Character · The Shahnameh · Volume III

Faghanishفغانیش

fa-ghah-NEESH

Lord of Chaghaniyan, raised to rule after the Heytalians' defeat, who later comes to Anooshirvan with gifts.

In the poem: First at D11.2, The Reign of Hormizd, Son of Yazdegard; last at E1.11, Anooshirvan Marches to Tisfoon
Named: 5 times, in 4 sections
Main stories: E1 The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters (4); D11 Short Reigns and a Crisis with Khoshnavaz (1)

How we draw Faghanish

The identity sheet the illustrator works from. Tap to open full size. More in the Art section.

Faghanish, identity sheet: Young lord-king (~25) — **Young lord-king (~25)**

In the poem’s own words

The 4 sections that name Faghanish most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Faghanish. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.

D11.2

The Reign of Hormizd, Son of Yazdegard

Hormizd is crowned and Pirooz, enraged, carries treasure to Faghanish of Chaghan and buys thirty thousand Heytalian troops with the promise of two frontier towns. He defeats his brother in a long war, then spares and embraces him, and Hormizd blesses his victory.

D11.2.4
He came to Faghanish to seek his aid;Chaghan’s rich king had mighty troops arrayed.

Faghanish named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E1.4

Ghatfar Defeated, Faghanish Crowned

The Khan of Chin sends gifts to Anooshirvan, and Ghatfar the Heytalian intercepts and kills the envoy. The Khan marches; after a week’s battle near Bukhara the Heytalians break. Their people resolve to seek Iran’s protection, and crown Faghanish of Chaghaniyan.

E1.4.81
Faghanish was his name, a lord renowned,With troops and treasure gathered all around.

Faghanish named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E1.5

Anooshirvan Marches against the Khan

The Shah’s council urges caution: the Heytalians deserve their ruin for Pirooz’s blood, but Rum may strike while the Shah is in the east. He rebukes them for growing soft on banquets, and at the new moon leads the army out of Madain toward Gorgan.

E1.5.76
A letter to the Khan he then decreed,And praised Faghanish for his noble deed;

Faghanish named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E1.11

Anooshirvan Marches to Tisfoon

The Khan yields Sughd, Chakh and Samarkand and withdraws. The eastern lords come with gifts and recite the history of their sufferings. The Shah prays, gives alms, halts at the fire of Azargashasp on the way home, and sends bride and treasure on to Tisfoon.

E1.11.32
Till wise Faghanish rose to take the reins,And brought relief to our tormented plains.
E1.11.46
Their leader Faghanish came with that band;Young warriors went before him at his command.

Faghanish named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes