Apr 20

Democratic Election of Ardavan III as King of Iran

Ardavan III On 20 April AD 9, the Iranian Senate (Mehestan) elected Ardavan III, who was linked to Ashk I, founder of the Parthian dynasty (Ashkanids), only by his mother. Election of a Parthian king was not necessarily hereditary. Designation of the succeeding king was conditional to majority of votes of the Mahestan (the then Iranian Senate whose members were nobles of Iran). But since usually the next king would become candidate during the reign of the then king who would give priority to his own son or brother or nephew, the Parthian monarchy did not leave the Parthian family, with the exception of cases when the ruling king would die of a sudden death before designation of his successor.          Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour