The
Sasanian dynasty was named after
Sasan, the eponymous ancestor of the dynasty. It was founded by
Ardashir I in 224, who defeated the last
Parthian (Arsacid) king,
Artabanus IV (
Ardavan) 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
Dabuyid dynasty (642–760), descendants of
Jamasp. • The
Paduspanids (665–1598) of
Mazandaran, descendants of
Jamasp. • The
Shahs of Shirwan (1100–1382), from
Hormizd IV's line. • The
Banu Munajjim (9th–10th century), from Mihr Gushnasp, a Sasanian prince. • The
Kamkarian family (9th–10th century), a
dehqan family descended from
Yazdegerd III. • The
Mikalids (9th–11th century), a family descended from the Sogdian ruler
Divashtich, who was, in turn, a descendant of
Bahram V Gur. == Sasanian family tree ==