An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress is the feminine form and can either be the wife of an emperor or a woman being an imperial monarch herself. Emperors are generally recognised to be above kings in honour and rank. Emperor Akihito of Japan is the world's only reigning emperor. the last imperial monarch in europe was the King-Emperor George VI who ruled as Emperor of India Emperor - Distinction between Emperor and other types of ...

Including:

• Emperor - Distinction between Emperor and other types of monarch
• Emperor - Imperium maius
• Emperor - Historical development
• Emperor - Europe
• Emperor - The Americas
• Emperor - Africa
• Emperor - Asia
• Emperor - Persian tradition
• Emperor - Pre-Columbian American traditions
• Emperor - Other traditions
• Emperor - Lists of emperors
• Emperor - Emperors of traditional empires
• Emperor - Emperors of short-lived 'empires'
• Emperor - Self-proclaimed emperors
• Emperor - Fictional emperors
• Emperor - Notes
• Emperor - Trivia

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After The Sassanids came to power in Persia in 226. The second emperor, Shapur I (240-270), extended his authority eastwards into what is today Pakistan and northwestern India and the previously autonomous Kushans were obliged to accept his suzerainty. Successive Sassanid emperors were either tolerant of other religions or pursued policies of persecution, particularly against Christians, but in India the Kushans were generally tolerant of indigenous beliefs. Thanks to traded goods such as silverware and textiles depicting the Sassanid ...

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Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Khosrau I's reforms, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India

See Iran-China relations for main discussion Sassanids like Parthians had an active relation with Chinese Emperors and sent many embassies to China. On different occasions Sassanid kings sent their most talented Persian musicians and dancers to the Chinese imperial court. Wealth brought from Silk road made both empires very protective of the road and tied them more closely to each other. They co-operated on guarding the road in Central Asia region and built many outposts in the border areas to keep the caravans safe from nomadi ...

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Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Khosrau I's reforms, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China

Initially Sassanids, like Parthians, were in constant hostility with Roman Empire, and following the division of the Roman empire in year 395, Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, replaced Roman Empire as Persia's principal Western enemy, and hostilities between the two empires became even more frequent. In the east Kushan Empire and different nomadic tribes such as White Huns were empire's main enemies. These no ...

See also:

Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts

Initially Sassanids, like Parthians, were in constant hostility with Roman Empire, and following the division of the Roman empire in year 395, Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, replaced Roman Empire as Persia's principal Western enemy, and hostilities between the two empires became even more frequent. In the east Kushan Empire and different nomadic tribes such as White Huns were empire's main enemies. These nomads constantly ravaged eastern provinces of the empire. Tus citadel is one of the remaining Sassanid f ...

See also:

Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Khosrau I's reforms, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts

Historians believe that society was divided into four classes: Priests (Atorbanan in Persian:آتروبانان), Warriors (Arteshtaran in Persian:ارتشتاران), Secretaries (Dabiran in Persian:دبيران), and Commoners (Vasteryoshan-Hootkheshan in Persian: هوتخشان-واستريوشان). At the center of Sassanid caste system w ...

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Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Khosrau I's reforms, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids

Ardashir's ancestors were all Zoroastrian priests who were also local governors of Persis. His father Papag (or Papak or Babak) was the ruler of a small town called Kheir. His mother was Rodhagh, whose father was provincial governor of Pars. Upon Sassan's death, Papak (Babak) deposed the previous king of Persis (Pars), Gochihr, and took his throne. During his father's reign, Ardashir ruled the town of Darabjird and received the title of "argobadh". Upon Papag's death, Ardashir's elder brother Shapur ascended to the throne. However, Ardashir rebelled against his brother a ...

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Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Khosrau I's reforms, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Origin

226-241: Reign of Ardashir I 224-226: Overthrow of Parthian Empire. 229-232: War with Rome Zoroastrianism is revived as official religion. The collection of texts known as the Zend Avesta is assembled. 241-271: Reign of Shapur I 241-244: First war with Rome. 258-260: Second war with Rome. Capture of Roman emperor Valerian. 215-271: Mani, founder of Mani ...

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Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology

Initially, ca. 250 BCE, a king named Arsaces established his dynasty's independence from Seleucid rule in remote areas of northern Iran in what is today known as Turkmenistan, where his descendants of the same name ruled until Antiochus III the Great briefly made them submit to Seleucid authority again in 206 BCE. It was not until the 2nd century BCE that the Parthians were able to profit from the continuing erosion of the Seleucid Empire, gradually capturing all its territories east of Syria. Once the Parthians had gained Herat, the ...

See also:

Parthia, Parthia - Origins, Parthia - The Parthian Empire, Parthia - Government, Parthia - Contact with China, Parthia - Conflicts with Rome, Parthia - Expansion to India, Parthia - Decline and fall, Parthia - Parthian rulers, Parthia - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthia: Encyclopedia II - Parthia - The Parthian Empire

After the conquest of Media, Assyria, Babylonia and Elam, the Parthians had to organize their empire. The former elites of these countries were Greek, and the new rulers had to adapt to their customs if they wanted their rule to last. As a result, the cities retained their ancient rights and civil administrations remained more or less undisturbed. An interesting detail is coinage: legends were written in the Greek alphabet, a practice that continued until the 2nd century CE, when local knowledge of the language was in decline and few people knew ho ...

