The immediate successors of Seconder Roomee are not noticed by Persian historians. They state, that a short period before his death, he divided the provinces of Persia among the native princes whom he had deposed, to be held on tenure of a military service ; each being obliged to main tain a fixed quota of soldiers. But these princes threw off their allegiance to his successors, and formed a feudal commonwealth, termed the Alulook-u-Tuaif, or " com monwealth of tribes." This community of small states recognised some principles of common policy, which led them to unite in cases of common danger, and continued to exist, with various changes, for more than three cen turies after the death of Seconder Roomee.
We learn, however, from the more authentic records of the Greeks, that Persia, on the death of Alexander, fell to Seleucus, who reigned also over Syria, and whose de scendants kept possession of it for sixty-two years, when one of the tributary chiefs, named Arsaces, revolted, and, having slain Agathocles, the viceroy of Aiitiochus Theos, rescued Persia from the dominion of the Seleucides, and established what is termed the Parthian dynasty of the Arsacides. Of this dynasty there were two branches ; the first comprehending twenty kings, who ruled over l'ersia for 270 years ; and the reigns of the eleven monarchs of the second branch included a space of 221 years. This brings us down to the foundation of the Sassanian dynasty, at which commences " the historical period ;" and here we may observe, that, though the Persian accounts are embellished with hyperbolical descriptions, and blended with some fables, they are more correct in the genera narrative than western writers, who confine their history chiefly to those transactions in which they themselves were more immediately concerned.
Arduan, the last of the Parthian monarchs, at this time ruled over Persia, when Ardisheer Babigan, the son of an inferior officer in the public service, and a descendant of Sassari, the grandson of the celebrated Isfundear; had so distinguished himself by his courage and his genius, that he was appointed governor of Darabjird This rapid rise in his fortunes filled his mind with more ambitious v iews, and soon led him to grasp at the Persian sceptre. Having represented to the Persian nobility the disgrace of sub mitting to a foreign yoke, and the honour and advantage to be gained by a revolution, he brought many of them over to his interest, and he and his adherents had got pos session of Fars, Kerman, and Irak, before the king had taken any steps to oppose his progress. Arduan was now
compelled to take the field, and, having collected a nume rous army, resolved to stake his crown on a single action. The hostile armies engaged on the plain of Hoormuz, where Arduan lost both his crown and his life. This battle raised Ardisheer to the sovereignty of Persia. The other provinces soon submitted to his sway ; and he as sumed the proud title of Shahan Shah, or " king of kings." In extending his empire towards the west, lie had to con tend with the Roman armies ; and though the accounts given of this war by western and eastern authors are some what opposite, yet, upon the whole, it would seem that the result was favourable to the Persian arms. Having established by wise regulations the tranquillity of his do minions, he restored to its ancient purity the religion of Zoroaster, which had fallen into neglect and corruption during the Parthian rule. He is said to hare rebuilt the city of Madain on the banks of the Tigris, and nude it the capital of the empire. After a most prosperous reign of fourteen years, he resigned his sceptre to his son Shah poor.
Ardisheer is represented as a prince of extraordinary wisdom and valour. Though born in a low station, he, by his talents and intrepidity, delivered his country from thraldom, and restored the glory of the Persian name. While he was almost adored by his subjects, his friend ship was courted by the greatest monarchs of the age ; and his character was held up as a model to his succes sors.
Shalipoor was a prince of considerable reputation, but is chiefly distinguished by hi, wars with the Romans. His first achievement was the recovery of Juzcerah, or the countries between the Tigris and the Euphrates, and the capture of the famous fort of Nisibis, wIdeIi bad long re sisted all his efforts to subdue it. lie then carried his arms into the Roman territories ; he took the emperor Valerian prisoner, and compelled his captive army to re e an emperor of his own appointment. His success, however, was not of long duration. Ile was defeated by Odenatus, prince of Palmyrene. and driven with immense loss within his own bounalaries. The latter years of the reign of this monarch were employed in decorating his dominions with many cities and public buildings. He built the city of Shuster, and erected an immense dyke, over which he brought the river Karoon, in order to sup ply the adjacent country with water. Nishapore in Kho rassan, and Shahpoor in Fars, owe their existence to him ; and the sculptured rocks, near the latter place, commemo rate his capture of a Roman emperor.