Editing Narseh (section)

{{Short description|Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire from 293 to 303}}
{{other uses|Narses (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Narsieh}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Narseh<br>{{lang|pal|𐭭𐭥𐭮𐭧𐭩}}
| title        = [[King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians]]
| image        = Narseh relief.jpg
| image_size   = 300px
| caption      = [[Rock relief]] of Narseh in [[Naqsh-e Rostam]]
| succession   = [[List of Armenian kings#Arshakuni (Arsacid) Kings of Armenia|King of Armenia]]
| reign        = 271 – 293
| predecessor  = [[Hormizd I]]
| successor   =
| succession1  = [[List of shahanshahs of the Sasanian Empire|Shahanshah]] of the [[Sasanian Empire]]
| reign1       = 293 – 303
| successor1   = [[Hormizd II]]
| predecessor1 = [[Bahram III]]
| royal house  = [[House of Sasan]]
| spouse       = [[Shapurdukhtak of Sakastan|Shapurdukhtak]]
| issue        = [[Hormizd II]]<br/>Hormizddukhtak
| father       = [[Shapur I]]
| mother       =
| birth_date   = Between 228–233
| birth_place  =
| death_date   = 303 (aged 70–75)
| death_place  =
| religion     = [[Zoroastrianism]]
}}
'''Narseh''' (also spelled '''Narses''' or '''Narseus'''; {{langx|pal|𐭭𐭥𐭮𐭧𐭩}}) was the seventh [[King of Kings]] of [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian Iran]] from 293 to 303.

The youngest son of [[Shapur I]] ({{reign|240|270}}), Narseh served as the governor of [[Sakastan (Sasanian Province)|Sakastan]], [[Hind (Sasanian province)|Hind]] and [[Turan (satrapy)|Turan]] under his father. Shapur I was eventually succeeded by his son [[Hormizd I]] ({{reign|270|271}}), who died after a reign of one year. Shapur I's eldest son [[Bahram I]], who had never been considered as a candidate for succession to the throne by his father, ascended the throne with the aid of the powerful Zoroastrian priest [[Kartir]]. He then made a settlement with Narseh to give up his entitlement to the throne in return for the governorship of the important frontier province of [[Sasanian Armenia|Armenia]], which was a persistent cause for war between the Roman and Sasanian Empires. Narseh held the title of ''Vazurg Šāh Arminān'' ("Great King of Armenia"), which was used by the heir to the throne in the early Sasanian times. Nevertheless, Narseh most likely still viewed Bahram I as a usurper.

The succession of Bahram I's son, [[Bahram II]] ({{reign|274|293}}) seemingly occurred without any issues. After Bahram II's death in 293, his son [[Bahram III]] was unwillingly crowned by a nobleman named Wahnam. The rest of the nobility did not support Bahram III's kingship, and asked Narseh to rule instead. Ultimately, Bahram III abdicated as shah, while Wahnam was executed. Narseh was the first Sasanian shah to not ascend the throne as a crown prince. The circumstances of his rise to power are detailed in the [[Paikuli inscription]], which he made as his own ''[[Res Gestae Divi Augusti]]'' and to legitimize his rule.{{sfn|Weber|2012|p=154}}

Three years after Narseh's accession, war erupted between the Sasanians and Romans once again. In 296 or 297, Narseh's forces inflicted a defeat on the forces of [[Galerius]] at the [[Battle of Carrhae (296)|Battle of Carrhae]]. The following year, however, Narseh suffered a major defeat at [[Battle of Satala (298)|Satala]]; his wives, children, and many Iranian nobles were taken as prisoners of war. Due to this ignominious defeat, Narseh was forced to accept a peace treaty prescribed by the Romans, ceding them several areas at the Sasanian-Roman border.

Narseh is notable for returning to the religious tolerance policy of his father.{{sfn|Shahbazi|2005}}