Davazdah Rokh

Davāzdah Rokh^[1] (Persian: دَوازدَه رُخ) (Twelve combats) is a story in Shahnameh. This relatively long story (almost 2,500 verses) is described as one of the finest stories of Shahnameh in terms of "plot, dramatic description, and insight into human nature".^[1]

The opposing armies of Iran led by Kay Khosrow, and Turan, under the command of Afrasiab. The Bayasanghori Shâhnâmeh, made in 1430 for Prince Bayasanghor (1399–1433), a registered Heritage of UNESCO.^[2]

It takes place on the border between Iran and Turan, where a number of Iranian heroes fight with a number of Turanian heroes. In all cases, Iranian heroes defeat their Turanian competitors. Goudarz is the chief of Iranian heroes and Piran Viseh is the chief of Turanian heroes. The battle begins when Piran's brother, Houman, challenges the Iranians and is killed by Bizhan in a single combat. The two armies then join battle, without either side prevailing. Finally they agree to abide by the outcomes of a series of single combats (mard o mard) between the greatest heroes of the two armies:

Heroes of the two armies

1. Fariburz vs Golbad Viseh
2. Giv vs Goruye Zereh
3. Gorazeh vs Siamak the Turanian
4. Foruhal vs Zangolah
5. Rohham vs Barman
6. Bizhan vs Rooyin
7. Hojir vs Sepahram
8. Zange-ye Shavaran vs Akhvast
9. Gorgin vs Andariman
10. Bartah vs Kohram
11. Goudarz vs Piran
12. Gostaham vs Lahhak and Farshad

In all battles, the winner is the Iranian hero. At the end, Goudarz kills Piran and the war ends. However, Gostaham, who has not been chosen by Kay Khosrow to fight with Turanians, chases Lahhāk and Faršēd, brothers of Piran, and kills them, although he himself is severely injured in the process, whereupon Bizhan takes him to Kay Khosrow, who saves his life by the expedient of binding a healing amulet to his arm. The war ends with the death of Afrasiab, Turan's king. In some manuscripts of Shahnameh the story is entitled az Yazdah Rokh (Eleven combats), not counting the last fight between Gostaham and Piran's brothers.

The campaign ends with the victory of Iran and the implementation of a festival in honour of the empire’s noble ruler Kai Khosrow and Goudarz the valiant commander of his sovereign’s army.

Location of Davazdah Rokh

According to shahnameh the place of war was in the area near Zibad Castle or black mountain of Gonabad in Iran state of Greater Khorasan .. ^[3]

Gallery

• 
  Bizhan Versus Ruyyin
• 
  Kay Khosrow Reviews His Army
• 
  Kay Khosrow arrival in Iran^[4]
• 
  Davazdah Rokh victory
• 
  Kay Khosrow and Afrasiyab
• 
  Lahhak and Farshidvard
• 
  Barta versus Kuhram
• 
  BATTLE OF 12 Rokh)

See also

• Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp