But, sir, says Scheherazade to the sultan, it is fit your majesty should know why this knocking happened so late at the lady's house, and the reason was thus: The caliph Haroun Alraschid was accustomed to walk abroad in disguise very often by night, that he might see with his own eyes, if every thing was quiet in the city, and that no disorders were committed in it.

Who were King Shahriyar and Shahrazad?

The frame story of the Arabian Nights concerns King Shahriyar and his brother King Shahzaman, Shahriyar's vizier (or wazir, chief minister) and the vizier's two daughters, Shahrazad and Dunyzad. Once again, the names can be spelt in such a multiplicity of different ways depending on the particular source used. In this article I use Dawood's spellings (see recommended reading), however rest assured, Shahrazad and Scheherazade are one and the same.

As to who they were, it seems that the greatest authorities just shrug their shoulders on the issue. The names of these chief characters are Iranian and this story may be Indian in origin. Many great story collections began in India - a classic example being the 4th century Panchatantra, which also has a frame story.

The illustration is from Chagall's Arabian Nights (1948).

The only remaining evidence is from the first paragraph of the story itself- and whilst that story may be fantastic, we must bear in mind that many Biblical characters from Old Testament times have been identified as historical characters (e.g. the Biblical king Ahasuerus has been identified with the historical Persian king Xerxes I [c.519-465 B.C.]), and one major character of the Nights was definitely real - please see Who was Caliph Harun al-Rashid? Although there was no Sultan Shahryar in reality who shared the same name, all the Sassanid kings are nonetheless identifiable to historians.

The story sets the scene as being Central Asia, or "the islands or peninsulae of India and China", and tells us that Shahriyar (and his father in some versions) were kings of the Banu Sasan; who commanded great armies etc. The phrase "Banu Sasan" literally means "children of Sasan"*. Sasan (1st century A.D.) was the founder of the Sassanian dynasty of kings, otherwise known as the Sassanids, and a lineal descendant of Xerxes I of Persia. Shahzaman became king of Samarkand in Barbarian land. From this information I can only draw the following basic facts and leave the reader to his/her own conclusions:

The Sassanids were rulers of Persia. From the 2nd century B.C. the Persian empire had been ruled by the Parthians. In 226 A.D. Persian tribal king Ardashir I defeated the Parthians in battle and established the Sassanid dynasty. He then went on to conquer India and Armenia (but not China). One of the most successful Sassanid kings was Khosrau I (528 - 579 A.D., reigning from 531). He conquered the Caucasus, the Black Sea and much of Central Asia; and was a legendary hero. By 641 A.D., however, the Arab invasion had gradually managed to overcome the Persians, and the game was over for the Sassanid dynasty.
In the period of 220 - 589 A.D. China was going through a very rough period, known as the Period of Disunion; during which the country crumbled into as many as six dynasties, all ruling at the same time. I am currently unaware of any Persian involvement, however. In the context of the Nights the word 'China' designates a vaster empire than that covered by modern China - basically most of the land eastwards of Persia.
Samarqand is the capital of Samarqand Wiloyat (Samarqand Oblast) in central Uzbekistan. For notes on this city please see Miscellaneous Information below.

If it is true that one of the Sassanid Kings was the model for Shahriyar, then the following questions would have to be answered.

What relationship did his rule have with the countries of India and China, and in particular why is this king described in some accounts as living in the lands of India and (more particularly) China?
What do the names of the characters of the story mean in English?
Actually, I think I've found part of the answer to this one. According to Lane's notes, Shahriyar is Persian for "Friend of the City", and Shahzaman is a compound of Persian and Arabic signifying "King of the Age" (basically meaning "the current King").
Are there any similarities in his life to the events of the story in the slightest degree? For instance, any connection of the suggested candidates with China or Samarqand would be very interesting.

May I conclude by postulating my theory that King Khosrau I may have been the inspiration behind, or an ancestor of the fabled King Shahriyar. Surely I can't be the first person to inquire about this. There is not anywhere near enough evidence, but is it not intriguing? His rule, and the splendour of his court, were the reasons for the acknowledgement, in Islamic times, of Khosrau as the "model pre-Islamic ruler, to be emulated by Muslim princes." The Nights' Tale of the Three Apples refers to him - "they had dressed her in raiment and ornaments that suited the mighty Chosroë kings." The most valuable source for information on Khosrau I is in an epic poem called Shah nameh(The Epic of Kings) by Persian poet Firdawski (c.940 - c.1020).

Shah (as in Shahriyar) simply means king, and seems to prefix many Persian names. The last Sassanid king was called Khosrau II - and he had two generals - Shahrbaraz and Shahin.

Oh, and by the way - there are other possible contenders for King Shahriyar. Please mail me if you wish to hear about my theories. Maybe you can give me some theories of your own?

*N.B. Elsewhere in the Nights the phrase "Banu Sasan" strangely refers to the low-life of society; i.e. story tellers and thieves.