Character · The Shahnameh · Volume III

Niyatusنیاطوس

nee-yah-TOOS

Caesar's brother, who leads the Roman army sent with Maryam to restore Khosrow Parviz.

In the poem: First at E6.21, Caesar Sends Aid and a Bride; last at E8.2, Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh
Named: 24 times, in 7 sections
Main stories: E6 Khosrow Parviz (23); E8 Shiruyeh’s Coup and the End of the Great Reign (1)

In the poem’s own words

The 7 sections that name Niyatus most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Niyatus. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.

E6.21

Caesar Sends Aid and a Bride

Caesar sends seventy thousand troops under his brother Niyatus and gives his daughter Maryam to Khosrow with an enormous dowry. He rides three stages with the train, charges Niyatus with her safety, and turns back weeping. Khosrow greets bride and legions with joy.

E6.21.36
Caesar had one brave brother, strong and wise,Niyatus, honored under Roman skies.
E6.21.39
Niyatus took the charge without delay;Then Caesar turned in tears and rode away.
E6.21.40
The legions marched along the road ahead;With gorz and sword, Niyatus rode and led.

Niyatus named 7 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E6.22

Bandvi Meets Khosrow on the Road

Khosrow musters at Duk, gives the legions to Niyatus, and rides toward Khanjast, where he finds Bandvi alive and Mawsil of Armenia waiting. He hears how Bandvi escaped, rewards Mawsil, prays at the fire of Azargashasp, and returns to camp as Nimruz’s troops arrive.

E6.22.7
He gave the legions to Niyatus’ hand:“All troops are yours to lead across the land.”

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

E6.24

Khosrow Battles Bahram Chubin

The armies meet. Bahram kills the Roman champion Kut in single combat and sends the split body back; Khosrow laughs, and Niyatus rebukes him. A Roman charge is destroyed, the dead heaped into a hill called Bahram-chid, and Khosrow gives the next day’s fighting to Iranians.

E6.24.12
Then Niyatus, Bandvi, Gostaham came,And joined the Shah above the battle-flame.
E6.24.41
But valiant Niyatus grew blind with ire,Because the Shah had smiled amid the fire.

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

E6.25

Soroush Saves Khosrow from Bahram

Bahram’s elephant is shot from under him and he fights on foot. Khosrow rides out with fourteen chosen men, who scatter; chased into a blind cave, he prays and is carried to safety by Soroush. Bahram, seeing it, despairs of his fortune, and Khosrow renews the battle.

E6.25.98
But Niyatus and Roman soldiers rose,And from the field went up to watch the foes.
E6.25.135
Upon the mountainside Niyatus prayedThat God would keep Khosrow from harm and blade.
E6.25.138
Niyatus drew her golden litter near:“Sit here; the Shah is dead, or so I fear.”

Niyatus named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E6.29

Maryam Reconciles Niyatus and Bandvi

At the victory feast Khosrow, dressed in Roman robes, murmurs the Zoroastrian grace while Bandvi holds the barsom. Niyatus throws down his bread in protest, Bandvi strikes him, and the Romans arm. Maryam goes to their camp and reconciles them before the quarrel becomes a battle.

E6.29.3
Niyatus and the Romans took their seatBeside the sages, at the board to eat.
E6.29.7
When Niyatus saw this, he spurned the bread,And, in disgust, stood up and spoke instead.
E6.29.13
Niyatus left and mounted, flushed with wine,Returned to camp with anger as his sign.

Niyatus named 6 times 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.

E6.30.6
To Niyatus went steeds, a jeweled hoard,Attendants, golden girdles for a lord.
E6.30.7
The gifts surpassed all measure; by their grace,Niyatus rose above the chiefs in place.
E6.30.9
He gave to Niyatus with patents clear,And made old bitterness turn sweet and dear.

Niyatus named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E8.2

Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh

Khosrow answers every charge: his flight from Hormizd, his vengeance on Bandvi and Gostaham, the comfort of his sons’ prison, the sealed horoscope, his treasuries, the frontier armies, his gifts to Caesar, the worthlessness of the Cross. Then he blesses the world, names the dead kings, and says farewell.