In the wake of Alexander's demise, a shadow of fragmented sovereignty fell across the vast realm of Iran. Sensing his impending end, Alexander had devised a cunning scheme to splinter Persian unity and shield Rome from future vengeance: he divided the empire among local chieftains so that no single monarch could unite the throne of the world. These warlords, descended from the lineage of Arash and the Kayanians, were proud, fierce, and independent, each seizing a corner of the realm. Thus began the era of the 'Petty Kings' (Muluk al-Tawa'if), spanning two centuries in which no sole Emperor commanded the earth. Each local ruler kept to his own domain, leaving the land in a quiet, shattered truce. Among these royal lines arose Ashk of Qobad's seed, followed by Shapur, Gudarz the Ashkanian, Bizhan, Narsi, Ormazd, Arash, Bahram, and Ardavan the Great. Ardavan held sway from Shiraz to Isfahan, protecting his domain like a shepherd defending sheep from wolves, while mighty Babak governed Istakhr under his authority. Yet because the ancient scrolls preserved little beyond their names, their detailed history faded into the mist of time.
#1
کنون ای سراینده فرتوت مرد
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سوی گاه اشکانیان بازگرد
“Now, O aged reciter of ancient lore, turn your mind back toward the era of the Ashkanians.”
#2
چه گفت اندر آن نامهٔ راستان
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که گوینده یاد آرد از باستان
“What was written in that book of truthful men, which the narrator now recalls from antiquity?”
#3
پس از روزگار سکندر جهان
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چه گوید کِرا بود تخت مهان
“After the era of Alexander passed, who held the imperial throne of the great across the world?”
#4
چنین گفت داننده دهقان چاچ
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کزان پس کسی را نبد تخت عاج
“Thus spoke the wise Dehqan of Chach: that after Alexander, none sat upon a throne of ivory.”
#5
بزرگان که از تخم آرش بدند
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دلیر و سبکسار و سرکش بدند
“The chieftains who sprang from the seed of Arash were brave, swift-headed, and fiercely proud.”
#6
به گیتی به هر گوشه‌ای بر یکی
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گرفته ز هر کشوری اندکی
“In every corner of the world stood one lord, taking a fragment of every kingdom into his hands.”
#7
چو بر تختشان شاد بنشاندند
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ملوک طوایف همی خواندند
“When they sat joyously upon their scattered thrones, men gave them the title of the Petty Kings.”
#8
برین گونه بگذشت سالی دویست
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تو گفتی که اندر زمین شاه نیست
“Two hundred years passed in this fashion; you would say no single monarch ruled over the earth.”
#9
نکردند یاد این ازان آن ازین
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برآسود یک چند روی زمین
“Neither paid heed to the other, and for a long season the face of the earth rested from War.”
#10
سکندر سگالید زین‌گونه رای
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که تا روم آباد ماند به جای
“Alexander had devised this scheme on purpose, so that Rome might remain prosperous and secure.”
#11
نخست اشک بود از نژاد قباد
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دگر گرد شاپور خسرو نژاد
“First was Ashk of Kay Qobad's royal line, then brave Shapur of Khosrow's ancient seed.”
#12
ز یک دست گودرز اشکانیان
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چو بیژن که بود از نژاد کیان
“Beside them stood Gudarz of the Ashkanians, and Bizhan who was of noble Kayanid descent.”
#13
چو نرسی و چون اورمزد بزرگ
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چو آرش که بد نامدار سترگ
“Then came Narsi and great Ormazd, and Arash who was a renowned and formidable prince.”
#14
چو زو بگذری نامدار اردوان
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خردمند و با رای و روشن‌روان
“Beyond him reigned famous Ardavan, a ruler wise, prudent, and bright of soul.”
#15
چو بنشست بهرام ز اشکانیان
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ببخشید گنجی بارزانیان
“When Bahram of the Ashkanians ascended the throne, he bestowed vast treasures upon his lords.”
#16
ورا خواندند اردوان بزرگ
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که از میش بگسست چنگال گرگ
“They called him Ardavan the Great, who severed the wolf's deadly claws from the helpless sheep.”
#17
ورا بود شیراز تا اصفهان
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که داننده خواندش مرز مهان
“His realm extended from Shiraz to Isfahan—a land known by the wise as the domain of the great.”
#18
به اصطخر بد بابک از دست اوی
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که تنین خروشان بد از شست اوی
“At Istakhr ruled Babak under his authority, whose mighty hand was like a roaring dragon.”
#19
چو کوتاه شد شاخ و هم بیخشان
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نگوید جهاندار تاریخشان
“When their branches and roots grew withered, the ruler of the world recorded not their full chronicle.”
#20
کزیشان جز از نام نشنیده‌ام
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نه در نامهٔ خسروان دیده‌ام
“For I have heard nothing of them save their names, nor seen their deeds in the Book of Kings.”
#21
سکندر چو نومید گشت از جهان
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بیفگند رایی میان مهان
“When Alexander despaired of life in this world, he cast this strategy among his grandees:”
#22
بدان تا نگیرد کس از روم یاد
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بماند مران کشور آباد و شاد
“So that no Iranian sovereign would seek vengeance on Rome, leaving his native country prosperous and secure.”
#23
چو دانا بود بر زمین شهریار
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چنین آورد دانش شاه بار
“When a king ruling upon earth is wise, such is the enduring fruit that royal intellect brings forth.”