Dara II or Darab II was the last king of the mythological Kayanian dynasty, ruling between 14 and 16 years. He is generally identified with Darius III ( r. 336–330 BC), the last king of the Achaemenid Empire. [1] In Middle Persian literature and Islamic chronicles, he is generally known as "Dara", while he is known as "Darab" in the New Persian proses Darab-nama and Iskandar-nama. He was the son and successor of Dara I. [1]
According to early traditions, Dara II's mother was Mahnahid, daughter of Hazarmard, while later traditions refer her to as Thamrusia, a Greek woman who was the daughter of Fastabiqun and former wife of the king of Oman. [1] [2] Dara II was the half-brother of Iskandar ( Alexander the Great), who, after refusing to pay tribute, rebelled. During the rebellion, Dara II was assassinated by his ministers Mahyar and Janushyar ( Bessus and Nabarzanes). [1] [3] He had three sons, Ashk, Ardashir, and a third, who name is uncertain. [1] The Sasanian monarchs of Iran (224–651) invented a descent that traced them back to Dara II through a son named Sasan (called "the elder"). [4] The House of Ispahbudhan, one of the Seven Great Houses of Iran, likewise claimed descent from Dara II through their Arsacid lineage. [5] The Safavid ruler Ismail I ( r. 1501–1524) claimed to be the personification of the divine light of investiture ( farr) that had radiated in Dara II. [6]
Dara II is credited with the foundation of the city of Dara in Mesopotamia, and in some cases the city of Darabgerd in Fars. [1]
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Dara II or Darab II was the last king of the mythological Kayanian dynasty, ruling between 14 and 16 years. He is generally identified with Darius III ( r. 336–330 BC), the last king of the Achaemenid Empire. [1] In Middle Persian literature and Islamic chronicles, he is generally known as "Dara", while he is known as "Darab" in the New Persian proses Darab-nama and Iskandar-nama. He was the son and successor of Dara I. [1]
According to early traditions, Dara II's mother was Mahnahid, daughter of Hazarmard, while later traditions refer her to as Thamrusia, a Greek woman who was the daughter of Fastabiqun and former wife of the king of Oman. [1] [2] Dara II was the half-brother of Iskandar ( Alexander the Great), who, after refusing to pay tribute, rebelled. During the rebellion, Dara II was assassinated by his ministers Mahyar and Janushyar ( Bessus and Nabarzanes). [1] [3] He had three sons, Ashk, Ardashir, and a third, who name is uncertain. [1] The Sasanian monarchs of Iran (224–651) invented a descent that traced them back to Dara II through a son named Sasan (called "the elder"). [4] The House of Ispahbudhan, one of the Seven Great Houses of Iran, likewise claimed descent from Dara II through their Arsacid lineage. [5] The Safavid ruler Ismail I ( r. 1501–1524) claimed to be the personification of the divine light of investiture ( farr) that had radiated in Dara II. [6]
Dara II is credited with the foundation of the city of Dara in Mesopotamia, and in some cases the city of Darabgerd in Fars. [1]
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cite encyclopedia}}
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link){{
cite encyclopedia}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)