Ardashir II

Ardashir II 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥
King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran[a]
Relief of Ardashir II in Taq-e Bostan
King of Adiabene
Reign	344–376
Predecessor	Unknown
Successor	Title abolished; Adiabene transformed into a province
Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire
Reign	379–383
Predecessor	Shapur II
Successor	Shapur III
Born	309/10
Died	383
House	House of Sasan
Father	Hormizd II
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Ardashir II (Middle Persian: 𐭠𐭥𐭲𐭧𐭱𐭲𐭥, romanized: Ardašīr), was the Sasanian King of Kings (shahanshah) of Iran from 379 to 383. He was the brother of his predecessor, Shapur II (r. 309–379), under whom he had served as vassal king of Adiabene, where he fought alongside his brother against the Romans. Ardashir II was appointed as his brother's successor to rule interimly till the latter's son Shapur III reached adulthood. Ardashir II's short reign was largely uneventful, with the Sasanians unsuccessfully trying to maintain rule over Armenia.

Ardashir II was seemingly a strong-willed character, and is known in some sources by the epithet of nihoukar ("the beneficent").
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).