Place · The Shahnameh · Volumes I, II, III

Turkترک

TORK

The people of Turan (also ‘Turkish’); Turkistan is their land.

In the poem: First at A6.8, Salm Grows Envious; last at E10.13, Bijan Marches against Mahwi
Named: 196 times, in 132 sections
Main stories: C3 The Battle of the Twelve Rukhs (23); C6 Goshtasb, Zardosht, and the War with Arjasp (23); E5 Hormizd, Son of Anooshirvan (22)

In the poem’s own words

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

B9.33

Siavash Displays His Prowess before Afrasiab

Afrasiab tests his guest at polo, archery and the hunt. Siavash hits the ball out of sight, strings a bow no Turanian can bend, pierces the target and cuts a Gur-e-Khar in equal halves. The king grows fonder, but some Turanians grow uneasy.

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

B10.12

Zavareh Goes to Siavash’s Hunting-Ground

Out hunting, Zavareh learns from a Turkish guide that he stands in Siavash’s favorite hunting-ground. He faints with grief, vows endless vengeance, and reproaches Rostam for letting Turan live in peace.

B10.12.2
He set a Turk before him as his guide,And followed swiftly over country wide.
B10.12.5
The Turk spoke out without a guarded thought:“This is the ground Prince Siavash once sought.
B10.12.12
They cursed the Turk who served him as their guide,And each man struck and cast him to one side.

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

C4.10

The Armies Meet in Battle

The armies join. Gharan wears down Jahan, Gostaham drives on the right, and days of slaughter follow. Afrasiab spreads his ranks to get clear of the towered elephants. Khosrow prays behind his lines, kills Ila and unhorses Ustukila, and Afrasiab is pulled away at dusk.

Turk named 4 times 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.

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

C4.16

Gang-Behesht Shelters Afrasiab

News comes that Gostaham has destroyed Qarakhan’s force by night and Rostam has scattered another. Afrasiab marches to surprise Rostam, finds him armed and watching, and on a chief’s advice shuts himself into Gang-Behesht with his treasure, family and troops.

C4.16.29
“The plain is full of huts and tents displayed,But not one Turk within the camp has stayed.”

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

E5.11

Bahram Chubin Slays King Saveh

Bahram dreams of defeat, prays, and has his archers shoot the elephants’ trunks; the beasts turn and trample the Turks. He overtakes Saveh, shoots him through the spine, beheads him, and puts to death the warlock who confesses to sending the dream.

E5.11.126
He brought a ruddy, cat-eyed Turk in tow,Whose angry heart betrayed a sullen glow.
E5.11.128
Then to that foul Turk, “Hell-visaged man,Banned from Paradise, declare your clan.

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

E5.13

Bahram Chubin Overcomes Parmudeh

Parmudeh crosses the Jihun to avenge Saveh. Warned against Wednesdays, Bahram spends one feasting in a garden and is surrounded; he breaks out, then storms the Turkish camp by night. Parmudeh flees to Avaza, and Bahram rings the fortress.

E5.13.56
Both Turk and Iranian are born to die;No birth beneath this heaven can pass death by.

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

E10.9

Yazdegard Hides in the Mill

Mahwi brings Turkish troops from Samarkand against his own Shah and flees the field, leaving him ringed. Yazdegard fights, escapes, and hides in a mill beside the Zark. The miller offers barley bread and cress; the king asks for barsom, and the errand betrays him.