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

Khazarخزر

kha-ZARalso Khazars

The Khazar lands north of the Caspian. The text also has 'Khazars'.

In the poem
First at B9.41, Piran Is Sent to the Provinces; last at E6.54, Khosrow Answers with Gifts
Named
23 times, in 11 sections
Main stories
C5 Lohrasp (9); E5 Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan (6); D10 The Bahram Goor Cycle: Justice, Foreign Adventures, and End of a Reign (2)

In the poem’s own words

The 8 sections that name Khazar most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Khazar. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.
B9.41

Piran Is Sent to the Provinces

After a week of feasting, Afrasiab orders Piran to lead an army towards Chin, Hind and the Sind to collect tribute and to march on the Khazar frontier. Piran takes his leave of Siavash and sets out.

  • B9.41.5
    Demand the tribute all those regions pay,Toward Khazar’s frontier send your array.”
Khazar named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C3.21

Gudarz Replies to Piran

On the eighth day Gudarz dictates his answer and refuses point by point: Piran’s heart and tongue are strangers, the feud reaches back to Iraj, seventy sons are unavenged, the lands are already taken. Ruyin carries it home; Piran hides it and calls his troops to arms.

  • C3.21.69
    Lohrasp has taken all the western side,As far as Khazar’s marches spreading wide.
Khazar named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C5.14

Caesar Demands Tribute from Ilyas

Caesar demands tribute from Ilyas of Khazar, threatening him with Farrokhzad, and Ilyas answers with contempt. Murin and Ahran predict that Goshtasb will be beaten. Goshtasb promises to bring Ilyas in by his belt, and warns Caesar not to trust his two sons-in-law in a battle.

  • C5.14.1
    Khazar lay nearest Caesar’s realm; for longIts people darkened Rum with grievous wrong.
  • C5.14.3
    His pen seemed dipped in blood before he wrote:“O ruler of Khazar, heed this royal note.
  • C5.14.4
    You ruled Khazar and mocked us through the years;But now your day of gladness disappears.
Khazar named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C5.16

Caesar Demands Iran’s Tribute

Caesar sends the sage Kalus to demand tribute from Iran. Lohrasp receives him with honor and feasts him, then asks what has made Rum so bold. Kalus describes the rider who broke Khazar; Lohrasp hears Zarir’s face in the description, and sends back a promise of war.

  • C5.16.39
    Ilyas, who ruled the kingdom of Khazar,Was full of farr, a warrior famed afar.
  • C5.16.41
    The envoy said, “Wise Shah, I went beforeTo ask Khazar for tribute to his store.
Khazar named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
C5.17

Zarir Bears Word to Caesar

Lohrasp sends Zarir to Rum with the crown, the throne and Kaveh’s banner, secretly meaning to abdicate but instructed to speak only of war. Zarir musters the sons and grandsons of the old houses, camps at Halab, and delivers a defiance that leaves Caesar promising battle.

  • C5.17.36
    Iran is not Khazar, nor am I oneLike conquered Ilyas, whose power is done.”
Khazar named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D5.14

Iskandar Makes Iron Steeds Filled with Naphtha

Iskandar marches through ruinous country and rebukes his complaining Romans. He musters Iranians, Khazars and Arabs, learns how Foor’s elephants throw horses, and has three thousand smiths forge a thousand iron horses and riders filled with naphtha, to be wheeled onto the field.

  • D5.14.34
    Behind them rode the horsemen, fierce and light,From Khazar, famed for strength in every fight.
Khazar named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes
D10.18

Bahram’s Gur-e-Khar Hunt before the Princes

Before his nobles Bahram drives an arrow through a buck so that neither point nor feathers show, and cleaves a female Gur-e-Khar in two. He rings three hundred beasts’ ears with gold engraved with his name and frees them, holds open court for the poor, then returns to feasting.

  • D10.18.66
    He bit his lip at Rozbeh in disdain,And spoke of tribute from Khazar’s domain.
  • D10.18.67
    “The tribute paid by Rum and Khazar’s landI give these women by my own command.
Khazar named 2 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
E5.4

The Realm Rises against Hormizd

In his tenth year enemies come from every side: Saveh of the Turks from Herat with elephants, Caesar from Rum, Khazars into Armenia, Arab horsemen on the Euphrates. With his counselors dead, Hormizd buys off Rum, beats the Khazars, and is left facing Saveh.

  • E5.4.15
    A force came from the Khazars’ distant side,And blackened all the land in battle-pride.
  • E5.4.34
    If Khazar troops come forth in battle might,Our warriors must not delay the fight.
  • E5.4.59
    When Caesar had withdrawn, the king preparedTo meet the Khazars, and his anger flared.
Khazar named 6 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes
All 11 sections that name Khazar
  1. B9.41 Piran Is Sent to the Provinces
  2. C3.21 Gudarz Replies to Piran
  3. C5.14 Caesar Demands Tribute from Ilyas
  4. C5.16 Caesar Demands Iran’s Tribute
  5. C5.17 Zarir Bears Word to Caesar
  6. D5.14 Iskandar Makes Iron Steeds Filled with Naphtha
  7. D10.18 Bahram’s Gur-e-Khar Hunt before the Princes
  8. D13.3 Anooshirvan’s Decree of Justice
  9. E5.4 The Realm Rises against Hormizd
  10. E6.53 Caesar Seeks the Cross of Christ
  11. E6.54 Khosrow Answers with Gifts

On the maps

D13.3, D13.2Anooshirvan's Just Order

Where the name appears

Named mentions by book, from the Universe Registry, the index behind this site. Titles and epithets are not counted.
B9The Story of Siavash1C3The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs1C5Lohrasp9D5The Iskandar Cycle1D10The Bahram Goor Cycle: Justice, Foreign Adventures, and End of a Reign2D13Anooshirvan and the Road to the End-time1E5Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan6E6Khosrow Parviz2

More in the Glossary and the index of places.