Analysis of the Personality and Performance of Kavos Shah Kiani from the Perspective of Ferdowsi and Islamic Historians

Subject Areas : Archaeology

Fatemeh Maroofkhani ¹ , Masood Mohammadi ^{2 *} , Javad Sakha ³

1 - PhD candidate in History, Department of History, Abhar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Farhangian University, Qazvin, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of History, Abhar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.

Received: 2024-12-31 Accepted : 2025-03-11 Published : 2025-03-18

Keywords: Kayanian, Kavos, Hamavaran, Turan,

Abstract :

The character of Kay Kāvus in historical sources is variable and complex. Different sources present multiple accounts of his life, reign, and the events of his era. In the Avesta, his name appears in two forms: “Kavi Usadhan” (kavi-usadhan) and “Usan” (usan), while in the Denkard it is recorded as “Kay Ūs.” In most Islamic sources, his name is mentioned as “Kāvus.” He is described as the son of Kay Qobād. In the Avesta, however, he is introduced as the son of “Kay Āpiweh,” who himself is the son of Kay Qobād. In Shahnameh and other Islamic sources, Kay Kāvus is also regarded as the son of Kay Qobād. He is one of the most famous Kayanian kings and is often compared to Nimrod in various accounts. His life story is filled with mythical and legendary events, such as his victory over the divs (demons), the death of his son Siyāwush at the hands of Afrasiab, and the subsequent long wars between Iran and Turan, his futile attempt to ascend to the heavens, his rivalry with the gods, and more. Among the two calamitous military campaigns attributed to him in the Shahnameh and other sources, one is his campaign to Māzandarān, and the other is his battle against the king of Hamavaran—both of which end in his defeat and captivity, yet in both cases his fate turns for the better through the intervention of the world champion Rostam. In the Shahnameh, Kay Kāvus has a more negative character than any other Iranian king, whereas in the Avesta he is portrayed as the greatest and most magnificent Kayanian monarch. In the works of Islamic historians, he is described as a powerful and victorious ruler. Examining the events that occurred during his 150-year lifetime, as well as his conduct toward various incidents, heroes, the royal court, nobles, and Iran’s enemies, along with his personality traits as reflected in the Avesta and historical accounts, forms the main subject of this study. In conclusion, regardless of the mistakes this Kayanian king made in dealing with certain matters during his reign, according to the judgment of most historians, he was an exceptional ruler in terms of conquests, temperament, and the variety of deeds he accomplished—since the greatest epic events in the legendary history of Iran took place and came to fruition during his reign

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