Shah

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who served as the last Shahanshah of Iran from 1941 to 1979.

Shah (Persian: شاه‎), known Imperially as Shahanshah (Persian: شاهنشاه) is a royal title of Persian origin. The title is used most commonly to denote the monarch of a country and is comparable in rank to that of a King. Alternatively, the title can be used to denote a sovereign of equivalent rank to that of an Emperor though this is rarer and often is accompanied by the changing of the title from Shah to Shahanshah (literally translating to "King of Kings") or Padishah (translating to "High King" or more literally to "Master King").

Macronational usage

Currently, no macronational state uses the titles of Shah or Shahanshah with the last macronational Shah, Mohammad Reza Shah, passing away in 1980 and since then, the only individual that could be theorretically considered a Shah being Crown Prince of the Iranian Imperial State Reza Pahlavi who would be eligible for the title should he ever return to the throne of Iran.

Past usage

• Iran - From the nation's founding until 1979, the title of Shahanshah (usually shortened to just Shah) was used to denote the nation's monarch.
• Ottoman Empire - During the existence of the Empire, the term Padishah was used by the Sultan occasionally to denote imperial status.
• Kingdom of Georgia - The Kings of Georgia used the title of Shahanshah along with their other titles.
• Mughal Empire - The title of Padishah was the official name for the Emperors of the Mughal Empire.

Micronational usage

In a micronational context, the title is incredibly rare and as such, very few micronations utilize the title or any derivative thereof.

Micronations currently using the title

• Hasanistan - Ruled by a Shah since 2011.
• Imperial State of Badakhshan - Ruled by a Shah since 2014.
• Shahdom of Savakop - Ruled by a Padishah since 2021.
• Shahdom of Greater Iran - Ruled by a Shah since 2018.

Micronations who have used the title

• United Westavian Empire - Title of Shah was briefly used by reigning Emperors.
• Carshalton Nations - Title of Shahanshah used from 2012-2017.
• Desert Realm of Raphistan - Ruled by a Shah from September 2021 to April 2022.