List of wars involving Iran

This is a list of wars involving the Islamic Republic of Iran and its predecessor states. It is an unfinished historical overview.

Elamite Civilisation

[edit]
Conflict Ancient Iranian State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Elamite invasion of Sumer[1]

(Circa 2600 BC)

Awan Elam Sumer Victory Deposition of Balulu, end of First Dynasty of Ur and establishment of the Elamyte dynasty.
Sumerian invasion of Elam

(Circa 2400 BC)

Awan Elam

Kish Akshak Umma

Sumer Defeat Eannatum manage to conquer parts of Elam (destroying Susa) and develop one of the first recorded empires.
Elamite-Sumer skirmishes.[2][3]

(Circa 2400 BC)

Awan Elam

Marhasi

Sumer Stalemate Elamite's success to expel Sumer's incursions from Iranian Plateau and sack some Sumer city states in Mesopotamia, but governors like Enentarzi expel them from its domains.
Akkadian conquest of Elam[4]

(Circa 2300-2200 BC)

Elam

Marhasi Gutian people Pashime

Akkadian Empire Defeat South-Western Iran is conquered by Sargon of Akkad, his son Rimush defeat the revolts led by Abalgamash, and Manishtushu expands forward Anshan and seizure control of Persian Gulf.
Narum-Sin campaign on Elam

(Circa 2200 BC)

Elam

Marhasi co-belligerant: Sumer rebels Gutian people

Akkadian Empire Ceasefire Accadian control of Khuzestan is reinforced, installing imperial governors to counter the power from native kings like Khita.[5]
First Shar-Kali-Sharri campaign on Elam

(Circa 2100 BC)

Elam Akkadian Empire Defeat Status quo ante bellum
Kutik-Inshushinak campaign against Gutians[6]

(Circa 2100 BC)

Akkadian Empire Gutian people Victory Elamyte-Accadians expand territories on the Zagros Mountains.
Elamyte independence war against Akkadians[7][8]

(Circa 2090 BC)

Elam

co-belligerant: Uruk

Akkadian Empire

Gutian people

Victory
Sumerian invasion of Elam[8][9]

(Circa 2090 BC)

Elam

Lagash

Neo-Sumerian Empire

co-belligerant

Shimashki dynasty

Defeat The King of Sumer and Akkad, Ur-Nammu and his son Shulgi, conquers parts of Elam surrounding Susa. The rest of Elam is conquered by the Shimashki dynasty, after the death of Puzur-Inshushinak.
Sumerian border skirmishes on the north-east[10][11]

(Circa 2000 BC)

Simurrum

Lullubi co-belligerant Elam

Neo-Sumerian Empire Inconclusive Tribal invasions from Western Iran to Sumer are stopped.
Elamyte conquest of Sumer[12][13]

(Circa 2004/1940 BC)

Shimashki Elam Neo-Sumerian Empire Victory Elamyte king, Kindattu, capture Sumerian king, Ibbi-Sin. End of the third dynasty of Ur and Elamyte military occupation and rule for 21 years.
Amorite conquest of Sumer[14]

(Circa 1900 BC)

Shimashki Elam Amorites Defeat Ishbi-Erra expel the Elamytes from Ur, then gain the title of King of Sumer and expands over Sumer and Akkad.
Revolts against Assyrian domain[15][16]

(722–702 BC)

Babylonia

Aram (Ancient Syrian cities)

Philistia

Ancient Levant cities

Rebel Syro-Hittite states

Rebel Mannaea

Medes

Rebel Ellipi

Supported by:

Neo-Assyrian Empire

Cimmerians


Kingdom of Judah
Stalemate
Assyrian conquest of Elam

(655–639 BC)

Elam Neo-Assyrian Empire Defeat Assyrian conquers the Elamyte Domains.

Median State

[edit]
Conflict Ancient Iranian State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Median Empire
(678–549 BC)
Assyrian invasions of Media (10th – late 7th centuries BC) Medes Assyrian Empire Defeat Kingdoms and city-states of western Iran became Assyrian vassals
Median invasion of Assyria (the late 7th century BC) Medes

Scythians

Other Iranian peoples

Assyrian Empire Victory Invasion of the Assyrian Empire by a coalition of Iranian peoples, led by Kashtariti of Media
  • End of Assyrian rule in Media
  • Formation of an independent Median kingdom
  • Median invasion of Assyria repelled
Medo-Babylonian invasion Assyria
(626–609 BC)
Median Kingdom
Babylonia

Persians

Assyrian Empire Victory Alliance between various people of the region against the Assyrian Empire, led by the Median Kingdom and Babylonia
Scythian invasion of Media (624–597 BC) Median Kingdom Scythians Victory War between two groups of Iranian peoples
  • Conquest of Media by Scythians
  • End of Scythian rule in Media in 597 BC, during reign of Cyaxares
Siege of Harran
(609 BC)
Medes
Babylonia
Assyria

Egypt

Victory The Assyrian insurgency
Battle of Eclipse
(585 BC)
Medes Kingdom of Lydia Undecided The battle ended due to an eclipse.

Achaemenid (Classic Persia)

[edit]
Conflict Persia (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Achaemenid Empire
(550–330 BC)
Battle of Hyrba
(552 BC)
Persians Medes Empire Victory
Persian Revolt
(552–549 BC)
Persians Median Empire Victory By conquering Media, Iran became an empire.
Battle of the Persian border
(551 BC)
Persians Medes Empire Victory Persian retreat to Pasargadae
Conquest of Lydia
(547 BC)
Persian Empire Lydian Empire Victory Lydia annexed by Iran
Cyrus' first eastern campaign (545–540 BC) Persian Empire Gedrosia Victory Persian conquest of Bactria, Arachosia, Sogdia, Saka, Chorasmia, Margiana and other provinces in the east after initial defeat
Conquest of Babylonia
(540–539 BC)
Persian Empire Neo-Babylonian Empire Victory Neo-Babylonian Empire annexed by Iran.
Cyrus' second eastern Campaign (533 BC) Persian Empire Gedrosia Victory Cyrus the Great crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and collected tribute from the Indus vassalage cities.
Conquest of Egypt
(525 BC)
Persian Empire Kingdom of Egypt Victory Egypt annexed by Iran
Persian incursions into Nubia[17]

(526 BC)

Persian Empire Kingdom of Kush Defeat Cambyses II fails to expand Achaemenid domains into the south to reach the limits of former Egyptian Empire.[18] Nubians maintains its independence and Persians establish frontier on Elephantine.
Conquest of India (Indus Valley)

(518 BC)

Persian Empire Mahajanapadas Victory Achaemenid military occupation of northwestern regions of India for about two centuries
European Scythian campaign
(513 BC)
Persian Empire Scythians in European Scythia Victory Achaemenid domination of the European Black Sea regions
Greek Revolt

(499 BC–493 BC)

Persian Empire Greeks Victory Persia re-establishes control over Greek regions in Asia Minor and Cyprus
Greco-Persian War (First)

(492–490 BC)

Persian Empire Greeks Undecided Persia conquers Macedonia and the Cycladic Islands, re-subjugates Thrace,but fails in an attempt to subjugate Athens and Sparta
Babylonian revolts (484 BC) Persian Empire Victory Persian punish the rebelled Babylonian cities, reducing the size of their Satrapies and fomenting minoritary religions.
Greco-Persian War (Second)

(480–479 BC)

Persian Empire Greeks Defeat Macedonia, Thrace and Ionia regain independence from Persia

Achaemenid destruction of Athens

Peloponnesian War
(431–404 BC)
Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta)

