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Character · The Shahnameh · Volume III

Kharrad Barzinخراد برزین

khar-RAHD bar-ZEEN

Kharrad son of Barzin, counselor and envoy of Hormizd and Khosrow Parviz.

In the poem
First at E6.5, Khosrow and Bahram Parley; last at E8.2, Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh
Named
13 times, in 10 sections
Main stories
E6 Khosrow Parviz (9); E8 Shiruyeh’s Coup and the End of the Great Reign (4)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Kharrad Barzin most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Kharrad Barzin. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
E6.5

Khosrow and Bahram Parley

Across the Nahravan the king and the rebel abuse and argue with each other at length. Khosrow offers him command of Iran; Bahram offers a gibbet. They dispute whether kingship comes by blood, merit or conquest, trading precedents from Ardeshir to Rostam, until Khosrow laughs and turns back.

  • E6.5.5
    Kharrad Barzin among them now drew near,A golden helmet flashing bright and clear.
Kharrad Barzin named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E6.6

Gurdiyeh’s Counsel and Khosrow’s Purpose

A Turk’s kamand takes Khosrow’s crown before Gostaham cuts the rope; Bahram, furious that his parley was broken, withdraws. Gurdiyeh presses him again with fables and the example of Sahm. Khosrow plans a night attack, tells too many men, and is talked out of it.

  • E6.6.94
    Kharrad Barzin came at the monarch’s call,With lion-like Gostaham among them all.
Kharrad Barzin named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E6.30

Khosrow Rewards Niyatus and the Romans

Khosrow musters and pays the Romans, restores to Niyatus the cities taken from Rum, and sends them home. He worships a week at Azargashasp, then holds court in Anooshirvan’s palace, granting provinces to his chiefs and proclaiming justice and relief for the poor.

  • E6.30.1
    The Shah bade Kharrad Barzin take command:“Prepare the muster; call the clerks to hand.
  • E6.30.41
    “All chiefs shall heed Kharrad Barzin’s behest;His will shall have its force from east to west.
Kharrad Barzin named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E6.36

Kharrad’s Mission to the Khan

Kharrad Barzin goes as envoy and wins the Khan’s favor with wise talk, but cannot shake his oath. Turning to the women’s quarters, he recruits a steward, befriends the despised old Turk Kulun, and earns the queen’s gratitude by curing her daughter’s fever.

  • E6.36.2
    To Kharrad Barzin then the monarch said:“Leave home, and choose the road that lies ahead.
Kharrad Barzin named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E6.37

Bahram Falls by Kharrad’s Design

Kharrad arms Kulun with a knife and the Khan’s seal, stolen in clay by the queen. At Marv, on the unlucky Bahram day, Kulun stabs Bahram and keeps silent under torture. Bahram counsels his sister, bequeaths his army to Yalan-sina, repents, and dies.

  • E6.37.7
    For three months Kharrad Barzin waited, sealedIn silence; not a secret he revealed.
Kharrad Barzin named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E6.39

Khosrow Rewards Kharrad

Kharrad returns and is rewarded with a crown, jewels and a hundred thousand dinars. Khosrow announces the victory through the realm in Pahlavi, writes to Caesar, feasts a week, endows the fires, and draws the moral that an aged Turk can fell the bravest man.

  • E6.39.1
    When Kharrad Barzin came, the monarch heardHis deeds, his news, and every spoken word.
Kharrad Barzin named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E6.53

Caesar Seeks the Cross of Christ

Caesar keeps seven days’ festival for his grandson and sends ten caravans of treasure with the envoy Khanagi. His letter praises Khosrow’s line, recalls the old feud of Salm and Tur as settled by the marriage, and asks one gift: the Cross of Christ from the Iranian treasury.

  • E6.53.40
    Then to Kharrad Barzin the monarch said,“Before the army let this scroll be read.”
Kharrad Barzin named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E8.1

Shiruyeh Takes the Throne

Crowned as Qobad, Shiruyeh promises justice and sends Ashtad and Kharrad Barzin to Tisfoon with a written charge against his father. Galinush admits them. A quince rolls from Khosrow’s cushion to the floor; he reads his house’s ruin in it, hears the charges out, and answers with a rebuke.

  • E8.1.19
    Kharrad Barzin was named, the other sage,Who spoke with wisdom gathered through his age.
  • E8.1.23
    Kharrad Barzin set forth upon the way,With Ashtad Gashasp, sorrowing that day.
  • E8.1.76
    Ashtad and Kharrad Barzin, men of fame,Bring words from him who bears the royal name.”
Kharrad Barzin named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 10 sections that name Kharrad Barzin
  1. E6.5 Khosrow and Bahram Parley
  2. E6.6 Gurdiyeh’s Counsel and Khosrow’s Purpose
  3. E6.30 Khosrow Rewards Niyatus and the Romans
  4. E6.36 Kharrad’s Mission to the Khan
  5. E6.37 Bahram Falls by Kharrad’s Design
  6. E6.39 Khosrow Rewards Kharrad
  7. E6.53 Caesar Seeks the Cross of Christ
  8. E6.54 Khosrow Answers with Gifts
  9. E8.1 Shiruyeh Takes the Throne
  10. E8.2 Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh

On the maps

E8.1–E8.5Shiruyeh's Coup and the Death of Khosrow Parviz

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
E6Khosrow Parviz9E8Shiruyeh’s Coup and the End of the Great Reign4

More in the Glossary and the index of characters.