 BC
	The Great King, King of Kings	Artaxerxes II	Arsaces	?	Son of Darius II	404–358 BC	358 BC
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Artaxerxes III	Ochus	?	Son of Artaxerxes II	358–338 BC	338 BC	Killed
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Artaxerxes IV	Arses	?	Son of Artaxerxes III	338–336 BC	336 BC	Killed
	The Great King, King of Kings, Pharaoh of Egypt	Darius III	Artashata	380	Son of Arsames son of Ostanes son of Darius II	336–330 BC	330 BC	Killed by Artaxerxes V
	The Great King, King of Kings	Artaxerxes V	Bessus	?	Probably a descendant of Artaxerxes II	330–329 BC	329 BC	Killed by Alexander III

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)[]

The Macedonian Empire at its greatest extent

Portrait	Title	Name	Birth	Family relations	Reign	Death	Notes
Argead dynasty (336–306 BC)
	King	Alexander the Great	356 BC	Son of Philip II of Macedonia	336–323 BCE	13 June 323 BC	King of Macedonia from 336 BC as Alexander III,One of the greatest conquerors in history,died mysteriously
	King	Philip III	c. 359 BC	Son of Philip II of Macedonia	June 323– 317 BC	317 BC	Killed by Olympias
	King	Alexander IV	Sept. 323 BC	Son of Alexander III	Sept. 323–309 BC	309 BC	King of Macedonia as Alexander IV until 309 BC. Killed by Cassander son of Antipater
	Regent	Perdiccas	?		June 323–321 BC	321 BC	Regent for Alexander IV & Philip III, Prince of Orestis
	Regent	Antipater	398 BC	Son of Iollas	321–319 BC	319 BC	Regent for Alexander IV & Philip III
	Regent	Polyperchon	394 BC	Son of Simmias	319–316 BC	303 BC	Regent for Alexander IV & Philip III. Exercised no actual power in Persia.
	Regent	Cassander	c. 350	Son of Antipater	316–309 BC	297 BC	Regent for and murderer of Alexander IV. Exercised no actual power in Persia.

Seleucid Empire (311–129 BC)[]

The Seleucid Empire at its greatest extent

Portrait	Title	Regnal name	Personal name	Birth	Family relations	Reign	Death	Notes
Seleucid dynasty (311–129 BC)
	King	Seleucus I Nicator	–	c. 358 BC	Son of Antiochus son of Seleucus	311–281 BC	281 BC	Assumed title of "King" from 306 BC.
	King	Antiochus I Soter	–	?	Son of Seleucus I	281–261 BC	261 BC	Co-ruler from 291
	King	Antiochus II Theos	–	286 BC	Son of Antiochus I	261–246 BC	246 BC
	King	Seleucus II Callinicus	–	?	Son of Antiochus II	246–225 BC	225 BC
	King	Seleucus III Ceraunus	Alexander	c. 243 BC	Son of Seleucus II	225–223 BC	223 BC
	Great King	Antiochus III the Great	–	c. 241 BC	Son of Seleucus II	223–187 BC	187 BC
	King	Seleucus IV Philopator	–	?	Son of Antiochus III	187–175 BC	175 BC
	King	Antiochus IV Epiphanes	Mithridates	c. 215 BC	Son of Antiochus III	175–163 BC	163 BC	Killed in Elymais
	King	Antiochus V Eupator	–	c. 172 BC	Son of Antiochus IV	163–161 BC	161 BC
	King	Demetrius I Soter	–	185 BC	Son of Seleucus IV	161–150 BC	150 BC
	King	Alexander Balas	–	?	Purported son of Antiochus IV	150–146 BC	146 BC
	King	Demetrius II Nicator	–	?	Son of Demetrius I	146–139 BC	139 BC	Defeated and captured by Parthians. He married Rhodogune daughter of Mithridates I
	King	Antiochus VI Dionysus	–	148 BC	Son of Alexander III.	145–142 BC	138 BC	In competition with Demetrius II.
	King	Antiochus VII Sidetes	–	?	Son of Demetrius I	139–129 BC	129 BC	Killed in battle with Phraates II

Fratarakas[]

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

Name		Date	Coinage	Family Relations	Note
1	Bagadates/ Baydād (bgdt)	3rd century BC		Fratarakā dynasty - son of Baykard	Governor of the Seleucid Empire. Coin legend bgdt prtrk' zy 'lhy' ("Baydād, fratarakā of the gods") in Aramaic.
2	Ardakhshir I (rtḥštry)	mid-3rd century BC		Fratarakā dynasty	Governor of the Seleucid Empire
3	Vahbarz (whwbrz - called Oborzos in Polyenus 7.40)	mid-3rd century BC		Fratarakā dynasty	Governor of the Seleucid Empire
4	Vādfradād I (wtprdt)	3rd century BC		Fratarakā dynasty - son of Vahbarz	Governor of the Seleucid Empire
5	Vadfradad II	c. 140 BC		Fratarakā dynasty	Governor of the Seleucid Empire. Transition period. Eagle emblem on top of stylized kyrbasia. Aramaic coin legend wtprdt [p]rtrk' zy 'ly' ("Vādfradād, frataraka of the gods").[5]
6	'Unknown king I' (Syknlt?)	2nd half of 2nd century BC		?	Transition period. No inscription on coinage.

Kings of Persis[]

Name		Date	Coinage	Family Relations	Note
7	Darayan I	2nd century BC (end)		?	Darev I and his successors were sub-kings of the Parthian Empire. Crescent emblem on top of stylized kyrbasia. Aramaic coin legend d’ryw mlk (