Shiraz
Shiraz is the fifth largest city in Iran.
History
The Achaemenid capital cities of Anshan, Pārsa (Persepolis), Pasargadae were all established in the vicinity of Shiraz. At least Anshan had been populated since the 4th millennium BCE, when it was settled by the Elamites.
The modern city was founded by the Umayyad Caliphate by the 8th century. It did not proposer until the rise of the Buyid Empire, when Imad al-Dawla vassalized the Abbasid Caliphate and made the city his capital. The death of Abu Kalijar led to a succession crisis among his sons, and of them Abu Mansur plead to the Seljuk Empire for aid. Tughril I seized the city and made Abu Mansur the puppet ruler. The Abbasid briefly re-asserted independence in the late 12th century before the Mongols destroyed it. Shiraz however paid tribute and was spared.
During the reign of the Zand dynasty, Shiraz again served as a capital city for Iran. Agha Mohammad Shah immediately moved the capital to Tehran upon ascending to power however.