Ardashir I - Founder of the Sassanian Dynasty
 

Ardashir I was the founder and first king of the Sassanid (also called Sassanian) dynasty of Iran. Ardashir ruled from 226 A.D. to 240 A.D. He was the son of a petty king called Papak who ruled part of Fars. Papak was a vassal of the Arsacid (Parthian) dynasty of Iran. In 208 A.D. Ardashir was given the kingship of the Fars province. [Note - Ardashir's father had killed the local king named Gochihr to get the position.] He went to war with the Parthian rulers. Ardavan V (also called Artabanus V) was the Parthian monarch at the time.
Ardashir defeated the Parthians in a major battle at Hormizdagan in 224 A.D. He captured their captial of Ctesiphon and by 228 A.D., had completely smashed the power of the Parthians.
Ardashir claimed to be descended from famour rulers of the Achaemenid dynasty, such as Cyrus the Great and King Darius I. It is uncertain how valid this claim was, but since he had won the war, he was clearly in charge of Iran. He established his capital at Firuzabad. Ardashir also had the Ghal'eh Dokhtar palace built. This castle was constructed in 209 A.D., which was before he had overthrown the Parthian dynasty. The remains of the palace still stand on a mountain close to the Firouzabad-Road. One reason was it was built was for defense in Ardashir's war with the Parthians. Ardashir rebuilt the city of Gur near the castle. The restoration of Gur took place after Ardashir had taken Isfahan and Kerman from the Parthians.
After the victory at Hormizdagan in 224 A.D., Ardashir built another palace near the Ghal'eh Dokhtar castle. Ardashir had two motives in mind. It was to serve as a place to receive important guests and to give an impressive image for Ardashir's kingship.
More warfare occurred after Ardashir had consolidated his power. Ardashir began making military expeditions into Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Cappadocia. This brought Persia into conflict with Rome. The Roman emperor Alexander Severus led an army against Ardashir. A ferocious battle took place in 232 A.D. Many were killed on both sides. The fight was essentially a draw, though Alexander Severus declared that he had won a victory when he returned to Rome. Ardashir was able to take Armenia and showed that Persia was a formidable opponent for Rome.
Ardashir restored Zoroastrianism to the status of being the state religion of Persia. As a result, the Zoroastrian priests obtained a considerable amount of power. Ardashir died in 240 A.D. His son Shapur became the next king of Persia.

Neal Robbins

P.S. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Alexander Severus was born on October 1, 208 A.D. at Arca Caesarea in Lebanon. His father Gessius Marcianus had held the position of imperial procurator. Alexander Severus ruled Rome in the years 222-235 A.D. His name was originally Alexius Bassianus, but it was changed in 221 A.D. The Roman emperor Heliogabalus adopted him as his heir. Severus's grandmother Maesa had talked Heliogabalus into adopting Severus (who was a cousin of Heliogabalus) as the successor. Heliogabalus was murdered on March 11, 222 and the Praetorians soon declared Alexander Severus to be the new emperor.
Alexander Severus married Sallustia Orbiana in 225 A.D. [Note - Her full name was Gnea Seia Herennia Sallustia Barbia Orbiana.] She was the daughter of a Roman senator named Seius Sallustius Varius Marcinus. Sallustia exerted a considerable amount of influence on Alexander and this made Alexander's mother Julia jealous. Sallustia's father was arrested and executed for supposedly plotting to turn the Praetorians against Alexaner. It has not been proven that Seius was actually involved in such a plot. Julia made Alexander divorce Sallustia Orbiana in 227 A.D. Sallustia Orbiana was banished to North Africa. As one historian put it, "Poor Orbiana. It doesn't pay to get between a mother and her son."
Alexander Severus and his mother Julia Mamaea were murdered in 235 A.D. This happened during a revolt by supporters of Maximinius. It took place on the Rhine.

Ardashir and Severus
 

Alexander Severus planned his campaign in terms of a three pronged invasion. One army was to march through Armenia and enter Media (a part of Persia) from northern Mesopotamia. A second force was personally led by Severus and it was in the center of northern Mesopotamia. The third army was farther south and it marched along the Euphrates. The purpose of this unit was to capture the city of Ctesiphon.
The Persian king Ardashir planned his strategy well. Persian troops in the north were able to hold back the Roman army that had come into Media. The rough terrain made it difficult for the Roman troops to advance. Then Ardashir left enough soldiers in Media to keep the Roman force there in check. Ardashir took his main army south and smashed the Roman army that was marching toward Ctesiphon.
Soon Ardashir came face to face with the Roman army led by Severus. As I mentioned in another posting, a vicious battle took place. Casualties were heavy on both sides. Neither the Romans nor the Persians could claim victory. However, Severus withdrew his army soon after the battle and marched back to Syria. Severus had made a mistake by splitting up his troops into three separate armies. If Severus had kept them all together, he might have won that major battle with Ardashir.
Meanwhile, the Roman force in Media was completely routed. That army retreated back to Syria and it was clear that the campaign had been a failure. Severus feared the troops might mutiny, so he paid them a bonus.
Alexander Severus had a likeable personality in socializing with people. But he was not a competent military leader.

Neal Robbins

Coin of Ardashir I
 

A silver Sassanian coin can be seen on this link:

http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ugp/coin01.jpg

Neal Robbins

P.S. The head of Ardashir I is on the obverse. A fire altar is depicted on the reverse.