Editing Yazdegerd II (section)

{{Short description|Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire from 438 to 457}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name        = Yazdegerd II<br />{{lang|pal|𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩}}
| title       = [[King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians]]
| image       = YazdegerdIICroppedCoinHistoryofIran.jpg
| caption     = [[Ancient drachma|Drachma]] of Yazdegerd II, minted at [[Gurgan]] or [[Qom]] between 439-447
| succession  = [[List of shahanshahs of the Sasanian Empire|Shahanshah]] of the [[Sasanian Empire]]
| reign       = 438–457
| predecessor = [[Bahram V]]
| successor   = [[Hormizd III]]
| queen       = [[Denag]]
| issue       = {{plainlist|
* [[Hormizd III]]
* [[Peroz I]]
* [[Balash]]
* [[Zarer]]
* [[Vachagan III]] (?)
}}
| royal house = [[House of Sasan]]
| father      = [[Bahram V]]
| mother      = Sapinud
| birth_date  =
| birth_place = 
| death_date  = 457
| death_place = 
| religion    = [[Zoroastrianism]]
}}
'''Yazdegerd II''' (also spelled '''Yazdgerd''' and '''Yazdgird'''; {{langx|pal|𐭩𐭦𐭣𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩}}), was the [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] [[King of Kings]] ({{lang|pal|[[shah]]anshah}}) of [[Iran]] from 438 to 457. He was the successor and son of [[Bahram V]] ({{reign|420|438}}).

His reign was marked by wars against the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] in the west and the [[Kidarites]] in the east, as well as by his efforts and attempts to strengthen royal centralisation in the bureaucracy by imposing [[Zoroastrianism]] on the non-Zoroastrians within the country, namely the [[Christians]]. This backfired in [[Sasanian Armenia|Armenia]], culminating in a large-scale rebellion led by the military leader [[Vardan Mamikonian]], who was ultimately defeated and killed at the [[Battle of Avarayr]] in 451. Nevertheless, religious freedom was subsequently allowed in the country.

Yazdegerd II was the first Sasanian ruler to assume the title of ''[[Kay (title)|kay]]'' ("king"), which evidently associates him and the dynasty to the mythical [[Kayanian dynasty]] commemorated in the [[Avesta]]. His death led to a dynastic struggle between his two sons [[Hormizd III]] and [[Peroz I]] for the throne, with the latter emerging victorious.