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Parthia, Parthia - Origins, Parthia - The Parthian Empire, Parthia - Government, Parthia - Contact with China, Parthia - Conflicts with Rome, Parthia - Expansion to India, Parthia - Decline and fall, Parthia - Parthian rulers, Parthia - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthia: Encyclopedia II - Parthia - Government

The Chinese explorer Zhang Qian, who visited the neighbouring countries of Bactria and Sogdiana in 126 BCE, made the first known Chinese report on Parthia. In his accounts Parthia is named "Ānxī" (Chinese: 安息), a transliteration of "Arsacid", the name of the Parthian dynasty. Zhang Qian clearly identifies Parthia as an advanced urban civilization, which he equates to those of Dayuan (in Ferghana) and Daxia (in Bactria). "Anxi is situated several thousand li west of the region of the Great Yuezhi (in Transoxonia). Th ...

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Parthia, Parthia - Origins, Parthia - The Parthian Empire, Parthia - Government, Parthia - Contact with China, Parthia - Conflicts with Rome, Parthia - Expansion to India, Parthia - Decline and fall, Parthia - Parthian rulers, Parthia - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthia: Encyclopedia II - Parthia - Contact with China

In 53 BCE, the Roman general Crassus invaded Parthia, but was defeated at the Battle of Carrhae by a Parthian commander called Surena in the Greek and Latin sources, most likely a member of the Sûrên clan. This was the beginning of a series of wars that were to last for almost three centuries. The Parthian armies included two types of cavalry: the heavily-armed and armoured cataphracts and light brigades of mounted archers. For the Romans, who relied on heavy infantry, the Parthians were hard to defeat, as the cavalry was much faste ...

See also:

Parthia, Parthia - Origins, Parthia - The Parthian Empire, Parthia - Government, Parthia - Contact with China, Parthia - Conflicts with Rome, Parthia - Expansion to India, Parthia - Decline and fall, Parthia - Parthian rulers, Parthia - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthia: Encyclopedia II - Parthia - Conflicts with Rome

The Armenian compromise served its purpose, but nothing in it covered the deposition of an Armenian king. After 110 CE, the Parthian king Vologases III dethroned the Armenian ruler, and the Roman emperor Trajan decided to invade Parthia in retaliation. War broke out in 114 CE and the Parthians were severely beaten. The Romans conquered Armenia, and in the following year, Trajan marched to the south, where the Parthians were forced to evacuate their strongholds. In 116 CE, Trajan captured Ctesiphon, and ...

See also:

Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Origins, Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Government, Parthian Empire - Contact with China, Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome, Parthian Empire - Expansion to India, Parthian Empire - Decline and fall, Parthian Empire - Parthian rulers, Parthian Empire - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthian Empire: Encyclopedia II - Parthian Empire - Decline and fall

Main article:Indo-Parthian Kingdom Also during the 1st century BCE, the Parthians started to make inroads into eastern territories that had been occupied by the Indo-Scythians and the Yuezhi. The Parthians gained control of parts of Bactria and extensive territories in northern India, after defeating local rulers such as the Kushan Empire ruler Kujula Kadphises, in the Gandhara region. Around 20 CE, Gondophares, one of the Parthian conquerors, declared his independence from the Parthian empire and established t ...

See also:

Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Origins, Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Government, Parthian Empire - Contact with China, Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome, Parthian Empire - Expansion to India, Parthian Empire - Decline and fall, Parthian Empire - Parthian rulers, Parthian Empire - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthian Empire: Encyclopedia II - Parthian Empire - Expansion to India

Initially, ca. 250 BCE, a king named Arsaces established his dynasty's independence from Seleucid rule in remote areas of northern Iran in what is today known as Turkmenistan, where his descendants of the same name ruled until Antiochus III the Great briefly made them submit to Seleucid authority again in 206 BCE. It was not until the 2nd century BCE that the Parthians were able to profit from the continuing erosion of the Seleucid Empire, gradually capturing all its territories east of Syria. Once the Parthians had gained Herat, the ...

See also:

Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Origins, Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Government, Parthian Empire - Contact with China, Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome, Parthian Empire - Expansion to India, Parthian Empire - Decline and fall, Parthian Empire - Parthian rulers, Parthian Empire - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthian Empire: Encyclopedia II - Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire

After the conquest of Media, Assyria, Babylonia and Elam, the Parthians had to organize their empire. The former elites of these countries were Greek, and the new rulers had to adapt to their customs if they wanted their rule to last. As a result, the cities retained their ancient rights and civil administrations remained more or less undisturbed. An interesting detail is coinage: legends were written in the Greek alphabet, a practice that continued until the 2nd century CE, when local knowledge of the language was in decline and few people ...

See also:

Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Origins, Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Government, Parthian Empire - Contact with China, Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome, Parthian Empire - Expansion to India, Parthian Empire - Decline and fall, Parthian Empire - Parthian rulers, Parthian Empire - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthian Empire: Encyclopedia II - Parthian Empire - Government

The Chinese explorer Zhang Qian, who visited the neighbouring countries of Bactria and Sogdiana in 126 BCE, made the first known Chinese report on Parthia. In his accounts Parthia is named "Ānxī" (Chinese: 安息), a transliteration of "Arsacid", the name of the Parthian dynasty. Zhang Qian clearly identifies Parthia as an advanced urban civilization, which he equates to those of Dayuan (in Ferghana) and Daxia (in Bactria). "Anxi is situated several thousand li west of the region of the Great Yuezhi (in Transoxonia). Th ...

See also:

Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Origins, Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Government, Parthian Empire - Contact with China, Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome, Parthian Empire - Expansion to India, Parthian Empire - Decline and fall, Parthian Empire - Parthian rulers, Parthian Empire - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthian Empire: Encyclopedia II - Parthian Empire - Contact with China

The Sassanids established an empire roughly within the frontiers achieved by the Achaemenids, with the capital at Ctesiphon in the Khvarvaran province. The Sassanids system of social stratification reinforced by Zoroastrianism consciously sought to resuscitate Persian traditions and to obliterate Greek cultural influence. Their rule was characterized by considerable centralization, ambitious urban planning, agricultur ...

See also:

Sassanid dynasty, Sassanid dynasty - The term Sassanids or Sassanian, Sassanid dynasty - Origin, Sassanid dynasty - History, Sassanid dynasty - Early history 224-310, Sassanid dynasty - First golden era 310-379, Sassanid dynasty - Intermediate era 379-498, Sassanid dynasty - Second golden era 498-622, Sassanid dynasty - Decline and fall 622-651, Sassanid dynasty - The Parsees, Sassanid dynasty - Government, Sassanid dynasty - Conflicts, Sassanid dynasty - Iranian society under Sassanids, Sassanid dynasty - Religion, Sassanid dynasty - Relations with China, Sassanid dynasty - Expansion to India, Sassanid dynasty - Important Persian figures in Sassanid era, Sassanid dynasty - Art and science, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid army, Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid Empire chronology, Sassanid dynasty - In modern media

Read more here: » Sassanid dynasty: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid dynasty - Government

Main article:Indo-Parthian Kingdom Also during the 1st century BCE, the Parthians started to make inroads into eastern territories that had been occupied by the Indo-Scythians and the Yuezhi. The Parthians gained control of parts of Bactria and extensive territories in northern India, after defeating local rulers such as the Kushan Empire ruler Kujula Kadphises, in the Gandhara region. Around 20 CE, Gondophares, one of the Parthian conquerors, declared his independence from the Parthian empire and established the Indo- ...

See also:

Parthia, Parthia - Origins, Parthia - The Parthian Empire, Parthia - Government, Parthia - Contact with China, Parthia - Conflicts with Rome, Parthia - Expansion to India, Parthia - Decline and fall, Parthia - Parthian rulers, Parthia - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthia: Encyclopedia II - Parthia - Expansion to India

In 53 BCE, the Roman general Crassus invaded Parthia, but was defeated at the Battle of Carrhae by a Parthian commander called Surena in the Greek and Latin sources, most likely a member of the Sûrên clan. This was the beginning of a series of wars that were to last for almost three centuries. The Parthian armies included two types of cavalry: the heavily-armed and armoured cataphracts and light brigades of mounted archers. For the Romans, who relied on heavy infantry, the Parthians were hard to defeat, as the cavalry was much faste ...

See also:

Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Origins, Parthian Empire - The Parthian Empire, Parthian Empire - Government, Parthian Empire - Contact with China, Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome, Parthian Empire - Expansion to India, Parthian Empire - Decline and fall, Parthian Empire - Parthian rulers, Parthian Empire - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthian Empire: Encyclopedia II - Parthian Empire - Conflicts with Rome

The Armenian compromise served its purpose, but nothing in it covered the deposition of an Armenian king. After 110 CE, the Parthian king Vologases III dethroned the Armenian ruler, and the Roman emperor Trajan decided to invade Parthia in retaliation. War broke out in 114 CE and the Parthians were severely beaten. The Romans conquered Armenia, and in the following year, Trajan marched to the south, where the Parthians were forced to evacuate their strongholds. In 116 CE, Trajan captured Ctesiphon, and establi ...

See also:

Parthia, Parthia - Origins, Parthia - The Parthian Empire, Parthia - Government, Parthia - Contact with China, Parthia - Conflicts with Rome, Parthia - Expansion to India, Parthia - Decline and fall, Parthia - Parthian rulers, Parthia - Etymololgy of Parthia

Read more here: » Parthia: Encyclopedia II - Parthia - Decline and fall