Supported by:
Achaemenid Empire

Delian League (led by Athens) Victory Dissolution of the Delian League; Spartan hegemony over Athens and its allies
Battle of Cunaxa
(401 BC)
Persian Empire Cyrus the Younger Victory Artaxerxes II still in full control of the kingdom
Corinthian War
(395–387 BC)
Athens
Argos
Corinth
Thebes
Persian Empire
Other allies
Sparta
Peloponnesian League
Victory

(Peace of Antalcidas

dictated by Iran)

Ionia ceded back to Achaemenid Iran; Boeotian league dissolved; Union of Argos and Corinth dissolved.
Artaxerxes' II Cadusian Campaign
(385 BC)
Persian Empire Cadusii Victory Negotiated peace with rival chiefs
Revolt of the Satraps
(372–362 BC)
Persian Empire Rebel satrapies Victory Rebellions crushed
Second conquest of Egypt
(c. 340 BC)
Persian Empire Egypt Victory Egypt is conquered for a second time by Iran
Macedonian invasion of Iran
(355–328 BC)
Persian Empire Macedonia Defeat Iran conquered by the army of Alexander the Great
Conflict Persianizated State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Macedonian Empire (330–312 BC)
Indian campaign of Alexander the Great (327–325 BC) Macedonia Ancient India Victory Hellenic conquest of great part of the Indus Valley.

Iranic confrontation with the Nanda Empire of Magadha.

Wars of the Diadochi

(322–281 BC)

First War:

Second War:

Third War:

First War:

Second War:

Third War:

Defeat Death of Perdiccas.

Seleucus established himself in Babylon in 312 BC, then conquest Persia.

Seleucid Empire (312-129 BC)
Babylonian War (311–309 BCE) Seleucid Empire Antigonid dynasty Victory Seleucid control of Babylonia, Media, and Elam
Seleucid–Mauryan war (305–303 BCE) Seleucid Empire Maurya Empire Defeat Treaty of the Indus
Roman–Seleucid War (192–188 BC)[19] Seleucid Empire Roman Republic Defeat Peace of Apamea
Campaigns of Artaxias I

(189–165 BCE)

Seleucid Empire

Atropatene
Kingdom of Cataonia
Kingdom of Pontus

Lesser Armenia

Kingdom of Iberia

Kingdom of Armenia

Kingdom of Sophene

Defeat The regions of Caspiana, Faunitida, Basolropeda, Tmorik, Karenitis, Derksen, Akilisene and Antitaurus are annexed to Armenia.

Parthian Persia

[edit]
Conflict Persia (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Parthian Empire
(247 BC–224 AD)
Parni Conquest Parthia

(238 BC)

Parthian Empire Seleucid Empire Victory • Rise of the Parthian Empire

• The beginning of the Seleucid–Parthian Wars

Seleucid–Parthian Wars
(238 BC–129 BC)
Parthian Empire

Parni

Seleucid Empire

Persis Elymais Characene

Scythians

Arabs

Victory • Expulsion of the Seleucids from Iran
Parthian–Bactrian War (150 BC) Parthian Empire Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Victory
  • Western Bactria annexed to the Parthian Empire.
  • Greek debilitation and arise of Kushan Empire in the zone
Second Parthian-Kushan War

(between c. 130 CE to c. 140 CE)

Parthian Empire Kushan Empire Defeat Kanishka I repels the invasion
Battle of Ecbatana

(129 BC)

Parthian Empire Seleucid Empire Victory End of Hellenistic rule in Iran
Nomad invasion of Drangiana[20][21]

(128-115 BC)

Parthian Empire Indo-Scythians

Yuezhi

Victory Parthian reconquers western Bactria and expand into Amu Darya and Arachosia
Parthian invasion of Armenia

(120–100 BCE?)

Parthian Empire

Atropatene

Kingdom of Armenia Victory Parthians add territories
Parthian expedition to Arabia[22]

(119 BC)

Parthian Empire Ancient Arabs Victory End of Arab raids on Babylonia.
Mithridates II's war with the Seleucids.

(112-109 BC)

Parthian Empire

Characene

Seleucid Empire

Elymais

Victory Parthian conquers Mesopotamia and reduce Seleucids into Syria
Chinese–Parthian War[23]

(104–102 BC)

Parthian Empire Han China Stalemate Emperor Wu of Han forced Mithridates II of Parthia to start commercial relations and the sell of Persian horse, but Parthians maintain its Sphere of influence on Fergana Valley.
Armenian–Parthian War
(87–85 BC)
Parthian Empire Kingdom of Armenia Defeat Osroene and Atrpatakan loyalty to Tigranes the Great
Battle of Carrahe

(53 BC)

Parthian Empire Roman Republic Victory • Repelling the danger of the Romans

Crassus killed

• Roman desire to retaliate for Julius Caesar's planned invasion of the Parthian Empire

Liberators' civil war

(43–42 BC)

Liberatores

Supported by:

Parthian Empire[24]

Second Triumvirate

Supported by:

Ptolemaic Egypt

Defeat The Second Triumvirate wins the Roman Civil War, then reinstates control over the eastern provinces.
Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC

(40–38 BC)

Parthian Empire Roman Republic Defeat Status quo ante bellum
Antony's Parthian War

(36–20 BC)

Parthian Empire

Atropatene

Hasmonean Kingdom

Roman Republic

Kingdom of Armenia

Galatia

Cappadocia

Pontus

Herodian Kingdom of Judea

Victory • Antony's was unsuccessful in campaign against Iran

• Ended by formal peace in 20 BC

Gondophares conquest on the East

(20–10 BC)

Indo-Parthian Kingdom Indo-Scythians

Indo-Greek Kingdom

Victory Gondophares conquers Arachosia, Seistan, Sindh, Punjab, and the Kabul valley.
Pharasmanes I of Iberia invasion of Armenia

(35 AD)

Parthian Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Kingdom of Iberia Defeat Orodes of Armenia is deposed
Kushan invasion of Indo-Parthia

(50s AD)

Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire Defeat Kushans conquer Indo-Parthian territories in northern India.
Iberian–Armenian War

(50–51 AD/51–53 AD)

Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire (until 51)


Kingdom of Armenia

Parthian Empire

Kingdom of Iberia
Kingdom of Iberia

Roman Empire

Victory The Roman–Parthian War of 58–63 start
Roman–Parthian War of 58–63

(58–63 AD)

Parthian Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire

Roman clients

Sophene

Lesser Armenia

Iberia

Commagene

Pontus

Stalemate Treaty of Rhandeia
Roman–Parthian Wars
(66 AD–216)
Parthian Empire
Kingdom of Armenia
Roman Empire
Pontus
Status quo ante bellum Borders changed several times.
Trajan's Parthian campaign

(115–117)

Parthian Empire

co-belligerant Jewish/Judean zealots[citation needed]

Babylonians rebels Armenian rebels

Roman Empire

Client Parthian state

Stalemate
Roman–Parthian War of 161–166

(161–166)

Parthian Empire

Pro-Parthian Edessans

Roman Empire

Pro-Roman Edessans

Defeat Minor Roman territorial gains and Armenia consolidated as a Roman client
Battle of Ctesiphon (198) Parthian Empire Roman Empire Defeat Roman sacks Persian capital
Parthian War of Caracalla

(216–217)

Parthian Empire Roman Empire Victory
  • Rome is forced to pay tribute to Parthia

Sassanid Persia

[edit]
Conflict Persia (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Sassanid Empire
(224–651)
Battle of Hormozdgan

(224)

Sassanids Parthian Empire Victory • Fall of the Parthian Empire

• Rise of the Sasanian Empire

Sasanian conquest of Sakastan

(225–226)[25]

Sassanids Indo-Parthian Kingdom Victory Consolidation of the Sasanian Empire on eastern Persia
Ardashir I invasion of Armenia

(226–238)

Sasanian Empire Kingdom of Armenia Defeat Sassanid withdrawal
First Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I

(229–233)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Kingdom of Hatra

Inconclusive Both sides get territorial gains.
Second Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I

(237–240)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Kingdom of Hatra

Victory The Sasanian Empire conquers several cities including Nisibis (237),Carrhae (238) and Hatra (240).
Shapur I campaign on the East

(241–242)

Sasanian Empire Victory Persia annex territories as far as "Purushapura" (Peshawar) and the Hindu-Kush or even south of it.

