New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Character · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II

Bahramبهرام

bah-RAHM

Son of Gudarz, a champion killed in the Forood campaign; also the planet Mars.

In the poem
First at A9.5, Rostam Proudly Writes His Father; last at C5.18, Goshtasb Receives the Kingship
Named
113 times, in 48 sections
Main stories
B12 Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign (70); B9 The Story of Siavash (10); B8 The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab (6)
Parents
Gudarz
Plates
Vol I: VIII
Genealogical plate: The Champions of Iran
Volume I, Plate VIII: The Champions of Iran. Tap to open the genealogies.

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Bahram most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Bahram. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B9.28

Siavash Consults Bahram and Zangeh

Siavash pours out his sorrows to Bahram and Zangeh and resolves to keep his oath: he will return the hostages and gifts, leave the army to Tus and seek refuge abroad. Bahram begs him to write to Kavus instead, but he refuses and sends Zangeh to Afrasiab.

  • B9.28.1
    Then Siavash called Bahram to his side,And Zangeh too, on whom his heart relied.
  • B9.28.39
    To Bahram, son of Gudarz, thus he said:“To you I trust the men that I have led.
  • B9.28.43
    When Bahram heard these words, his heart was torn,While Zangeh wept, his spirit left forlorn.
Bahram named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.5

Bahram Meets Forood on the Mountain

Bahram rides up the mountain. Forood answers his threats courteously, names him, and proves who he is by Siavash’s birthmark. He invites the chiefs to a week’s feast before they march together, but Bahram warns that Tus is proud and may refuse.

  • B12.5.1
    Then Bahram, son of Gudarz, told the chief:“I shall learn all and make my mission brief.
  • B12.5.12
    When Bahram nearer to the summit drew,His thunderous challenge through the mountain flew:
  • B12.5.22
    Then Bahram said: “Ask all you wish to know;You stand in heaven, while I remain below.”
Bahram named 14 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.6

Bahram Returns to Tus

Bahram tells Tus that the youth is Forood and reminds him of the Shah’s warning. Tus rages, accuses Gudarz’s sons of cowardice and calls for a warrior to bring back the prince’s head. His son-in-law Rivniz volunteers.

  • B12.6.1
    Then Bahram, son of Gudarz, spoke and said:“May wisdom guard your spirit and your head.
  • B12.6.16
    Then Bahram spoke to Rivniz, stern and brief:“Do not so quickly purchase lasting grief.
  • B12.6.24
    Bahram continued: “This is no small thing;The Shah’s own kin stands there, of royal spring.
Bahram named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.13

The Death of Jarireh

The women leap from the roof. Jarireh burns the treasure, kills the horses and stabs herself over Forood’s body. Bahram rebukes the Iranians, Gudarz rebukes Tus, and Tus weeps and builds a royal tomb for Forood, Rivniz and Zarasp.

  • B12.13.8
    When Bahram neared the fortress where he lay,His heart was torn apart in deep dismay.
  • B12.13.22
    Beside the dead sat Bahram, eyes with tears,His heart still filled with anger, grief, and fears.
  • B12.13.26
    Then Giv and Gudarz wept beside the bier,With Gorgin, Bahram, shedding bitter tear.
Bahram named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.16

Bahram Captures Kabuda

Tus marches to Gorugard, home of the Turanian march-lord Tazhav, who sends Kabuda to scout the Iranian camp by night. Bahram, on watch, shoots him, questions him and kills him despite his plea for quarter. When Kabuda fails to return, Tazhav marches out.

  • B12.16.13
    That night Bahram stood watch before the band,He snared an elephant’s head with his kamand.
  • B12.16.14
    Kabuda’s charger suddenly gave cry,Bahram stood still and heard the sound nearby.
  • B12.16.18
    Then Bahram said, “Speak truth: who sent you here?Whom would you have slain? Make your purpose clear.”
Bahram named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.23

Bahram Returns to Seek His Whip

Bahram has lost his whip, with his name on it, on the battlefield. Refusing Giv’s offer of seven jeweled whips, he rides back by moonlight, binds a wounded comrade and finds the whip, but his horse bolts. He wounds it in anger and fights off a hundred Turanians on foot.

  • B12.23.1
    That night, when both the armies lay at rest,Bahram approached his father, sore distressed.
  • B12.23.12
    Bahram replied: “I am no better thanMy house and comrades in the battle’s span.
  • B12.23.21
    Brave Bahram answered Giv: “I cannot weighThis shame as slight, nor thrust its sting away.
Bahram named 11 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.24

Tazhav Slays Bahram

Piran hears of Bahram and offers him friendship and rank if he will stay, but refuses him a horse home. Bahram fights on. Tazhav leads a crowd of warriors against him and, when Bahram’s strength fails, cuts off his arm from behind.

