Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes II, III

Bardaبردع

bar-DAH

A city of the northwest, near Ardabil, whose envoys and fighting men appear at the Sasanian court and in its wars.

In the poem: First at C4.2, Kay Khosrow Musters against Afrasiab; last at E8.2, Khosrow Parviz Answers Shiruyeh
Named: 11 times, in 9 sections
Main stories: C4 The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow (3); E5 Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan (3); E6 Khosrow Parviz (3)

In the poem’s own words

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

C4.2

Kay Khosrow Musters against Afrasiab

With Piran dead, Kay Khosrow calls up the whole realm against Afrasiab. He gives Rostam, Gudarz and Tus three roads to watch, summons every province by letter, and sets out his order of battle: wings, elephants, crossbowmen, spearmen and reserves.

C4.2.58
The chiefs from Barda and from ArdabilStood ranked before the Shah in gleaming steel.

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

C4.14

Khosrow Crosses the Jihun

Khosrow crosses the Jihun, relieves the ruined marches of Sughd and rests a month. He orders mercy for Turks who submit and destruction for those who fight, and his troops raze strongholds for a hundred farsangs. At Gang, Afrasiab’s elders can advise only war.

C4.14.15
From Barda and Ardabil troops drew near,All armed, obedient, and free from fear.

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

C4.41

Hohm Captures Afrasiab

Starving and sleepless, Afrasiab hides in a cave near Barda. The hermit Hohm, of Fereydoon’s line, hears a lament come up out of the mountain, climbs down after dark, wrestles the fugitive to the ground, binds his arms and drags him away.

C4.41.4
Near Barda, on a mountain’s secret height,He found a cavern hidden from men’s sight.

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

E1.6

The Khan Writes for Peace

The Khan boasts that he will overrun Iran, but news of the Shah’s advance shakes him. Counseled that gold buys peace, he sends ten envoys with a silk letter. Anooshirvan feasts them a month, then stages a review of his troops and of his own horsemanship.

E1.6.65
Ambassadors from Barda, Hind, and Rum,From every court on which the heavens loom,

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

E5.5

Hormizd Calls for Bahram Chubin

Nastooh brings his aged father Mehran Setad, who tells how he chose Hormizd’s Chinese mother and how a Mobad then foretold a dark, lean horseman called Chubin who would break the Turk. He dies as he finishes. Bahram, son of Goshnasp, is found at Ardabil.

E5.5.64
He governs Rey and holds Barda in hand,And guards the northern border of our land.”

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

E5.6

Bahram Chubin Takes Command

Bahram reaches court, argues against buying peace, and is given command. He enrolls twelve thousand armored men, all aged forty, defends both choices from the poem’s own history, and receives from the Shah’s hand the dragon banner of Rostam.

E5.6.1
He called no warriors from his own command,But hurried out from Barda through the land.

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

E5.29

Khosrow Learns of His Father’s Blinding

A courier rides to the shrine of Azargashasp with news of the coup. Khosrow grieves, disclaims all joy in it, and marches from Barda, Ardabil and Armenia toward the capital, which welcomes him and sets up an ivory throne, while he thinks of his father in despair.

E5.29.11
From Barda and from Ardabil he ledTroop after troop along the road ahead.

Barda 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.

E6.6.39
When Hormizd suffered, and his son, who burnedFor vengeance, now from Barda had returned,
E6.6.102
He has but Barda, Ardabil, and thoseArmenian troops to face us as our foes.
E6.6.103
We fear them not when battle’s fury wakes;For Barda’s men are dust the whirlwind takes.”