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

Hamavaranهاماوران

hah-mah-vah-RAHN

A land (Yemen or Himyar) whose king imprisons Kavus.

In the poem
First at B5.11, Kavus Returns to Iran; last at E5.24, Bahram Chubin Reveals His Ambition
Named
32 times, in 19 sections
Main stories
B6 The Folly of Kay Kavus (12); B8 The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab (6); B9 The Story of Siavash (5)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Hamavaran most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Hamavaran. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B5.11

Kavus Returns to Iran

Kavus returns in triumph and opens his treasuries. He loads Rostam with gifts and grants him Nimruz by charter before Rostam rides home to Zal. He then makes Tus commander of the army, gives Isfahan to Gudarz, and rules in feasting and justice.

  • B5.11.39
    Mazandaran’s war has now been fully told;Now hear how Hamavaran’s war took hold.
Hamavaran named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
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.

  • B6.1.42
    On left was Mesr, Barbar on the right,Before him Hamavaran armed for fight.
  • B6.1.67
    The king of Hamavaran first gave way,And sought for peace to end the fatal day.
  • B6.1.72
    Content, the Shah withdrew from field of war;An envoy came from Hamavaran’s shore.
Hamavaran named 3 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.

  • B6.3.22
    The Hamavaran king would bow, obey,Like some low servant in the Shah’s array.
  • B6.3.28
    The Barbar troops with Hamavaran flew,And seized the chiefs before a blade they drew.
Hamavaran 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.

  • B6.5.2
    “I march upon this land with gathered force,To turn Hamavaran’s king from his dark course.
  • B6.5.29
    When word was brought to Hamavaran’s king,His heart sought vengeance with a bitter sting.
  • B6.5.51
    The armies of three realms were joined in one,And marched toward Hamavaran with the sun.
Hamavaran 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.

  • B6.6.9
    Hamavaran’s hundred elephants came,With rank on rank of warriors behind the same.
  • B6.6.31
    The king of Hamavaran saw with dreadHis soldiers strewn in heaps among the dead.
  • B6.6.38
    The king of Hamavaran reached the town,And with his counselor at last sat down.
Hamavaran named 2 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.
  • B6.7.33
    If Iran had fulfilled your restless will,You would not covet Hamavaran still.
Hamavaran named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B8.13

Kavus’s Anger at Rostam

Kavus, furious at the delay, orders Rostam and Giv hanged. Rostam strikes Tus, declares that his strength comes from God alone and rides away. Gudarz talks Kavus into repentance, then shames Rostam into returning with a rumor that he fears Sohrab. King and champion are reconciled.

  • B8.13.21
    Rum, Sagzar, Mesr, Chin have yielded ground;Mazandaran, Hamavaran were bound.
  • B8.13.61
    When Hamavaran held the Shah confined,Who cut him free and left his chains behind?
  • B8.13.62
    In Hamavaran, fetters held the king;Rostam slew kings and broke the captive ring.
Hamavaran named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
B9.12

Kavus Questions the Matter of the Infants

Kavus’s astrologers find that the dead infants are neither his nor Sudabeh’s. The sorceress is caught but will not confess, and Sudabeh claims the seers are too frightened to speak the truth. The Mobadan advise a trial by fire, and Siavash accepts it.

  • B9.12.3
    He told them how in Hamavaran’s fight,The Shah had suffered shame and captive plight.
  • B9.12.13
    “In Hamavaran I shared in your fall;Your wounds and loss of throne; I bore them all.
  • B9.12.46
    And Sudabeh, Hamavaran’s royal heir,Still lays another burden on your care.
Hamavaran named 3 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 19 sections that name Hamavaran
  1. B5.11 Kavus Returns to Iran
  2. B6.1 Kavus Wars with Hamavaran
  3. B6.3 Hamavaran’s King Imprisons Kavus
  4. B6.5 Rostam’s Message to Hamavaran
  5. B6.6 Rostam Battles the Three Kings
  6. B6.7 Kavus’s Message to Afrasiab
  7. B8.12 Kavus Summons Rostam from Zabulistan
  8. B8.13 Kavus’s Anger at Rostam
  9. B9.8 Siavash Visits the Bower Again
  10. B9.10 Sudabeh Beguiles Kay Kavus
  11. B9.12 Kavus Questions the Matter of the Infants
  12. C4.57 Zal Petitions Khosrow for Rostam
  13. C4.59 Tus Receives Khosrow’s Patent
  14. C8.3 Goshtasb Replies to His Son
  15. C8.15 Rostam Defends His Race and Deeds
  16. C8.17 Rostam Boasts of His Valor
  17. C8.20 Zal Advises Rostam
  18. E5.6 Bahram Chubin Takes Command
  19. E5.24 Bahram Chubin Reveals His Ambition

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.
B5The Seven Labors of Rostam1B6The Folly of Kay Kavus12B8The Tragedy of Rostam & Sohrab6B9The Story of Siavash5C4The Final Afrasiab Wars and the Disappearance of Kay Khosrow2C8The Tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar4E5Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan2

More in the Glossary and the index of places.