Shahnameh Timeline

A chronological journey through the ages, heroes, and pivotal events of the Shahnameh.

Mythical Age (Pishdadian Dynasty)

Kiomars

The First King; his kingship began on Hormuzd-Ruz (1st day) of Farvardin.

30 years after Kiomars' ascension

Siamak

Son of Kiomars; fought against the Black Demon and was tragically martyred in battle.

Immediately following Siamak's ascension

Battle of Siamak and the Black Demon

Siamak leads an army of animals and angels against the Black Demon, the son of Ahriman, but is tragically killed in single combat.

30 years after Siamak's martyrdom

Hushang

Grandson of Kiomars; discovered fire by striking a stone against a rock, establishing the Sadeh Feast, and ruled for 40 years.

1 year after Hushang's coronation

Battle of Hushang and the Black Demon

Hushang avenges his father Siamak's death by leading a grand army, capturing and decapitating the Black Demon.

40 years after Hushang's ascension

Tahmuras

Son of Hushang; known as Div-band (binder of demons) for subduing evil spirits, extracting the secret of writing, and ruled for 30 years.

10 years after Tahmuras' ascension

Battle of Tahmuras against the Demons

Tahmuras defeats the rebel demons using magic, binding them and sparing their lives only after they teach him thirty different scripts of writing.

30 years after Tahmuras' ascension

Jamshid

The legendary king who introduced armor, navigation, and medicine. His pride (loss of Farr) led to his downfall and the invasion of Zahhak after a 700-year reign.

700 years after Jamshid's ascension

Zahhak

The despotic tyrant whose shoulders grew serpents fed on human brains. His oppressive rule lasted 1,000 years until defeated by Fereydoun.

999 years after Zahhak's ascension

Revolt of Kaveh the Blacksmith

Kaveh the Blacksmith rebels against Zahhak's tyrannical rule after eighteen of his sons are sacrificed. He raises his leather apron as a banner of freedom (Derafsh Kaviani), rallying the people under Fereydoun.

1000 years after Zahhak's ascension

Fereydoun

The just king who overthrew Zahhak with Kaveh the Blacksmith. He divided the world among his three sons: Salm, Tur, and Iraj, reigning for 500 years.

At the end of Zahhak's 1000-year reign

Overthrow of Zahhak

Fereydoun, wielding his cow-headed mace, enters Zahhak's palace, defeats the tyrant, and binds him in chains inside Mount Damavand.

150 years after Fereydoun's ascension

Iraj

The youngest and most beloved son of Fereydoun, given the rule of Iran. He was murderously sacrificed by his jealous brothers, Salm and Tur, sparking the cycle of revenge.

10 years after Fereydoun's abdication

The War of Iraj's Vengeance

Manuchehr leads the Iranian army against Salm and Tur, personally slaying Tur in battle and pursuing Salm to cut off his head.

120 years after Iraj's murder

Manuchehr

Grandson of Iraj; avenged Iraj's murder by slaying Salm and Tur. His reign marks the transition toward the Heroic Age and lasted 120 years.

120 years after Manuchehr's ascension

Nowzar

Son of Manuchehr; his weak rule led to internal chaos and a devastating Turanian invasion by Afrasiab, who executed him after 7 years of reign.

7 years after Nowzar's ascension

The Battle of Dehestan

The Turanians led by Afrasiab invade Iran, defeating the Iranian forces at Dehestan; King Nowzar is captured and executed by Afrasiab.

Heroic Age (Kayanian Dynasty)

Zal

Born with white hair and raised by the mythical Simurgh. He married Rudabeh of Kabul and became a central counselor and protector of Iran.

Reigned during Manuchehr's era

Zal's Abandonment on Mount Alborz

Sam abandons his newborn son Zal on Mount Alborz due to his white hair, fearing it is an evil omen. Zal is rescued and nurtured by the mythical Simurgh in her nest until Sam repents after a prophetic dream and retrieves him.

10 years after Zal's return to court

The Romance of Zal and Rudabeh

The secret and star-crossed love story between Zal, the hero of Sistan, and Rudabeh, the princess of Kabul. Despite the historical enmities between their houses, they overcome grand political and religious barriers to marry.

1 year after Zal and Rudabeh's marriage

The Surgical Birth of Rostam (Rostam-zad)

Rostam is born via a surgical Caesarean section. Zal summons the Simurgh, who instructs them on anesthetizing Rudabeh with wine, performing the surgical incision to deliver the giant infant, and healing the wound with her feather.

10 years after Nowzar's death

Keyghobad

The first Kayānian king, established on the throne by Rostam after the death of Nowzar. He restored Iranian sovereignty and ruled for 100 years.

15 years after Keyghobad's coronation

Rostam Tames the Steed Rakhsh

As a young warrior preparing for epic campaigns, Rostam identifies and tames Rakhsh, a legendary rose-colored stallion of unparalleled strength and intelligence, who becomes his loyal lifelong companion in all trials.

100 years after Keyghobad's ascension

Keykāvoos

The proud twelfth King of Iran. Undertook the disastrous Mazandaran campaign, built a flying throne, and was rescued multiple times by Rostam.

5 years after Keykāvoos' coronation

Rostam's Seven Labours

Rostam's heroic journey to Mazandaran to rescue the blinded King Keykāvoos, defeating dragons, demons, and the White Div.

Immediately following Rostam's sixth labour

The Slaying of the White Div

The climactic seventh labour where Rostam enters the dark cavern of the White Div, battles him in a fierce struggle, and kills him to use his blood to cure King Keykāvoos's blindness.