Those includying Sogdiana, Bactria, and Gandhara. Kushans are deposed and replaced by the Kushanshah

Sasanian campaign of Gordian III

(242–244)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory The Sasanian Empire conquers Armenia and Mesopotamia
Siege of Nisibis

(252)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian capture of Nisibis
Battle Of Barbalissos

(253)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Shapur's army won against Valerian's army
Siege of Antioch (253) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian capture of Antioch
Siege of Dura-Europos (256) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian capture of Dura-Europos
Battle of Edessa

(260)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory
Siege of Antioch (260) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Sasanian Empire conquers Antioch
Siege of Caesarea Cappadocia (260) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Sasanian Empire conquers Caesarea Cappadocia
Odaenathus' Sasanian Campaign

(261–266)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Inconclusive Shapur lost part of his baggages while succeeding to come back to Persia with a great number of prisoners and booty
Sasanian revolts against Barham II

(274–293)

Sasanian Empire Victory Revolts suppressed
Carus' Sasanian Campaign

(283)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Withdrawal of the Roman forces
Narseh's insurrection

(293)

Sasanian Empire

Zoroastrians

Narseh's forces

Manichaeists

Narseh's Victory Bahram III is deposed, Kartir reforms are abolished, Zoroastrian theocracy ends and Sasanian empire is centralised.
Battle of Carrhae (296) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian invasion of Mesopotamia and Armenia success
Battle of Satala (298) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Defeat Roman expels Persians from Armenia, capture Narseh's wife, raid Ctesiphon and gains territory on the Peace of Nisibis (299).
Shapur ll's Arab Campaign

(325)

Sasanian Empire Arabs Victory
Perso-Roman wars of 337–361

(337–361)

Sasanian Empire

Xionites/Kidarites

Roman Empire Indecisive Status quo ante bellum
Wars of Shapur II with the Chionites and Kushans[26]

(350–358)

Sasanian Empire

Gupta Empire

Xionites/Kidarites

Kushan Empire

Victory
  • Expansion of Sasanian control to the south-east, beyond the Indus River.
  • Nomad peoples, led by the chief Grumbates, are forced to serve as mercenaries in the Persian army against Romans.
Sasanian–Kidarite wars

(350–466)

  • Sasanian campaigns in Central Asia
Sasanian Empire
Alchon Huns
Hepthalites
Kidarites Victory
  • Expansion of Sasanian control to the north-east, re-occupying Bactria and going further to Transoxiana.
  • Start of Gupta–Kidarite conflict, as Kidarites were pushed to North India
Shapur II's 1st Armenian campaign (359–361) Sasanian Empire Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire

Victory Death of Arshak II
Kidarites invasions of Bactria

(360s)

Sasanian Empire Kidarites Defeat Kidara I conquers Bactria and get the title of Kushanshah
Julian's Persian expedition

(363)

Sasanian Empire

Arab allies

Roman Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Victory Sasanian annexation of five regions & fifteen major fortresses from the Roman Empire in addition to the consequent annexation of Armenia
Shapur II's 2nd Armenian campaign (367–371) Sasanian Empire

Caucasian Albania

Roman Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Defeat Persians depose Arshak II of Armenia. Then

Armenia is under Roman suzerainty through Pap of Armenia entronization.

Shapur III's Armenian Campaign (378–386) Sasanian Empire Kingdom of Armenia

Eastern Roman Empire

Victory Peace of Acilisene
Hunnic invasion of the Sasanian Empire

(395)

Sasanian Empire

co-belligerant
Roman Empire

Hunnic Empire Victory Huns quit
Roman–Sasanian War of 421–422

(421–422)

Sasanian Empire

Lakhmid Arabs

Eastern Roman Empire Inconclusive Status quo ante bellum
Byzantine–Sasanian War of 440

(440)

Sasanian Empire Eastern Roman Empire Indecisive Status quo ante bellum
  • Both empires agreed to battle northern nomads (Scythians).
Battle of Avarayr

(451)

Sasanian Empire Christian Armenians Victory Following Persian the victory, Yazdegerd jailed some Armenian priests and nobles and appointed a new governor for Armenia but, the Armenians gained religious freedom for their Christian faith.
Sassanian War of Succession[27]

(457–459)

Loyals to Hormizd III Loyals to Peroz I Peroz Victory Peroz deposes his older brother
Albanian's Revolt

(457–459)

Sasanian Empire Caucasian Albania (independentists)

Hunnic Empire

Defeat Vache II of Albania, of the Arsacid dynasty of Caucasian Albania, success in stablish an independent Kingdom.
Kidarite-Sassanid War (464–466)[28][29] Sasanian Empire

Alchon Huns

Kidarites Victory End of Kidarite menace to Persia in Bactria
Hephthalite–Sasanian Wars

(484–565)

Sasanian Empire

First Turkic Khaganate

Hephthalite Empire Victory
  • The Hephthalite Empire breaks into minor kingdoms.
  • Sasanians and Turks established a frontier for their zones of influence along the Oxus river
Byzantine–Sassanid Wars
(502–628)
Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Status quo ante bellum Borders changed several times.
Anastasian War

(502–506)

Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Draw Status quo ante bellum[30]

•Byzantium pays a small amount of money[31]: 77 

Aksumite invasion of Himyar

(518–525)

Himyarite Kingdom
  • Jewish Himyarites

Supported by:
Sasanian Empire

Kingdom of Aksum

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Defeat
Iberian War

(526–532)

Sasanian Empire

Lakhmids

Sabirs

Byzantine Empire

Iberia

Ghassanids

Huns

Heruli

Aksumites

Kinda

Inconclusive *Sasanians retained Iberia

Byzantines retained Lazica

Byzantines

Lazic War

(541–562)

Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Disputed Fifty-Year Peace Treaty
Aksumite–Persian wars
(570–578)
Sasanian Empire

Supported by:

Jewish Himyarites

Kingdom of Aksum

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

South Arabian Christians

Victory Ethiopians expelled from the Himyarite Kingdom. (Yemen is annexed by the Sasanian Empire)
War for the Caucasus

(572–591)

Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Defeat Khosrow II is restored to the Sasanian throne.

Khosrow II gives the Byzantine Empire most of Persian Armenia and western half of Iberia after the Sasanian civil war of 589–591

• Byzantium stops paying tribute to Sasanian empire[32]

First Perso-Turkic War
(588–589)
Sasanian Empire Hephthalite Empire
Göktürks
Victory The Sassanids captured Balkh.
Sasanian civil war of 589–591 Sasanian Empire Supporters of Bahram Chobin
Dissatisfied Sasanian nobles

supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Khosrow II Victory Khosrow II faction's victory
Vistahm Rebellion

(590–596)

Sasanian Empire Parthians led by Vistahm Victory Revolt suppressed
Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 Sasanian Empire

Avars (and Slavic allies)

Byzantine Empire

Western Turkic Khaganate

Defeat
Second Perso-Turkic War
(606–608)
Sasanian Empire Western Turkic Khaganate
Hephthalite Empire
Victory Turkic invasion of Iran repelled
Jewish revolt against Heraclius (614–617/625)
Jewish rebels
Sasanian Empire
Byzantine Empire Status quo ante bellum Jewish surrender and expulsion after a brief rule by Persians and Jews over parts of the Byzantine Diocese of the East.
Sasanian incursions into Nubia (620s)[33] Sasanian Empire
Kingdom of Makuria
Kingdom of Nobatia

Byzantine Empire

Inconclusive Persians are expelled by Byzantines, but Persian incursions destroy Christian Churchs and debilitate Nobatians, causing its decline and further conquest by simultaneous Makurian invasion.
Third Perso-Turkic War
(627–629)
Sasanian Empire

Supported by:

Eastern Turkic Khaganate

Western Turkic Khaganate
Supported by:

Byzantine Empire

Defeat Byzantine control of Georgia
Sasanian civil war of 628–632 The Parsig faction

The Nimruzi faction

The Pahlav (Parthian) faction
Shahrbaraz's army
Stalemate
Muslim conquest of Persia
(633–654)
Sasanian Empire

Supported by:

Rashidun Caliphate

Kanarang

Defeat
Sasanids attempts to recuperate the Persian throne (657–679) Tang China

Sassanids in exile

Rashidun Caliphate (until 661)

Umayyad Caliphate (from 661)

Western Turkic Khaganate

Defeat The Tang campaigns against the Western Turks (by Pei Xingjian) success and the Chinese established a "Persian military commandery" (波斯都督府) in the city of Zābol (疾陵城 Jilicheng) in Tokharistan, and Peroz was appointed as Military Commander (都督 Dudu). Then this government, with the capital at Zirang, fell in 673/674.

After that, Narsieh went west with his troops to liberate Iranshahr in 679 and fought against the Arabs in Takharistan for almost thirty years.

  • The failure and end of the persian restoration campaign attempt in Siege of Kamarja
  • Narsieh's uncle, Bahram, died in 710, and Bahram's son, Khosrow, was mentioned fighting alongside Sogdians and Turks against the Arabs at the siege of Kamarja in 729 in a futile attempt to restore Sasanian rule.[34]

Medieval Islamic Era

[edit]
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Iranian Intermezzo (821–1090)
Muslim conquest of Transoxiana

(673–751)

Abbasid Caliphate

Tibetan Empire Karluk mercenaries

Principalities of Tokharistan

Sogdian principalities

Khwarazm

Fergana

Türgesh Kaghanate

Second Turkic Khaganate
Tang China

Victory
Second Fitna (Muslim civil war of 680–692) Zubayrid Caliphate
Alids
Kharijites
Umayyad Caliphate Defeat Kharijite faction, the Azariqa, captures Fars and Kirman from the Zubayrids. Ex-Zubayrid loyalists help Umayyad to secured Iraq, and consequently most of its dependencies in Persia. Then, Umayyad victory after Siege of Mecca.
Umayyad campaigns in India

(712–740)

Umayyad Caliphate Gurjara-Pratihara

Guhila dynasty

Maitraka dynasty

Chalukya dynasty

Karkota Empire

Defeat
  • Arab, and later Turco-Persian Muslim invasions to India, stop for the next 250 years.
  • Islamization of modern Pakistan.
Third Fitna

(744–750)

Abbasid Caliphate

Supported by:


Kharijites
Umayyad Caliphate

Supported by:

Victory
  • Abbasid appropriation of most former Umayyad territory
  • Eventual establishment of the Emirate of Córdoba
  • End of privileged status for Arabs
  • End of official discrimination against non-Arabs
Tabaristan uprising

(781–805)

Karenids

Bavandids

Baduspanids

Zarmihrids

Abbasid Caliphate

Supported:

Barmakids

Defeat Arabs conquered Tabaristan in 758-759.
Abbasid expeditions to East Africa

(804, 827/837)

1st phase

Abbasid Caliphate 2nd phase
Persians wālīs of Zanj

1st phase

Africans from Zanj

2nd phase
Abbasid Caliphate

Victory The Kharaj is imposed on the Africans.

Persian rebels against Mihna get a compromise.

Fourth Fitna (Abbasid civil war of 811–813/819) Al-Ma'mun (supported mostly by Persian forces) Al-Amin (supported mostly by Arab forces) Victory Defeat and death of al-Amin; al-Ma'mun is recognized as Caliph on 27 September 813. Tahir ibn Husayn rewarded as governor of Khorasan, which marked the beginning of the Tahirids.
Hamza ibn Azarak's Kharijites rebellion in Sistan

(823–828)

Tahirid dynasty Kharijites Inconclusive Hamza's death in 828 and the death of Talha shortly after put an end to this series of conflicts.
Mazyar uprising

(839)

Tahirid dynasty Spahbed Mazyar and

Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin's forces

Defeat Mazyar was arrested and sent to Baghdad. Tahirid control over Tabaristan was therefore secured.

Mazyar was Crucified next to babak in 840CE[35]

Zaydid revolt of 864 Tahirid dynasty Hasan ibn Zayd's forces Defeat Hasan, who assumed the regnal name al-Da‘ī ila’l-ḥaqq ("He who summons to the Truth"), was recognized as emir of Tabaristan.
Caspian expeditions of the Rus'

(864–1041)

Abbasid Caliphate

Khazars (from 965)

Alans

Byzantine Empire (941)

Sarir

Volga Bulgaria

Kievan Rus'

Oghuz Turks

Khazars (until 943)

Stalemate
  • Occupation of several areas on the outskirts of the Volga and the Dnieper by the Russians. Start of Russian expansionism on the Caucasus.
  • The disintegration of the Khazar Empire
  • Sack of different areas by the Russians in Iranian territories near Caspian Sea
  • The local Muslims defeated the Russians in their attempts to conquest Persian territories.
Samanid conquest of northern Iran

(900–901)

Samanid Empire Zaydids Victory Samanids took over the province of Tabaristan, Ismail then appointed his cousin Abu'l-Abbas Abdullah as the governor of Tabaristan.
Sajid invasion of Georgia

(914)

Sajid dynasty Tao-Klarjeti

Kingdom of Kakheti
Kingdom of Abkhazia

Stalemate Despite military victories, sajid withdraw from Georgia
Sajid invasion of Armenia

(921)

Sajid dynasty Kingdom of Armenia Defeat Armenia success to maintain its independence.
Qarmatian invasion of Iraq (927–928) Abbasid Caliphate

Sajid dynasty

Qarmatians of Bahrayn

Baqliyya rebels

Stalemate End of Qarmatian expansionism

Collapse of the Abbasid Empire

Battle of Iskhabad

(940)

Ziyarid dynasty

Firuzanids

Samanid Empire Defeat Samanid conquest of the territory
Saffarid dynasty
(861–1003)
Yaqub's campaigns to the east (861–870) Saffarid dynasty Zunbils

Kharijites

Medieval India

Victory Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar marched through Bost, Kandahar, Ghazni, Kabul, Bamyan, Balkh and Herat, conquering them in the name of Islam.
Saffarid-Abbasid War (873–876) Saffarid dynasty

Ayyars

Abbasid Caliphate Defeat
  • In 873, Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar ousted the Tahirids from their own capital of Nishapur, and captured its ruler Muhammad ibn Tahir, which led to conflicts with the Abbasid caliphate.
  • The Abbasid caliph completely halted Ya`qub's advance and put an end to what was arguably a major threat to the Abbasid Caliphate.[36]
Battle of Mecca (883)
  • Part of Abbasid decline (861–940)
Saffarid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

Tulunids Victory The invaders are expelled from the holiest city of Mecca.
Battle of Balkh

(900)

Saffarid Amirate Samanid Empire Defeat The Saffarids lose much territory to the Samanids in Khorasan, and were left with the control of Fars, Kerman and Sistan, but they also lost these provinces after a civil war.
Saffarid Campaign in the Fars province

(900–904)

Saffarid Amirate Abbasid Caliphate Victory Temporarily regained Fars, but the Saffarids withdrew soon afterwards.
Military expedition against Makran

(907 or 908)

Saffarid Amirate Ma'danids Victory Saffarids able to compel the Ma'danid to give three years of tribute.
Civil war between Tahir and the pretender Al-Layth (909–912) Tahir ibn Muhammad ibn Amr Al-Layth Stalemate Sebük-eri, who had managed to win over Tahir's commanders, won an easy victory and captured the brothers. They were sent to the Caliph and imprisoned in Baghdad, though they were treated well for the remainder of their lives.
Buyid-Saffarid War (967–968) Saffarid dynasty Buyid dynasty Defeat Adud al-Dawla negotiated peace with the Saffarid ruler Khalaf ibn Ahmad, who agreed to recognize Buyid authority.

1° Turco-Persian Era

[edit]
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Ghaznavid dynasty
(962–1186)
Ghaznavid campaigns in East Persia (999–1004) Ghaznavid Empire Saffarid Empire

Samanid Empire

Victory North-Eastern Persia annexed by the Afghan-centered Ghaznavid Sultanate (although still under suzerainty to the Abbasid Caliphs), and fall of both Samanids and Saffarids.
March of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni to India (1001–1027) Ghaznavid Empire Medieval India Victory The northern parts of India were annexed by Iran. Somnath temple was destroyed and its treasures looted.
Kara-Khanid invasion of Khorasan

(1006–1008)

Ghaznavid Empire Kara-Khanid Khanate Victory Ghaznavids expels the invaders.
Ghaznavid conquest of Khwarazm

(1017)

Ghaznavid Empire Ma'munids Victory Ghaznavids expands to Central Asia.
Ghaznavid campaigns in West Persia

(1026–1030)

Abbasid Caliphate Buyids

Sallarids

Ziyarids

Victory
Ghaznavid–Kakuyid war

(1029–1039)

Ghaznavid Empire

Annazids

Kakuyids

Buyids

Inconclusive Conflict suspended due to the death of Ala al-Dawla Muhammad and the Seljuk expansionism.
  • Ghaznavid brief conquest of Kakuyid domains into Northwestern Iran
  • Avicenna's library destroyed during the war
Battle of Dabusiyya

(1032)

Ghaznavid Empire Kara-Khanid Khanate Stalemate Indecisive.
Ghaznavid campaigns in India

(10th and 11th centuries)

Ghaznavid Empire Medieval India Victory
  • The northern parts of India were annexed by Iranian states.
  • Somnath temple was destroyed and its treasures looted.
  • Later Islamic empires would appear on the subcontinent.
Seljuq Empire
(1037–1194)
Seljuk-Ghaznavid Wars Seljuk Empire Ghaznavid Empire Victory • Fall of the Ghaznavid Empire in Iran.

• Rise of the Seljuk Empire and Turco-Persian tradition.

Siege of Hamadan (1047) Seljuk Empire Kakuyids

Annazids

Buyids

Victory Hamedan and Isfahan are conquered by Seljuk empire.
Georgian–Seljuk wars

(1048–1213)

Seljuk Empire Kingdom of Georgia Defeat Initial victory on the Great Turkish Invasion. Then Georgia liberates from being tributary of Seljuk and even invades Iran.
Byzantine–Seljuq wars
(1048–1308)
Seljuk Empire Byzantine Empire

Empire of Trebizond
Crusader states

Kingdom of Georgia

Victory Most of Anatolia conquered by the Seljuks, starting Turkification of modern Turkey.
Overthrow of the Qarmatians

(1058–1077)

Seljuk Empire

Uyunid Emirate
Abbasid Caliphate

Qarmatians Victory End of Qarmatian rule in eastern Arabia
Seljuk war of succession

(1063)

Alp Arslan forces Qutalmish forces Victory Alp Arslan obtains the throne.
Battle of Manzikert
(1071)
Seljuk Empire Byzantine Empire Victory Seljuks enter Anatolia.
Seljuk Civil War Seljuk Empire Kerman Seljuk Sultanate Victory Malik Shah maintains the throne
Battle of Ain Salm

(1086)

Seljuk Empire Sultanate of Rûm Victory Death of Suleiman ibn Qutalmish
Nizari–Seljuk conflicts

(1090–1194)

(Nizari) Ismailis of Persia and Syria Stalemate Nizaris consolidate a state in Daylam, Quhistan, and Jabal Bahra', then controls other scattered areas in Alborz mountains, Zagros mountains, and Khurasan.
First Crusade

(1095–1099)

Defeat
Siege of Mosul (1096) Seljuk Empire Uqaylid dynasty Victory Seljuks conquers the territory of the Uqaylid State
Battle of Ghazni (1117) Seljuk Empire Ghaznavid Empire Victory Bahram of Ghazna succeeded to the throne as the Seljuk's vassal
First Siege of Baghdad (1136) Seljuk Empire Abbasid Caliphate Victory al-Rashid fled the city for Mosul, where he abdicated the caliphate. His uncle, al-Muqtafi, was raised to the throne instead by Mas'ud, who then retired to the east.
Battle of Qatwan

(1141)

Seljuk Empire

Kara-Khanids

Kakuyids

Qara Khitai (Western Liao)

Karluks

Defeat Khwarazm became a vassal state of the Kara-Khitan.
Second Crusade

(1147–1150)


Western front (Reconquista)
Wendish Crusade
Victory
Second Siege of Baghdad (1157) Seljuk Empire Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Caliph al-Muqtafi successfully defended his capital against the coalition armies of Seljuq Sultan Muhammad of Hamadan and Qutb ad-Din of Mosul.
Ghurid dynasty
(879–1215)
Battle of Ghazni (1148) Ghurid dynasty Ghaznavids Victory The Ghurid ruler Sayf al-Din Suri defeated Bahram-Shah and took the city while Bahram-Shah fled to India.
Battle of Ghazni (1151) Ghurid dynasty Ghaznavids Victory The Ghurid ruler Ala al-Din Husayn defeated Bahram-Shah, captured the city, and destroyed it as revenge for the execution of his brother Quṭb ud-Dīn in 1149.
Indian campaigns of Muhammad of Ghor

(1175–1206)

Ghurid dynasty Rajput confederacy

Sena dynasty

Soomra dynasty

Ghaznavids

Qarmatians

Tibetan tribes

Victory
Ghurid-Qara Khitai conflicts[37]

(1198–1200s)

Ghurid dynasty Qara Khitai Defeat Qara Khitai raiders plundered succesfully the northern part of the Ghurid state.
Ghurid conquest of Khorasan

(1200–1201)

Ghurid dynasty Khwarazmian dynasty Victory Ghurid expansion to the north as far as Gorgan and Bastam.
Battle of Andkhud

(1204)

Ghurid dynasty Khwarazmian dynasty

Qara Khitai

Kara-Khanid Khanate

Defeat Ghurids lost suzerainty of Khurasan to the Khwarezmian Empire, starting their decline.
Ghurid invasion of Tibet

(1206)

Ghurid dynasty Tibetan people (Era of Fragmentation) Defeat
Khwarazmian dynasty
(1077–1231)
Khwarazmian conquest of Persia (1156–1215)[38]
  • Battle of Rey (1194)
  • Siege of Herat (1202)
  • Siege of Gurgānj (1202)
  • Battle of Amu Darya (1204)
  • Battle of Hezarasp (1204)
  • Battle of Andkhud (1204)
Khwarazmian Empire

Supported by:

Seljuk Empire
Ghurid dynasty
Victory
Irghiz River skirmish

(1209/1219)

Khwarazmian Empire Mongol Confederation Stalemate Inconclussive due to Mongol retreat in order to chase Merkits or Naimans dissidents instead of start a war with Persia.
Khwarazmian–Qara Khitai Wars[40]

(1210–1220)

Khwarazmian Empire

Kara-Khanid Khanate

Co-belligerant:

Qara Khitai

Supported by: Mongol clans

Inconclussive
Mongol invasion of Persia (1218–1256) Khwarazmian dynasty

Nizari Ismaili state
Abbasid Caliphate

Co-belligerant:

Jin dynasty

Western Xia

Mongol Empire Defeat
Georgian-Khwarazmid war (1225–1228) Khwarazmian dynasty Kingdom of Georgia Victory Khwarezmian last domains added the Georgian domains
Seljuk-Khwarazmid war

(1230)

Khwarezm Shahs

Seljuk rebels

Empire of Trebizond

Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm

Ayyubid Sultanate

Defeat Khwarezmian last domains partitioned between Seljuks and Mongols
Siege of Jerusalem (1244) Ayyubid Sultanate

Khwarazmians

Kingdom of Jerusalem Victory Muslim capture of Jerusalen
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Ilkhanid dynasty

(1256–1335)

Mongol invasions of Anatolia (1241–1335) Mongol Empire

Principality of Khachen

Sultanate of Rum
Anatolian Beyliks
Victory Mongols adds the Anatolian domains to Persian-centered Ilkhanate.
Georgian Rebellion of 1256 Mongol Empire Georgia Victory Rebellion supressed. Georgian vilayats are submitted to Persia-centered Ilkhanate.
Siege of Baghdad (1258) Mongol Empire

Principality of Antioch

Abbasid Caliphate Victory
Mongol-Ayyubid War (1259-1260) Mongol Empire

Zakarids

Proshyans

Zengids

Ayyubid Dinasty Victory Mongols adds Aleppo (modern Syria) to the Persian-centered Ilkhanate. Then clashes with the Mamluk Sultanate.
Mongol invasions of the Levant (1260–1323) Ilkhanate Ilkhanate of the Mongol Empire Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate

Ayyubid remnants

Nizari Ismailis of Syria

Golden Horde of the Mongol Empire (after 1264)

Karamanid rebels

Abbasids

Defeat Mongols fail to conquer Egypt or get a formal Franco-Mongol alliance.
Toluid Civil War

(1260–1264)

Kublai Khan and his allies Ariq Böke and his allies Victory Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Berke–Hulagu war

(1262)

Ilkhanate

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Golden Horde

Supported by:
Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate

Inconclusive Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Kaidu–Kublai war

(1268–1301)

Yuan dynasty

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate (ally of Kublai)

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate

House of Ögedei

Golden Horde (ally of Kaidu until 1284)

Inconclusive Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Esen Buqa–Ayurbarwada war

(1314–1318)

Yuan China

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate Victory Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Golden Horde-Ilkhanate War

(1318–20)

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate

Golden Horde

Rebels:

Victory Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Chupanid Rebellion

(1322–1327)

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

Supported by:

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate

Chobanids

Jalayirids

Victory Amir Chupan is executed by Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan, who then gets to marry with Baghdad Khatun (daugther of Chupan).
Disintegration of the Ilkhanate

(1335–57)

Ilkhanate Various factions Ilkhanate Various factions Collapse of the dynasty Fragmentation ot the Ilkhanate

2° Turco-Persian Era

[edit]
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Timurid dynasty
(1370–1507)
Campaigns of Timur
(1380–1402)
Timurid dynasty Muzaffarids
Jalayirid Sultanate
Tughlaq dynasty

Golden Horde
Kingdom of Georgia
Delhi Sultanate

 Mamluks
Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire


Knights Hospitaller

Victory
Battle of Mush (1387)
  • Part of Timurid Invasion of Azerbaijan
Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu Defeat Qara Yusuf expel temporarly the Timurids.
Battle of Algami Canal

(1402)

  • Part of Timurid Invasion of Iraq
Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu Victory Sultan Ahmed Jalayir and Qara Yusuf both escaped Iraq again and fled towards Egypt
Timurid Civil Wars
(1405–~1501)
Various factions Various factions Collapse of the dynasty Rise of the Shi'ite Safavid dynasty
Battle of Nakhchivan (1406)
  • Part of Timurid Invasion of Azerbaijan
Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu Defeat Invasion repelled
Capture of Herat (1458) Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu Defeat Herat is captured by the Qara Qoyunlu.
Battle of Qarabagh

(1469)

Timurid dynasty Aq Qoyunlu Defeat Timurid loses the control of Azerbaiyan.
Aq Qoyunlu
(1378–1508)
Siege of Gerger

(1464–1465)

Aq Qoyunlu

Pazuki Kurds

Mamluk Sultanate Mamluk Sultanate style="background:#AF9" |Victory Harpoot conquered by Aq Qoyunlu.
Battle of Chapakchur

(1467)

Aq Qoyunlu Qara Qoyunlu Victory Decline of Qara Qoyunlu.
Turkoman invasions of Georgia

(1407–1502)

Kara Koyunlu (1407–1468)

Aq Qoyunlu (1468–1502)

Kingdom of Georgia

Shirvanshah
Safavid Empire (1502)

Victory End of invasions against Georgia and consolidation of Safavids in Persia
Aq Qoyunlu–Mamluk War (1470–1474) Aq Qoyunlu

Dulkadirids

  • Pahlevanlu tribe
Mamluk Sultanate Mamluk Sultanate Defeat Decline of Aq Qoyunlu
Aq Qoyunlu–Ottoman War (1473) Aq Qoyunlu

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

Supported by:

Anatolian beyliks

Defeat Rise of the Ottoman Empire in West Asia.
Battle of Khoy (1478) Sultan Khalil's forces Sultan Yaqub's forces Defeat Sultan Yaqub overthrow Sultan Khalil as Padishah
Revolts against Yaqub[42]

(1478–80)

Aq Qoyunlu Bayandur princes

Safavid order

Victory Revolts supressed
Battle of Urfa (1480) Aq Qoyunlu Mamluk Sultanate Mamluk Sultanate

Pechenegs

Victory Mamluk invasion is repelled.

Safavid Persia

[edit]
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Safavid dynasty
(1501–1736)
Campaigns of Ismail I

(1500–1510)

Safavid Dynasty Victory Safavid Iran is stablished.
Persian-Uzbek Wars
(1502–1510)
Safavid Empire Uzbeks

Supported by: Kazakh Khanate

Victory
Ottoman–Persian wars (1505–1517) Safavid Iran

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

Supported by:

Defeat
Kurdish-Yazidi uprising against the Safavids
(1506–1510)
Safavid Empire Yazidis Victory Uprising suppressed when the Yazidi leader, Shir Sarim, was defeated in the battle
Portuguese–Safavid wars (1507–1625) Safavid Empire

Imamate of Oman
Supported by:

British East India Company

Portugal Portuguese Empire

Supported by:

Spain Spanish Empire (since 1580)

Victory The Iranian military sought to punish the Portuguese in the Persian Gulf for the Iranians' grievances of Gambron, not only liberating the island of Hormuz but also forcing the Portuguese to withdraw to Mombasa in Kenya.

Britain recognized Iran's sovereignty over the entire Persian Gulf.

