THE DYNASTY OF THE KINGS OF PERSIA, WHICH IS CALLED
ASHKÂNIAN.

It is necessary to know that the Ashkânians are also called Mulûk-ut-touâif [Kings of the nations], because Eskandar had appointed each of them to be governor of a nation, paying no tribute nor taxes to each other. They ruled these countries, and were succeeded by their children till the time of Ardeshir Babegân, between whom and Eskandar a period of five hundred years and a fraction had elapsed, according to the calculations of some his­torians.

According to the universally received opinion, the first of the Mulûk-ut-touâif was Ashak Bin Ashkân; some histo­rians, however, not deserving of more credit, call him Ashak Bin Dârâ. Others, again, are of opinion that Ashak was one of those to whom Eskandar had given a kingdom. Some assert that, when Eskandar returned from the country of Erân, one of his governors crossed the Tigris, and conquered the realm as far as the limits of Rei, but that Ashak marched against him, and the Mulûk-ut-touâif aiding him, he expelled the governor of Eskandar, but nevertheless contented himself with his country, and the Mulûk-ut-touâif remained in their former possessions. They considered Ashak as their chief on account of the solidity of his judgment, but paid no tribute to him. He being the most renowned of them, the Mulûk-ut-touâif were called Ashkânians; but although the author of the present work took much trouble in examining historical works, he was unable to find their names in detail. Whatever notices he met with concerning them were all so contradictory that the accounts did not agree even about two of them. Hamdullah Mustoufi, the author of the Târikh Guzidah, and Hâfez Abru, of the Târikh Ja’fari, are two of the later historians, whose statements the author of this work has adopted in the history of the Mulûk-ut-touâif, as well as in the records of their names and titles but favour comes from Allah!