Ardshir Ardeshir, or Artaxerxes, Babegaa, founder of the Persian dynasty of the Sassan-ides in A. D. 226, died about 240. According to a critical opinion not fully established, he was the son of Babek, son of Sassan, a shepherd, who claimed descent from the line of the ancient Persian kings; and the son gradually gained an importance which brought upon him the enmity of Artaban, the last ruler of the Parthian empire. Ardeshir then announced his intention to recover the throne of his ancestors and to exterminate the Arsacide usurpers. He gave battle to Artaban, whom he vanquished and put to death, and caused himself to be proclaimed shahan shah, "king of kings." He rapidly recovered the provinces constituting the old Persian empire, and even extended its limits. A war with the Romans was of short duration. During the years of profound repose which marked the latter part of his reign, he cultivated the arts of peace, and as a jurist and legislator showed remarkable capacity. His principal achievement at home was the restoration of the pure Zoroastrian religion.