Ismail I invasion of Georgia

(1516–1522)

Safavid Empire

Samtskhe-Saatabago rebels

Kingdom of Georgia Stalemate Initial Persian victories, putting vassal governors in Georgia. Then withdrawal after Ottoman intervention
Battle of Jam (1528) Safavid Empire Uzbeks Victory Safavids Empire defeated Uzbeks and reconquered Herat.
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1523
(1532–1555),
Safavid Empire

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire

Supported by:

France
Defeat Ottomans captured Lower Mesopotamia and Baghdad. First partition of the Caucasus between the Ottomans and Persians. Western Armenia and western Georgia falls in Ottoman hands, Eastern Armenia, eastern Georgia, Dagestan and the contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan remain in Persian hands.

A Habsburg–Persian alliance is consolidated in reaction to the Franco-Ottoman alliance.

Georgian-Safavid wars

(1556–1659)

Safavid Empire Kingdom of Kartli

Kingdom of Kakheti

Stalemate Persians subdue Georgian kingdoms as vassals of Safavids, but Georgians got restoration of its autonomy
Uzbek invasion of Khorasan (1578) Safavid Empire Shaybanids Victory Uzbeks withdrew from northeastern Iran and Persians refused to pay them tribute.
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1578
(1578–1590)
Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Defeat Treaty of Constantinople (1590)
Battle of Herat

(1598)

Safavid Empire Shaybanids Victory Khorasan returned to Persians
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603 (First Stage)
(1603–1612)
Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Nasuh Pasha (1612)
Siege of Dimdim
(1609–1610)
Safavid Empire Emirate of Bradost Victory Uprising suppressed
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603 (Second Stage)

(1612–1618)

Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Serav (1618)
Capture of Ormuz

(1622)

Safavid Empire

British East India Company

Spain Iberian Union Victory Ormuz annexed to Persia
Mughal–Safavid War of 1622
(1622–1623)
Safavid Empire Mughal Empire Victory Kandahar falls to Persia
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1623
(1623–1639)
Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Defeat Permanent partition of the Caucasus; western Georgia and Western Armenia go to the Ottomans, while Eastern Armenia, Dagestan, eastern and southern Georgia, and Azerbaijan remain under Persian rule. Ottomans decisively gain control of Mesopotamia.
Battle off Hormuz

(1625)

Kingdom of England English East India Company

Dutch East India Company

Supported by:

Safavid Persia

Portugal Portuguese Empire Draw End of Portuguese influence on the Persian Gulf
Capture of Julfar

(1633)

  • part of the Omani–Portuguese conflicts
Safavid Empire

Portugal Portuguese Empire

Muscat and Oman Omani Empire Defeat Omanis captured the two forts on Ras Al Khaimah.
Mughal–Safavid war of 1649
(1649–1653)
Safavid Empire

Khanate of Bukhara

Mughal Empire

Jaipur State

Victory Persia recaptured Kandahar
Russo-Persian War of 1651
(1651–1653)
Safavid Empire Russia Victory Russian fortress on the Iranian side of the Terek River destroyed, and its garrison expelled
Bakhtrioni uprising

(1659)

Safavid Empire

Turcoman tribes

Kingdom of Kakheti aided by Tushetians, Pshavs, Khevsurs Inconclusive Kakheti remained under Persian rule
Safavid occupation of Basra

(1697–1701)

Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire

Eastern Arabs

Defeat Safavids retreats from the Persian Gulf.
1717 Omani invasion of Bahrain

(1717)

Safavid Empire Muscat and Oman Omani Empire Defeat Persian loss of Bahrain
Sack of Shamakhi

(1721)

Safavid Empire Rebellious Sunni Lezgins Defeat The Shia population is massacred and the city, ransacked
Russo-Persian War of 1722
(1722–1723)
Safavid Empire
Hotaki dynasty
Russian Empire
Cossack Hetmanate
Kingdom of Kartli
Melikdoms of Karabakh and Armenian rebels

Co-belligerant: Ottoman Empire[48]

Defeat Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1723): Russians capture Derbent, Baku, and the provinces of Shirvan, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Astrabad for about a decade.

Treaty of Constantinople (1724): Partition of Iran with the Ottomans, who receives Tiflis, Erevan, Ganja, Khoy, Quschi, Tasuj, Marand and Tabriz. Start of Ottoman-Hotaki War (1722-1727).

Siege of Isfahan
(1722)
Safavid Empire Hotaki dynasty Defeat

(Regime change)

Afghan control of most of Iran

Rise of Nader Shah against Mahmud Hotak and then Ashraf Hotak.

Hotaki dynasty's interruption (1722–1729)
Ottoman–Hotaki War (1722–1727) Hotaki dynasty Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Hamedan
Return of Safavids(Nader)
(1726–1729)
Hotaki dynasty

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire

Safavid Dynasty Defeat

(Regime change)

End of the Hotaki dynasty
Safavid Restoration (1729–1736)
Rebellion of Sheikh Ahmad Madani

(1730)

Safavid Empire

Nader's personal domains

Supported by:

English East India Company

Dutch East India Company (VOC)

Forces Loyal to Sheikh Ahmad Madani

Forces Loyal to Sheikh Jabbara

Forces Loyal to Sheikh Rashid bin Sa'id of Basaidu

Rebelling Arab tribes

Hotak remnants and Afghan raiders

Victory Revolt suppressed and reincorporation of Gulf Arabs to the empire
Battle of Zarghan
(1730)
Safavid Empire Hotaki dynasty Victory Afghans expelled from Iran (Persia)
Herat campaign of 1731

(1731)

Safavid Empire

Afghan loyalists

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Hotaki dynasty

Victory Fall of Sadozai Sultanate of Herat
Ottoman-Safavid war of 1730 (Nader) (1730–1735) Safavid Empire

Erivan Khanate

Ottoman Empire

Republic of Crimea (Russia) Crimean Khanate

Lezgins

Victory Persian (Nader) reconquest of the entire Caucasus

Treaty of Constantinople and Treaty of Ganja

Mohammad Khan Baluch's Rebellion

(1733–1734)

Safavid Empire Forces loyal to Mohammad Khan Baloch Victory Southern Persia is re-annexed.

Transition from Safavid to Qajar

[edit]
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Afsharid dynasty
(1736–1796)
Nader Siege of Kandahar (1737–1738) Afsharid dynasty Hotaki dynasty Victory End of the Hotaki dynasty
Nader conquest of the Persian Gulf (1738–1747) Afsharid dynasty Omani Empire

Pirates

Victory The Persian empire becomes the arbiter of the Persian Gulf until the collapse of the empire.
Nader invasion of India
(1738–1739)
Afsharid dynasty Mughal Empire

Hyderabad Oudh

Victory Persian plundering of India
Nader Conquest of Central Asia (1738–1740) Afsharid dynasty Khanate of Bukhara

Khanate of Khiva

Victory Conquest of the Central Asian khanates
Nader invasion of Daghestan

(1741–1745)

Afsharid dynasty Lezgins

Avar Khanate (Avars)

Mekhtuly Khanate

Gazikumukh Khanate

Elisu Sultanate

Shaki Khanate

Victory The Persian Empire annexes almost all of Dagestan.
Afsharid–Ottoman War War of 1743
(1743–1746)
Afsharid dynasty Ottoman Empire Stalemate Treaty of Kerden, Status quo ante bellum
Civil War between Afsharid and Qajar
(1747–1796)
Afsharid dynasty Qajar dynasty Regime change Mohammad Khan Qajar became the Shah of Iran.
Durrani Campaign to Khorasan (1754–55) Afsharids

Qara Bayat Amirdom

Qajar dynasty

Khozeimeh Amirdom

Durrani Empire

Khanate of Kalat

Defeat Afghan dominance in the region
Zand dynasty
(1751–1779)
Campaign against Azad Khan
(1754–1762)
Zand dynasty Azad Khan Afghan Victory Azad Khan's surrender
Bajalan uprising
(1755)
Zand dynasty Bajalan Tribe (Kurds)[49]Bajalan Tribe[50] Victory Uprising uppressed
Ottoman-Persian War of 1775
(1755–1776)
Zand dynasty Ottoman Empire Victory Persia captures Basra.
Zand-Dutch War Zand dynasty Netherlands Dutch colonial empire Victory Kharg Island reconquered by Persia and destruction of Fort Mosselstein
Bani Utbah invasion of Bahrain

(1782–1783)

Persia Sheikhdom of Kuwait

Zubarah

Defeat Al Khalifa annexes Bahrain into its sheikhdom.
Siege of Kerman
(1794)
Zand dynasty Qajar Dynasty Defeat

(Regime change)

Qajars conquer and sack Kerman.

