Ardeshir Babakan

In briefFerdowsi praises Mahmud as the age’s greatest king, blesses his house and his commander Nasr, and reports a decree remitting a year’s taxes. He promises that this book will outlast every age, then lists the great dynasties that have vanished.

In briefWith Iskandar gone, no one rules the whole world. Princes of Arash’s line hold separate corners of it for two hundred years as the Tribal Kings. Ferdowsi lists the Ashkanians — Ashk, Gudarz, Ardavan, Bahram — and admits he has nothing but their names.

In briefA descendant of Dara, the fourth Sasan, herds Babak’s flocks. Babak dreams of him riding an elephant, then of three fires blazing before him; the interpreters promise kingship to him or his son. Babak learns his lineage, raises him up, and gives him his daughter.

In briefBabak’s grandson Ardeshir is summoned to Ardavan’s court at Rey and treated like a son. On a hunt he shoots a Gur-e-Khar and contradicts the prince who claims the shot. Ardavan banishes him to the stables, where he lives quietly on his grandfather’s gold.

In briefArdavan’s favorite slave Golnar sees Ardeshir from the palace roof and climbs down to him by kamand. Babak dies. Golnar overhears the astrologers predict that a man now held low will flee and become king, and she agrees to escape with Ardeshir, taking jewels from the treasury.

In briefArdavan learns that Golnar has fled with Ardeshir and gives chase. Villagers report a ram running behind the riders; his minister says it is Ardeshir’s farr and the pursuit is hopeless. Two strangers at a pool warn Ardeshir on. Ardavan gives up and turns back.

In briefArdavan orders his son Bahman to hunt Ardeshir down in secret. Ardeshir reaches the water, is recognized as Kayanian by the old boatman, and gathers the scattered kin of Babak and Dara. He claims the throne as Esfandiyar’s heir, founds a city, and rides for Istakhr.

In briefTabak of Jahram deserts Ardavan and brings his troops and seven sons over. Ardeshir distrusts him until he swears on the Avesta and Zand, then makes him chief among his counselors. After prayer at a fire, Ardeshir routs Bahman, takes Istakhr, and shares out Babak’s wealth.

In briefArdavan brings up his armies; after forty days of fighting a black storm breaks his men’s nerve, and he is captured and cut in two at Ardeshir’s order. Two sons are imprisoned, two flee to Hindustan. Ardeshir marries Ardavan’s daughter and founds Khorra-e-Ardeshir.

In briefArdeshir attacks the Kurds, is beaten, and escapes with a handful of men to a shepherds’ fire on a mountain, where he sleeps on his khaftan. Guided down to the villages, he sends word to his court, learns the Kurds think him finished, and picks eleven thousand men.

In briefArdeshir rides through half the night and falls on the sleeping Kurdish camp, killing many and taking captives past counting. He gives their lands and money to his troops, makes no boast of the victory, and returns to Istakhr to rest his men before the next war.

In briefAt Kojaran a spinning girl finds a worm in an apple and her day’s output doubles. Her father Haftvad grows rich on its luck, seizes the city, and builds a mountain fortress. The worm swells to the bulk of an elephant, and no army that faces it can win.

In briefArdeshir’s advance force is destroyed by troops Haftvad has hidden in the hills. The Shah comes himself; Haftvad’s son Shahvi arrives by boat, and the two armies fight to a standstill. Ardeshir withdraws to the shore, where his men begin to starve with the roads cut.

In briefWhile Ardeshir is pinned against the sea, Mehrak sacks his capital and gives the treasure away to his soldiers. As the Shah sits down to eat, an arrow buries itself in the roast lamb, carrying a taunt from the fortress two farsang away.

In briefIn flight, Ardeshir is sheltered by two young men who tell him the Worm is Ahriman’s creature and cannot be beaten by force. He kills Mehrak, leaves Shahrgeer in command, enters the fortress as a merchant, drinks the keepers senseless, and feeds the Worm molten metal.

In briefHaftvad storms the fortress and fails. Ardeshir calls Shahrgeer up, and Haftvad and Shahvi are taken, hung on gibbets by the sea and shot dead. Ardeshir gives away the spoil, founds a fire-temple, rewards his two hosts with provinces, and takes the throne at Tisfoon.

In briefArdeshir takes the ivory throne and is hailed as King of kings. He declares that justice is his only treasure, that no subject shall sleep with a need denied, and that his court is open to friend and foe, then sends armies against the chiefs who resist.

In briefArdeshir marries Ardavan’s daughter. Her brother in Hind sends poison; she mixes it into a cup, the cup breaks, and hens fed the spilled food die. Ardeshir orders her killed, but she is pregnant, and his minister hides her, gelding himself and sealing the proof in a casket.

In briefThe hidden queen bears Shapur, raised in secret for seven years. Grieving that he has no heir, Ardeshir is told the truth and picks his son out of a hundred matched boys at polo. He showers Shapur with gems, pardons the mother, and honors the minister on his coins.

In briefNever free of war, Ardeshir sends an envoy to the Indian sage Kayd. Kayd reads the stars and answers that peace will come only when Ardeshir’s line is joined with Mehrak’s. Enraged, Ardeshir orders a hunt for Mehrak’s one surviving daughter, who is hidden in a village.

In briefHunting, Shapur stops at a village where a girl offers to draw sweet water for his horse. When a servant cannot raise the bucket she had raised alone, Shapur guesses her descent. She admits she is Mehrak’s daughter; he promises her safety and marries her by the fire rite.

In briefShe bears Hormizd, kept hidden for seven years. The boy slips out to the polo field and carries the ball off in front of Ardeshir, who questions him and learns the truth. Ardeshir accepts him gladly, crowns him with gold, and tells the nobles Kayd’s prophecy is fulfilled.

In briefFerdowsi sets out Ardeshir’s government: recruitment and muster of troops, scribes graded by their pens, charges to governors and generals, care of envoys, relief for ruined districts and impoverished nobles. The king remits the tenth, counsels his nobles on God and conduct, and lays down rules to live by.

In briefAn elder named Kharrad comes before the newly crowned Shah with a formal address: justice is the foundation stone of his throne, he has shut out the enemies of Hind and Chin, and he is God’s own robe of honor. He prays that the reign may last forever.

In briefFerdowsi turns from the reign to the faithlessness of the world: king and servant alike must pack up and go, cypress backs bend, bright cheeks turn saffron, and the great of former days lie with brick for a pillow. Only the sower of good deeds is blessed.