It was founded by Ardashir I in 224, who defeated the last Parthian (Arsacid) king, Artabanus IV (Persian: اردوان Ardavan)[1] and ended when the last Sasanian monarch, Yazdegerd III (632–651), lost a 19-year struggle to drive out the early Arab Caliphate, which was the first of the Islamic empires.
It is believed that the following dynasties and noble families have ancestors among the Sasanian rulers: The solid lines indicate parent-to-child lineage and the dotted lines indicate questionable blood relationships.
^ a: The exact relation between Sasan and Papak is unclear.
^ c: Member of the same family as Bahram VI.
^ d: Ancestor of the Samanids through his son Noshrad.