New Naqqaliشاهنامه
Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Barbarبربر / بربرستان

bar-BAR

A distant land whose captives Anooshirvan settles in Sursan, and whose fabrics are prized.

In the poem
First at B6.1, Kavus Wars with Hamavaran; last at E6.54, Khosrow Answers with Gifts
Named
23 times, in 9 sections
Main stories
B6 The Folly of Kay Kavus (18); E1 The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters (2); B14 The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin (1)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Barbar most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Barbar. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B6.1

Kavus Wars with Hamavaran

Kavus tours his empire from Turan and Chin to Makran, defeats the king of Barbar, receives homage at Mount Kaf and feasts with Rostam in Zabul. When Mesr and Sham rebel, he crosses the sea and defeats the allied kings; Hamavaran submits.

  • B6.1.7
    To Barbar next he led his splendid train,With crown and diadem across the plain.
  • B6.1.8
    The king of Barbar armed himself for war,And darkened what had shone so bright before.
  • B6.1.16
    No Barbar rider lived; they all lay dead,No weary spearman raised again his head.
Barbar named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B6.3

Hamavaran’s King Imprisons Kavus

The king of Hamavaran invites Kavus to a feast. Sudabeh warns of a trap, but Kavus goes; after a week of revelry he and his champions are seized and imprisoned in a mountain fortress. Sudabeh denounces her father and chooses to share Kavus’s prison.

  • B6.3.25
    The troops of Barbar answered to the call,And joined the plot, assembled one and all.
  • B6.3.28
    The Barbar troops with Hamavaran flew,And seized the chiefs before a blade they drew.
Barbar named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B6.5

Rostam’s Message to Hamavaran

Rostam sends comfort to Kavus and a warning to the king of Hamavaran, who defies him. Rostam crosses by sea and routs the first army. The king calls in the kings of Barbar and Mesr, and Kavus secretly tells Rostam to fight without regard for his safety.

  • B6.5.19
    And if you come to Barbar’s open field,To swords and heavy gorz you then must yield.
  • B6.5.44
    “Ride hard to Barbar and to Mesr with haste,Let not a moment of the journey waste.
  • B6.5.56
    The throne of Barbar would be worthless gain,If harm should reach your body in this strain.”
Barbar named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B6.6

Rostam Battles the Three Kings

Rostam leads the Iranians against the three allied kings. He catches one king with his kamand and plucks him from the saddle, Guraza captures the king of Barbar, and the king of Hamavaran sues for peace and frees Kavus and his chiefs. Kavus gathers a vast army.

  • B6.6.8
    From Barbar came eight score in ponderous flow,Like Nile-flood waters boiling as they go.
  • B6.6.30
    Guraza’s snare the Barbar monarch caught,And forty chiefs were taken as they fought.
  • B6.6.48
    From Barbar, Mesr, Hamavaran they came,A hundred thousand horsemen in his name.
Barbar named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B6.7

Kavus’s Message to Afrasiab

Kavus seeks troops from Rum, and loyal Iranians report that they have resisted Afrasiab. Kavus orders Afrasiab out of Iran; Afrasiab claims the throne by descent from Tur and by conquest. In the battle that follows the Turanians are routed and Afrasiab flees home.

  • B6.7.6
    Then news from Hamavaran was conveyedOf Rostam’s blows on Mesr and Barbar made.
  • B6.7.17
    When you return from Barbar with the rein,We all shall raise our spears across the plain.
  • B6.7.19
    The envoy spurred at once and set his faceToward Barbar to pursue the Shah’s grace.
Barbar named 4 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B14.6

Turan’s Counsel before Battle

Piran warns his kinsmen and the Khan that Rostam has come for vengeance, while the kin of Kamus and Chingish swear to burn Sistan. Shangul, king of Hind, mocks the fear of ‘one Sagzi’ and promises to lead the attack. Houman foresees disaster.

  • B14.6.29
    From Chin and Barbar armies shall be ledTo seek revenge for brave Kamus, now dead.
Barbar named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C6.30

Jamasp Visits Esfandiyar

Nush Azar nearly kills Jamasp for his Turanian cap. Esfandiyar refuses his father’s message, and Lohrasp, his sisters, his father’s plight and his dead brothers all leave him unmoved; only Farshidvard’s name breaks him. He snaps his own fetters, faints, then calls for arms.

  • C6.30.78
    He saw his steed of Barbar, thin and spare,And thought of God, the Giver, and His care:
Barbar named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E1.3

Anooshirvan’s Wisdom and Sursan

With the sorcery tale done, the poet praises just rule. Iran rests, arms are laid aside and tribute comes in. The Shah builds a city in the style of Rum, settles craftsmen from Rum and Hind and captives from Barbar and Rum in it, and names it Sursan.

  • E1.3.23
    The prisoners brought from Barbar and from Rum,He settled each and gave them house and room.
  • E1.3.27
    The captives brought from Barbar and from Rum,From battle-lands now sunk in grief and gloom,
Barbar named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 9 sections that name Barbar
  1. B6.1 Kavus Wars with Hamavaran
  2. B6.3 Hamavaran’s King Imprisons Kavus
  3. B6.5 Rostam’s Message to Hamavaran
  4. B6.6 Rostam Battles the Three Kings
  5. B6.7 Kavus’s Message to Afrasiab
  6. B14.6 Turan’s Counsel before Battle
  7. C6.30 Jamasp Visits Esfandiyar
  8. E1.3 Anooshirvan’s Wisdom and Sursan
  9. E6.54 Khosrow Answers with Gifts

On the maps

B6.1The Hamavaran Sea-War and Kavus's Captivity

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B6The Folly of Kay Kavus18B14The Great Battle with the Khan of Chin1C6Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp1E1The Story of Mahbud and Other Matters2E6Khosrow Parviz1

More in the Glossary and the index of places.