Qajar Persia

[edit]
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Qajar dynasty
(1785–1925)
Battle of Krtsanisi
(1795)
Qajar Iran Kartli-Kakheti
Imereti
Victory Tbilisi captured and sacked by Iranians. Persian reconquest of the Caucasus and Georgia.
Persian Expedition
(1796)
Qajar Iran Russian Empire Victory
  • Tactical Russian victory
  • Strategic Persian victory
  • Russian withdrawal after the death of Catherine II
Russo-Persian War of 1804
(1804–1813),
Qajar Iran

Supported by:

Russian Empire Supported by: Defeat Treaty of Gulistan. Iran irrevocably cedes most of its Caucasus territories (Dagestan, Georgia, and most of the Azerbaijan Republic) to Russia.
Battle of Kafir Qala

(1818)

Qajar Iran Durrani Empire Inconclusive Both armies retreated
Ottoman–Persian War of 1821
(1821–1823)
Qajar Iran Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Erzurum, status quo ante bellum
Russo-Persian War of 1826
(1826–1828)
Qajar Iran Russian Empire Defeat Treaty of Turkmenchay. Iran irrevocably cedes its last Caucasus territories comprising parts of the contemporary nation of Azerbaijan that were not ceded in 1813, as well as all of what is the current Republic of Armenia.
Rawanduz Revolt
(1829–1835)
Qajar Iran Soran Emirate Defeat Qajar lose control of Iranian Kurdistan, which is the current Mukriyan region.
Siege of Herat
(1837–1838)
Qajar Iran

Supported by:

Russian Empire

Principality of Qandahar

Emirate of Herat

East India Company

Supported by:

British Empire

Aimaq tribesmen

Maimana Khanate

Andkhui Khanate

Sheberghan Khanate

Sar-i Pul Khanate

Bukhara Emirate

Khiva Khanate[51]

Defeat Successful Persian siege at Herat; breach eventually repelled; temporary British occupation of Kharg Island; Persian withdrawal from Herat
Battle of Fort Tabarsi

(1848–1849)

Qajar Iran Bábís Victory Successful repression
Siege of Herat

(1856)

Qajar Iran Emirate of Herat

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Afghanistan

Victory Successful siege of Herat; continued occupation until Persia's compliance with the Treaty of Paris; installment of Sultan Ahmad Khan as puppet ruler of Herat
Anglo-Persian War
(1856–1857)
Qajar Iran United Kingdom United Kingdom

Afghanistan

Defeat Persian force occupies and later withdraws from Herat.
Uprising of Sheikh Ubeydullah

(1879–1880)

 Ottoman Empire

Qajar Iran

Supported by:

Austria-Hungary

Kurdish tribes Victory Successful repression
Ottoman incursion into Persia[52]

(1905)

Sublime State of Persia Ottoman Empire Inconclusive Increase of territorial conflicts between both empires.
Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911) Qajar Iran

Supported by:

Russian Empire

Iranian constitutionalists

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire
Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Iran
Stalemate
Ottoman invasion of Persia

(1906)

Sublime State of Persia Ottoman EmpireKurdish tribes Defeat Ottomans (with Kurdish allies) succes to invade Iranian Azerbaijan and Luristan, occupying Behik, Serdasht, Bani, Khanajin, Urmia, Gangachin, Mahabad, Khoy.
Revolt of Salar-al-Daulah

(1911–1913)

Qajar Iran Forces of Salar-al-Daulah Victory Rebellion suppressed
Swedish intervention in Persia

(1911–1916)

Qajar Iran

Sweden Sweden[53]

Anti-Qajar insurgents Victory
  • Anti-Qajar rebellions are suppressed.
  • The Swedish government quits in 1916 due to its neutrality on World War I. However, Swedes volunteers continued to serve in the Persian Gendarmerie until 1921.
Revolt of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar[54]

(1911)

Sublime State of Persia Forces of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar

Supported by: Russian Empire

Victory The Shah is expelled against from the country.
Persian Campaign
(1914–1918)
Qajar Iran
Jungle Movement
Russian Empire

British Empire

Assyrian volunteers


Ottoman Empire

German Empire

Stalemate
Jungle Movement insurrection on Gilan (1915–1921) Qajar Iran
Russian Empire (1915–1917)

British Empire

Jungle revolutionaries

Supported by:
Soviet Russia (since 1920)

Victory
Yarahmadzai uprising

(1916–1934)

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Supported by: British Empire

Yarahmadzai tribe

Supported by: German Empire (until 1918)

Victory Balochistan is pacified and partitioned between Iran and British India.
Simko Shikak revolt (1918–1922) Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Assyrian levies[55] Assyrian volunteers[56]

Irregular Kurdish militias

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire

Victory Revolt suppressed
Mohammad Khiabani's uprising (1920) Qajar Iran Mohammad Khiabani's forces

Azerbaijan rebels

Victory Revolt suppressed
Pessian's Khorasan Revolt (1921)[57] Qajar Iran Autonomous Government of Khorasan Victory Revolt suppressed after the death of Mohammad Taqi Pessian
1921 Persian coup d'état (1921) Qajar Iran
Jangalis

Simko Kurdish rebels Colonel Pesian's forces

Supported by: Soviet Union

Persian Cossack Brigade
Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Defeat
Sheikh Khazal rebellion (1922–1924) Qajar and Pahlavi Iran Sheikhdom of Mohammerah

Bakhtiari tribesmen

Arab separatists

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Victory
Turkoman Rebellion in Eastern Iran (1924–1926)[58]

(1924–1926)

Iran Sublime State of Persia

loyalist Kurdish tribes

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Turkmen rebels

rebel Kurdish tribes

  • Shadillu Kurds

Supported by:

Soviet Union[59]

Victory Rebellion suppressed and Soviet plans to stablish a Turkic protectorate are avoided.

Pahlavi Iran

[edit]
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Pahlavi dynasty
(1925–1979)
Simko Shikak revolt (1926) Iran

Assyrian volunteers
Assyrian levies

Irregular Kurdish militias Victory Revolt suppressed; Simko Shikak fled to Mandatory Iraq
Persian conquest of West Baluchistan[60][61][62][63]

(1928–1935)

Iran West Baluchistan Victory Iranian authority on West Bauchistan is reinforced-
Persian tribal uprisings of 1929

(1929–1933)

Iran Rebel tribes Victory Iranian government offered amnesties and most rebel leaders surrendered then. The rest gets a peace agreement.
Jafar Sultan revolt (1931) Iran Jafar Sultan's Kurdish rebels Victory Revolt suppressed
Goharshad Mosque rebellion

(1935)

Iran Bazaaris

Shia clergy

Victory Iranian government impose the Kashf-e hijab and other anticlerical reforms against the Shias to Westernize Iran. Further de-Islamization and continuation of claims by the clergy about heretical innovations in the government.
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
(1941)
Iran
Nazi Germany (Abwehr)
 Soviet Union