Persian ideology and imperial identity in the early Sasanian period: Legitimacy and propaganda

The Sassanids, the last great Persian dynasty of antiquity, emerged in the Persis province of Iran. The first Sassanid king, Ardashir I (224-239), changed the regional balance of power with the revolt he initiated against Parthian rule, expanding over a large part of the Iranian Plateau. The early Sassanid kings defined themselves as the successors of the Persian Empire to strengthen their legitimacy. This heritage transformed into an ideology that shaped the political and military goals of the Sassanids. This ideological orientation was not limited to rhetoric; it became a powerful tool of propaganda through coins, inscriptions, rock reliefs, and religious texts.The identity construction of the Sasanian based on Persian heritage also provided the ideological basis for their aggressive policies against the Roman Empire. The Sassanid kings combined their desire to revive the historical grandeur of the Persians with their military achievements, striving to establish superiority over the Romans. Embracing the Persian heritage and presenting it within a new ideological framework both reinforced the internal stability of the Sassanids and served as the foundation for their aggressive and expansionist policies towards the outside world. Keywords: Sasanians, Propaganda, Roman-Iranian Wars