Yazdgird I was the younger son of Shapur III; upon the assassination of his older brother Varhran IV, Yazdgird ascended as Shahanshah in 399 AD. He was known as a peaceful ruler; Yazdgird was disinclined to go to war with Rome, even in its weakened position, neither did he persecute non-Zoroastrians. As a result, he earned the epithet Ramshahr, meaning 'who maintains peace in his dominion'. Christian sources were positive of him due to his tolerance; a story arose in the 6th century from Procopius that Yazdgird had adopted the future Theodosius II, and raised him in his court. Later Persian were more critical of him however, due to friction between Yazdgird and the Persian nobility. In those, he is titled 'the Sinner', again due to his tolerance of non-Zoroastrians as well as his push back against the influence of the nobles. The last three Shahanshahs had been deposed or killed by the nobles, and ultimately Yazdgird would fail in doing something substantial about it. Yazdgird died in 420 AD, either due to illness, or a more popular tale describing how a magical horse which emerged from a stream killed him - likely symbolism for his death at the hands of his nobles. His eldest son, Shapur IV, was also swiftly murdered by the noblility after he ascended, before his other son Varhran V took back the throne.

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