Draft:Ardashir's Southern Parthia Campaigns

Ardashir's Southern Iran Campaigns were a series of military campaigns undertaken by the first Sasanian Shahanshah, Ardashir I, against the Parthian Empire. The campaigns were against several minor kings subordinate to the Parthian Shahanshah Artabanus IV, all located broadly around southern Iran. The campaigns were among the first of Ardashir's military career and marked the early expansion of the emerging Sasanian Empire.

Backgroud
Ardashir I had begun expanding the Sasanian Empire by conquering parts of Pars and Kerman from the Parthian Empire. These conquests expanded the resources available to him and helped facilitate further expansion into Parthian territory.

The Battle of Istakhr
While Ardashir was conquering Kerman from its king, Haftvād, Artabanus IV had dispatched his son, Bahman, along with Sabak, the new ruler of Jahrom, and the King of Khuzestan, to put down the Sasanian rebellion. Bahman was able to reconquer Istakhr from Ardashir while he was campaigning in Kerman. Subsequently, Ardashir was forced to confront the Parthian force before he could move towards Isfahan, his next target.

Ardashir left Abarsām in command of the city of Ardashir-Khwarrah and began his march towards Istakhr. As Ardashir was moving towards Istakhr, Sabak suddenly defected to the Sasanians and took his army of cavalry and infantry with him, which bolstered Ardashir's army. Soon after, Bahman's army lined up for battle somewhere in the vicinity of Istakhr. In response, the Sasanian army formed into two separate lines, with Sabak's forces immediately in front of Ardashir's. Sabak took the initiative and closed with the Parthian army; concurrently, a gust of wind blew sand towards them, skewing their vision. Ardashir then led his men against the Parthian center, which resulted in the complete route of the Parthian army and Bahman himself being shot with arrows. The Sasanians relentlessly pursued the retreating Parthians back to Istakhr, where Bahman would soon surrender.

Conquests of Isfahan, Khuzestan, and Meshan
After defeating Bahman, Ardashir was clear to make his way towards Isfahan. En route, Ardashir received news that the king of Khuzestan had attempted to capture Sasanian territory in Pars, but Abarsām had easily defeated him and sent him fleeing. Ardashir went on to take Isfahan from its king, Šād-Shapur, and later had him put to death. Before Artabanus IV could catch up to Ardashir at Isfahan, he returned to Pars.

Once back in Pars, Ardashir fought a battle with the king of Khuzestan who was still in the area, which once again resulted in a Sasanian victory, this time forcing the king out of Pars. Ardashir followed up this victory by attacking deep into Khuzestan, looting and pillaging the entire province. In order to secure his conquest of Khuzestan, Ardashir established the city of Hormozd-Ardashir, which is the modern city of Ahvaz.

Ardashir then campaigned against the Parthian province of Meshan, killing its king and annexing the province. In Meshan, he established another city named Astarabad-Ardahisr.