Ardashir II

Ardashir II
King of kings of Iran and Aniran
Reign	379–383
Predecessor	Shapur II
Successor	Shapur III
Born	Unknown
Died	383
Issue	Zruanduxt
House	House of Sasan
Father	Hormizd II
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Ardashir II (Middle Persian:, Persian: اردشیر دوم‎‎), was the eleventh Sassanid King of Persia from 379 to 383. He was the brother of his predecessor, Shapur II (309–379). During the reign of Shapur II, Ardashir had served as governor-King of Adiabene, where he had reportedly persecuted Christians.

However, the acts of brutality against Christians attributed to him severely contradict the unanimous view that he was the most kind and virtuous of the Sassanian rulers. Ardashir II was given the epithet "Nihoukar" or "Beneficent" by the Persians. The Arabs called him "Al Djemil" or "the Virtuous". According to the "Modjmel-al-Tewarikh," he took no taxes from his subjects during the four years of his reign, and thereby secured to himself their affection and gratitude.

Before becoming king of Persia, he was governor-King of Adiabene from 344 to 376. In 379 Shapur II, the older brother of Ardashir appointed him as his successor, making some Armenian writers to confuse Ardashir as son of Shapur II. It is believed that Ardashir took part in the defense of the Sasanian Empire with Shapur II when it was invaded by Emperor Julian. When Ardashir became king he ordered a rock relief to be made at Taq-e Bostan showing him flanked by Mithra and Ahura Mazda.

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