Dara II

17th-centuryShahnamehillustration of Dara II seated on his throne

Dara IIorDarab IIwas the last king of the mythologicalKayaniandynasty, ruling between 14 and 16 years. He is generally identified withDarius III(r. 336–330 BC), the last king of theAchaemenid Empire.InMiddle Persianliterature and Islamic chronicles, he is generally known as "Dara", while he is known as "Darab" in theNew PersianprosesDarab-namaandIskandar-nama.He was the son and successor ofDara I.

According to early traditions, Dara II's mother was Mahnahid, daughter of Hazarmard, while later traditions refer her to as Thamrusia, aGreekwoman who was the daughter of Fastabiqun and former wife of the king ofOman.Dara II was the half-brother of Iskandar (Alexander the Great), who, after refusing to pay tribute, rebelled. During the rebellion, Dara II was assassinated by his ministers Mahyar and Janushyar (BessusandNabarzanes).He had three sons, Ashk, Ardashir, and a third, who name is uncertain.TheSasanianmonarchs ofIran(224–651) invented a descent that traced them back to Dara II through a son named Sasan (called "the elder" ).TheHouse of Ispahbudhan,one of theSeven Great Houses of Iran,likewise claimed descent from Dara II through theirArsacidlineage.TheSafavidrulerIsmail I(r. 1501–1524) claimed to be the personification of the divine light of investiture (farr) that had radiated in Dara II.

Dara II is credited with the foundation of the city ofDarainMesopotamia,and in some cases the city ofDarabgerdinFars.

Sources

• Briant, Pierre(2015),Darius in the Shadow of Alexander,Harvard University Press,ISBN9780674745209
• Hanaway, William L. (1994)."Dārāb-nāma".Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, Vol. VII, Fasc. 1.New York. pp. 8–9.{{cite encyclopedia}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Mitchell, Colin P. (2009).The Practice of Politics in Safavid Iran: Power, Religion and Rhetoric.I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–304.ISBN978-0857715883.
• Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2016). "Dynastic Connections in the Arsacid Empire and the Origins of the House of Sāsān". In Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh; Pendleton, Elizabeth J.; Alram, Michael; Daryaee, Touraj (eds.).The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion.Oxbow Books.ISBN9781785702082.
• Shahbazi, A. Shapur (1989)."Besṭām o Bendōy".Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. IV, Fasc. 2.pp. 180–182.
• Tafazzoli, Ahmad (1994)."Dārā(b) (1)".Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, Vol. VII, Fasc. 1.New York. pp. 1–2.{{cite encyclopedia}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)