Ardashir II (307 AD-383 AD) was the Emperor of Sassanid Persia from 379 AD to his death in 383 AD. He succeeded Shapur II and preceded Shapur III.
Biography[]
The brother of Emperor Shapur II of Persia, Ardashir began his military career under his brother by governing Artaxarta in Persian Armenia. He was influential, although he had low command skills and management. Later in his life, he was appointed as Mobadan Mobad (Chief Priest of Zoroaster) and was accompanied at all times by a Zoroastrian teacher.
Upon his older brother's death in 379 AD, Ardashir became the Emperor of the Sassanid Empire. He took no taxes from his subjects during his four-year reign, earning their affection, but he persecuted Christians in his realm, contradicting his reputation as the kindest Sassanid shahanshah. He died in 383 and was succeeded by his nephew Shapur III.