For 10 points, name this last non-Islamic Persian empire, which succeeded the Parthian empire.
When Nisibis was ceded to this empire by the Romans, it expelled all the Christians including St. Ephrem the Syrian. One ruler of this empire used the Roman emperor Valerian as a footstool, after capturing him at the Battle of Edessa. This empire was defeated at Qadisiyyah at the hands of Umar's general, Khalid ibn al-Walid. It patronized the prophet Mani under Shapur I. Although it recognized Christianity in 409, this was the last empire whose state religion was Zoroastrianism. For 10 points, name this last non-Islamic Persian empire, which succeeded the Parthian empire.
When Nisibis was ceded to this empire by the Romans, it expelled all the Christians including St. Ephrem the Syrian.
{Sassanid} Empire