310 Death of Hormuz. His son Adharnarseh succeeds, but is soon deposed for cruelty. His brothers are killed or imprisoned and the new born (or unborn) son of Hormuz, Shapur or Sapor (II) Postumus is chosen king. He proves to be the greatest of the Sassanians.
337 Sapor begins a long war with Rome, owing to the latter becoming Christianised.
339-340 Terrible persecution of the Christians in Persia. The war with Rome continues. Sapor aims to seize Nisibis and reduce Armenia.
348 Great defeat of the emperor Constantius at the battle of Singara.
350 Sapor almost succeeds in capturing Nisibis when troubles with the barbarians in the East compel him to raise the siege.
350-358 War in the East causes almost complete suspension in the conflict with Rome.
358 Peace made in the East and Romans sue for peace. Sapor declines and war is continued.
359 Sapor captures Amida, but the Romans regain it the following year. Hostilities are suspended until
363 when the emperor Julian attempts to strike a death-blow at Sapor. He takes Seleucia but fails to capture Ctesiphon. Death of Julian in battle. His successor Jovian makes a shameful peace with Sapor, granting him the lands east of the Tigris, and part of Mesopotamia with Nisibis and Singara. The Romans also agree not to help Arsaces of Armenia, and Sapor proceeds against him.
365-366 Reduction of Armenia and Iberia by Sapor.
371 The Romans attempt to recover Armenia, but fail through breaking out of the Gothic war.
379 Death of Sapor, succeeded by his brother Ardashir II.
383 or 384 Ardashir deposed by the nobles towards whom he has been very severe. Shapur or Sapor III, probably a son of Sapor II, raised to the throne. He makes a definite treaty of peace with Rome.
388 or 389 Murder of Sapor by the nobles. His brother (or perhaps son) Bahram or Varanes III succeeds.
390 Division of Armenia between Persia and Rome by treaty. The division practically lasts until Arab times.
399 Assassination of Bahram. Yezdegerd or Jezdegird (I) the Sinner, son of Sapor I or Sapor II, succeeds. He is friendly to Rome, and Arcadius appoints him the guardian of his son Thedorius. He sets his son Sapor on the throne of Pers-Armenia.
420 Death of Yezdegerd, probably slain by the nobles. Sapor hurries from Armenia to take throne, but is slain. A certain Khosrau or Chosroes is made king, but another son of Yezdegerd, Bahram or Varanes (V) the Wild Ass, succeeds in getting the throne, with the help of the Arabs, among whom he has been living in exile. This is the first intervention of the Arabs in the affairs of Persia.
421 War breaks out with Rome, probably instigated by the nobles hostile to the king. Persians defeated, and
422 peace is made, giving religious freedom to Christians in Persia, and to Zoroastrians in the Roman Empire. There is constant warfare with Hephthalites or White Huns during this reign.
429 Bahram reduces Pers-Armenia to a province.
438 or 439 Bahram succeeded by his son, Yezdegerd II, who is cruel to the Jews and Christians. He suffers severe defeats from the White Huns.
451 A severe rebellion, due to religious persecutions, breaks out in Pers-Armenia, and is quelled with difficulty.
457 Death of Yezdegerd, and contest for the throne, between his two sons, Hormuz III and Peroz or Peroses. The latter is finally successful, owing to assistance from the White Huns. Peroz persecutes Jews and Christians, but favours the Nestorians, when they are driven from Rome.
484 Defeat and death of Peroz in a great battle with the White Huns, with whom he has been at war for some years. Revolt in Armenia put down by Zarmihr. Balash, Peroz’s brother, made king. He puts his brother, Zareh, a claimant of the throne, to death.
488 or 489 Balash deposed by the nobles, and blinded. Kavadh I or Kobad, son of Peroz, succeeds him. Kobad favours Mazdak and his new communistic religion, and in consequence
496 is deposed and imprisoned. His brother, Jamasp or Zames, is placed on the throne. Kobad escapes to the White Huns, and with their help
498 or 499 recovers his kingdom.
502 Kobad begins an exhausting war with Rome, which opens the way for the Arabian conquests. He seizes Theodosiopolis, capital of Roman Armenia.
503 Fall of Amida, and terrible massacre of the inhabitants. The Romans recover it the following year.
506 Peace concluded with Rome. The Romans build the great fortress at Dara.
521 War renewed with Rome. Belisarius first comes to the front as a general. Narses and his brother desert Kobad, and join the army of Justin.
529 Mundhir of Hira invades Syria. Kobad massacres the Mazdukites, who have become too powerful.
531 Kobad makes campaign in Syria. Belisarius compels him to turn back. Defeat of Belisarius at Rakka. Persian successes in Mesopotamia. Death of Kobad and truce with Rome. Khosrau or Chosroes (I) the Just, his son, succeeds. His wise internal government benefits the kingdom greatly.
532 “A Perpetual Peace” made with Rome.
540 Chosroes, jealous of Belisarius’ conquests in Africa and Italy, goes to war with the empire. He invades Syria, Antioch taken, Dara laid under tribute. Ctesiphon is captured.
541 Chosroes takes Petra in Lazistan.
546 Rome buys a truce for a large sum.
551 The son of Chosroes rebels in Susiana. He is taken and partially blinded.
560 The Turks take the right bank of the Oxus from the White Huns. Bactria becomes a part of Chosroes’ kingdom.
562 Fifty years’ peace made with the Romans.
570 Chosroes sends an expedition against the Christian Abyssinians in Yemen. He puts them under tribute.
571 War breaks out with Rome, over the threatened loss of Pers-Armenia.
573 Chosroes takes Dara. The war continues.
579 Death of Chosroes, succeeded by his son, Hormuz or Hormisdas IV. He makes a severe but just ruler. The war with Rome and a severe one with the Turks fill his reign.
589 The general Bahram, defeated by the Romans in the Caucasus. He is removed by Hormuz, and revolts. The king’s son, Chosroes, joins the rebels.
590 Hormuz is deposed, and shortly afterwards put to death. His son, Khosrau or Chosroes (II) Parvez, succeeds. Bahram contests the crown, and seizes it. Bahram or Varanes VI puts down an insurrection in Ctesiphon.
591 Chosroes recovers the throne, with help of the emperor Maurice. Bahram flees to the Turks, and is murdered. Chosroes strengthens his position, and puts his brother, Bindoe to death. Another brother, Bistam, escapes to Media and makes himself king.
595 or 596 Death of Bistam.
604 War breaks out with Rome, over usurpation of Phocas. Dara captured by Chosroes.
606-608 The Persians invade Asia Minor. They advance as far as Chalcedon.
610 Chosroes abolishes the kingdom of Hira.
614 The Persians capture Damascus.
615 The Persians capture Jerusalem and the holy cross.
616 Persian invasion of Egypt.
617 The Persians occupy Chalcedon.
622 Heraclius proceeds in person against the Persians, and gradually wins back the Persian conquests.
628 Heraclius reaches Ctesiphon but is unable to take it. Rebellion in Ctesiphon. Chosroes and most of his family are slain. His eldest son Kavadh (Kobad) II, or Siroes, is made king. He murders most of his brothers, and sues for peace from the Roman Empire. A terrible pestilence breaks out and Kobad dies. His infant son, Ardashir III, succeeds. He is the last male Sassanid. The throne is disputed by many claimants. Chosroes, a son of Kobad II, makes himself king in Khorasan, but is soon slain.