When the auspicious Qobad ascended the throne of the Kayanids, he assumed the crown of greatness and transferred the seat of power from Istakhr to Ctesiphon. From his imperial throne, he delivered a sublime discourse on wisdom, justice, self-restraint, and the perils of greed and haste, declaring his court open to all subjects by day and night. However, having mounted the throne at the tender age of sixteen, Qobad found the true helm of the realm held by the veteran paladin Sofray, who governed the military, treasury, and administration, leaving the young monarch with little more than a royal title. When Qobad reached his twenty-third year, Sofray sought permission to return to his hereditary domain in Shiraz, departing with thunderous drums and a magnificent host to rule over Fars in supreme opulence.
In time, envious courtiers poisoned Qobad’s heart against Sofray, warning the king that Sofray exercised absolute kingship while Qobad retained merely an empty name. Reluctant to wage outright war, Qobad summoned Shapur of Ray. Shapur penned a fierce reprimand to Sofray and marched upon Shiraz with a formidable force. Reading the royal decree, Sofray was struck with deep sorrow, recalling how he had once rescued Qobad from captivity among the Hephthalites and secured his royal lineage. Yet, bound by deep loyalty, Sofray submitted without resistance and allowed himself to be bound in chains. Shapur brought him back to Ctesiphon, where Qobad imprisoned him and, swayed by scheming priests and courtiers, ultimately ordered his execution.
The slaying of the hero Sofray sent shockwaves of grief and indignation across Iran. The nobility and commoners rose in violent rebellion, deposed Qobad, threw him into heavy iron fetters, and elevated his younger brother Jamasb to the crown. By fate's design, the imprisoned Qobad was placed under the guard of Zarmehr, the noble and God-fearing son of the slain Sofray. Instead of seeking vengeance for his father's death, Zarmehr remained steadfastly loyal to the king; he unlocked Qobad's chains and, under the cover of a pitch-black night, guided Qobad and five trusted companions toward the realm of the Hephthalite king.
During their flight near Ahvaz, they sought refuge at the estate of a noble Dehqan. There, Qobad fell enamored with the Dehqan's moon-faced, virtuous daughter. He married her in secret and left her his priceless signet ring before pressing onward. Reaching the Hephthalite sovereign, Qobad forged an alliance and obtained thirty thousand elite armored cavalry. Marching back toward Ahvaz, glad tidings reached Qobad that his bride had given birth to a glorious son, whom he named Kasra (Khosrow). The Dehqan revealed that their bloodline descended directly from the legendary King Fereydun. Learning of Qobad's approach with a colossal Hephthalite army, the Iranian nobles and Jamasb repented and submitted peacefully. Qobad pardoned his brother and the magnates, reascended the Kayanid throne, placed young Kasra under the care of great scholars, waged successful campaigns against Rome, erected cities, hospitals (such as Hulwan), and fire temples, and revitalized the grand festivals of Nowruz and Sadeh.