Editing Kavad II (section)

=== Death and succession ===
Kavad II soon died of a devastating plague,{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=314}} which became known as the [[Plague of Sheroe]].{{sfn|Daryaee|Rezakhani|2017|p=40}} According to the 10th-century Arab historian and geographer [[al-Masudi]], at least a third of Iran's population—or perhaps even half—died to the plague. Al-Tabari reported that "most of the Persians perished." According to the modern historian Michael Bonner, epidemic sickness would have quickly swept throughout [[Mesopotamia]]'s crowded and densely populated communities. He adds that while it is possible the highlands of Iran remained unharmed, sources raise the possibility that the plague's impact on Ctesiphon urban area was as devastating as they claim.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=314}} It is uncertain around what time Kavad II died, as sources differ on whether he ruled six, seven, or eight months. He died in late summer or early autumn,{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2020|p=337}} and was succeeded by his seven-year-old son Ardashir III, who was supervised by [[Mah-Adhur Gushnasp]] as his regent.{{sfn|Bonner|2020|p=314}}