Kaykhusraw

Kaykhusraw
Biographical Information
Titles:	Hero King King of Pars
Language:	Parsian
Birth:	18 years before P.E.
Rule:	P.E. 1 - 28
Death:	P.E. 28 (aged 45)
Family
House:	Founded the House of Kaykhusraw
Children:	Khashayar and Osroes I
Physical Description
Gender:	Male

"There are not two suns in the heavens,
and there is but one Shah upon the earth.
The hero with no equal, Kaykhusraw;
with sword in hand, who will succeed his mandate of Heaven?"

― Last four lines of the poem The Heroic Deeds of Kaykhusraw as sung by Gieve to Queen Tahamine in The Heroic Legend of Arslan (anime), "The Royal Capital Burns, Part 1"

Kaykhusraw was the father of Khashayar and Osroes I and the founder and first King of Pars.

Kaykhusraw was also known as Hero King Kaykhusraw, for he was seen as the saviour and hero of the Parsian people, due to his defeating Zahhāk, the Serpent King. This feat was recorded in the poem The Heroic Deeds of Kaykhusraw, sung by Gieve during the Siege of Ecbatana.

History

Kaykhusraw was the founder of the Royal House of Pars after the death of Sage King Jamshid, Jahangir, who was killed by Zahhāk, who then ruled for a millenium as the Serpent King.

No one had dared to rebel against the Serpent King until Kaykhusraw stood against him. First, he drew a cook who served Zahhāk to his side. Then he saved one of the to be sacrificed men and substituted his brain with that of sheep each day. This way, he gained his allies. A year later, the number of soldiers on his side grew to 365. With them, he attacked Zahhāk and caught him in Māzandarān.

Zahhāk was sealed deep under Mount Damavand; Kaykhusraw bound him with chains and piled 20 bedrocks over him. Also, he put his sword Rukhnābād there and sealed its power. Thus, the Serpent King was defeated, leaving the word that he would break the seal in 300 years.

The world was then divided into many nations, and Kaykhusraw became the first King of Pars at the age of 18, unifying the land at the age of 25. Though he was wise and upright, his son betrayed him, and his life wasn’t very prosperous. When he was 45 years old, he passed away and as he wished, he was buried in Mount Damavand with his sword, Rukhnābād. He was succeeded by his second son Osroes I.

Etymology

Kaykhusraw is a Persian name, derived from Avestan Kauui Haosrauuaŋha, meaning "seer/poet who has good fame."

Genealogy

KAYKHUSRAW d. P.E. 28

Khashayar

Osroes I

Tigranes

Osroes II

Inspiration

Kaykhusraw is most likely based on both Fereydun, who likewise defeated the demon Zahhāk, and his son, Iraj, who founded the Kingdom of Iran (Pars), from the Shahnameh.