  • B12.24.1
    The riders came to Piran from the plain,And told him all of Bahram’s fierce campaign.
  • B12.24.2
    Much talk arose of Bahram’s battle art,Of deeds in open field and secret part.
  • B12.24.5
    One answered: “Bahram, lion-slayer, famed,Whose glory fills the ranks where he is named.”
Bahram named 15 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B12.25

Giv Avenges Bahram

Giv and Bijan find Bahram dying. Giv catches Tazhav with his kamand at night and drags him before Bahram, who asks that his killer be spared. Giv beheads him anyway, then grieves. Bahram dies and is laid in a tomb with a crown hung above him.

  • B12.25.5
    They sought for Bahram through the wounded slain;The world itself seemed steeped in blood and pain.
  • B12.25.9
    At that great cry Bahram opened his eyes;His body bloodied, wrath began to rise.
  • B12.25.15
    When Bahram ceased, Giv’s yellow tears arose,And streamed from lashes in his bitter woes.
Bahram named 13 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 48 sections that name Bahram
  1. A9.5 Rostam Proudly Writes His Father
  2. B1.1 Nohzar Accedes to the Throne
  3. B4.1 The Reign of Kay Kavus, His Sitting upon the Throne, and His Intent to March to Mazandaran
  4. B4.2 Zal Counsels Kay Kavus
  5. B5.6 Rostam Fights the Div Arzhang
  6. B5.7 Rostam Slays the White Div
  7. B6.1 Kavus Wars with Hamavaran
  8. B6.6 Rostam Battles the Three Kings
  9. B7.1 Rostam and the Seven Warriors Go Hunting
  10. B7.2 Rostam Battles the Turanians
  11. B7.3 Pilsam Battles the Iranians and Alkus’ Battle
  12. B8.5 The Birth of Sohrab
  13. B8.11 Sohrab Takes the White Fortress
  14. B8.13 Kavus’s Anger at Rostam
  15. B8.16 Sohrab Questions Hajir on Iran’s Chiefs
  16. B8.25 Tahmineh Hears of Sohrab’s Death
  17. B9.16 Siavash Leads the Army
  18. B9.28 Siavash Consults Bahram and Zangeh
  19. B9.31 Siavash Yields Command to Bahram
  20. B9.35 Piran Proposes Farangis to Siavash
  21. B9.44 Afrasiab Sends Garsivaz to Siavash
  22. B9.54 Farangis Pleads before Afrasiab
  23. B10.2 Kavus Hears of Siavash’s Fate
  24. B10.4 Rostam Takes Vengeance
  25. B11.3 Kay Khosrow Surveys His Kingdom
  26. B12.3 News of Tus Reaches Forood
  27. B12.4 Forood and Tokhvar Survey the Troops
  28. B12.5 Bahram Meets Forood on the Mountain
  29. B12.6 Bahram Returns to Tus
  30. B12.7 Forood Slays Rivniz
  31. B12.13 The Death of Jarireh
  32. B12.15 The Snowstorm Campaign
  33. B12.16 Bahram Captures Kabuda
  34. B12.22 The Turanians Defeat the Iranians
  35. B12.23 Bahram Returns to Seek His Whip
  36. B12.24 Tazhav Slays Bahram
  37. B12.25 Giv Avenges Bahram
  38. B13.3 Khosrow Grants Pardon
  39. B13.4 Khosrow Dispatches Tus to Turan
  40. B13.11 The Retreat to Mount Hamavan
  41. B14.4 Piran Consults Houman and the Khan
  42. B14.7 Rostam Exhorts the Troops
  43. B14.16 Rostam Divides the Spoils
  44. C2.1 The Prelude
  45. C2.17 Rostam Comes to Khosrow
  46. C4.44 The Death of Afrasiab and Garsivaz
  47. C5.17 Zarir Bears Word to Caesar
  48. C5.18 Goshtasb Receives the Kingship

Family

Parents
Gudarz
Siblings
Giv, Hajir, Rohham, Shidush
Volume I · Plate VIIIThe Champions of Iranthe great houses of the muster · B11.5

On the maps

A9.5Rostam Proudly Writes His FatherB6.1The Hamavaran Sea-War and Kavus's CaptivityB7.1The Frontier Hunt and the Clash of the Seven ChampionsB9.31–B9.32Siavash Crosses the Jihun into ExileB11.3–B11.7The Realm Restored: Kay Khosrow’s Fronts and the Division of Commands

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
A9The Birth and Early Feats of Rostam; Manuchehr’s Closing Counsel1B1The Crisis after Manuchehr1B4The War with Mazandaran3B5The Seven Labors of Rostam2B6The Folly of Kay Kavus2B7The Fight of the Seven Warriors3B8The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab6B9The Story of Siavash10B10Vengeance for Siavash and the Retrieval of Kay Khosrow2B11Kay Khosrow’s Kingship1B12Forood and the Snowstorm Campaign70B13Mount Hamavan and the Kamus Campaign3B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin3C2The Tale of Bijan and Manijeh2C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow1C5Lohrasp3

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.