25 years after Rostam's Seven Labours

Rostam and Sohrab

The tragic duel between the unrivaled champion Rostam and his unrecognized son Sohrab, who led a Turanian army and died at his father's hands.

During Sohrab's march on Iran

Battle of Sohrab and Gordafarid

The female champion Gordafarid donning armor to fight Sohrab at the White Fortress, delaying the Turanian advance through her courage and wits.

3 days after the battle commenced

The Tragic Duel of Rostam and Sohrab

Rostam and Sohrab engage in a fierce three-day single combat at the border; Rostam mortally wounds Sohrab, only to discover the armlet proving Sohrab is his son.

14 years after Sohrab's tragedy

The Fire Ordeal of Siavash

To prove his innocence against the false lustful accusations of his stepmother Sudabeh, the pure prince Siavash rides his horse Shabrang through a towering mountain of blazing fire, emerging completely unscathed by divine grace.

15 years after Sohrab's tragedy

Siavash's Trial and Death

The pure prince Siavash passes through fire to prove his innocence against Sudabeh's false accusations, later exiles himself to Turan and is martyred.

10 years after Siavash's trial

Battle of Rostam and Akvan Div

Rostam hunts and defeats the shape-shifting onager-demon Akvan, who throws Rostam into the sea before being outwitted and decapitated.

2 years after Akvan Div's battle

Rostam and Kamus of Kashan

During the Kamus campaign, Rostam confronts the giant Turanian ally Kamus of Kashan, capturing him with his lasso and slaying him.

1 day after Kamus's death

The Slaying of Ashkboos

Rostam approaches the battlefield on foot without his horse Rakhsh and slays the arrogant Turanian champion Ashkboos with a single, legendary arrow shot.

10 years after Siavash's martyrdom

Keykhosrow

Son of Siavash and Farangis. Crowned King of Iran, he launched the Great Vengeance War against Afrasiab, restored the empire, and mysteriously vanished.

6 years after Keykhosrow's coronation

The Battle of the Twelve Ranks

The historic eleven single combats between Iranian and Turanian champions, followed by Goudarz slaying Piran Viseh to break the Turanian morale.

12 years after Keykhosrow's coronation

The Great War of Vengeance

A massive, multi-campaign war culminating in the execution of Afrasiab and Garsivaz, avenging Siavash and securing peace.

6 years after the Twelve Ranks

The Final Slaying of Afrasiab

The ultimate showdown of the Great War where Keykhosrow captures the fugitive Afrasiab and his brother Garsivaz in Lake Chichast, executing them for Siavash's murder.

5 years after the final defeat of Afrasiab

The Captivity and Rescue of Bijan

Bijan is imprisoned in a deep, stone-blocked pit by Afrasiab for loving princess Manizheh. Rostam travels to Turan disguised as a merchant, locates the pit, and rescues Bijan with Manizheh's aid.

2 years after Bijan's rescue

The Mysterious Vanishing of Keykhosrow

Keykhosrow abdicates the throne to spend his remaining days in prayer. He journeys into the Alborz mountains with his top paladins, bathes in a holy spring, bids them farewell, and mysteriously vanishes into a severe snowstorm.

60 years after the Great War

Rostam and Esfandiyar

The tragic clash of codes between the aged paladin Rostam and the crown prince Esfandiyar, ended by Simurgh's double-pointed arrow.

During the second day of their duel

The Duel of Rostam and Esfandiyar

The tragic duel between the invulnerable prince Esfandiyar and the aging champion Rostam, who is forced to use a double-pointed tamarisk arrow blessed by the Simurgh to blind Esfandiyar and save Sistan.

2 years after Esfandiyar's death

The Death of Rostam

Rostam is betrayed by his envious half-brother Shaghad and King Kaboli, falling into a pit of poisoned spears, but slaying Shaghad before passing.

Immediately before Rostam's passing

Rostam's Last Arrow

Rostam, trapped in a pit of poison-tipped spears, gathers his last strength, shoots his bow through a massive plane tree behind which Shaghad is hiding, and pins Shaghad to the trunk before dying.

Historical Age (Achaemenid to Sasanian)

Dara

The last Kayanian monarch (historic Darius III), betrayed by his own counselors and defeated by Eskandar, marking the end of the legendary empire.

At the end of Dara's reign

The Battle of Dara and Eskandar

The grand historical clash where Eskandar's Macedonian forces defeat the armies of Dara, who is mortally stabbed by his own treacherous ministers before Eskandar finds him.

14 years after Dara's ascension

Eskandar

Succeeded Dara as King of Iran. He traveled the world seeking the Water of Life with Khidr, representing the transition between the Kayanian and historical Sasanian periods.

5 years after Eskandar's ascension

Duel of Eskandar and King Fur of India

Eskandar fights the giant King Fur of India; Eskandar uses fire-breathing iron cavalry figures to terrify Fur's war elephants and slays Fur in single combat.

4 years after defeating King Fur

Eskandar's Search for the Water of Life

Eskandar travels with the prophet Khidr into the Land of Darkness searching for the fountain of the Water of Life. While Khidr finds and drinks from the spring to achieve immortality, Eskandar loses his way in the dark and returns empty-handed.

Approx. 260 years after Eskandar's death

Ardashir Babakan

The founder of the historical Sasanian Empire. He rose to power after defeating the Parthian rulers, restoring pre-Islamic Zoroastrian kingship.

Approx. 20 years after Ardashir's ascension

The Battle of Hormozgān

Ardashir Babakan defeats the last Parthian King Ardavan V in a decisive battle, establishing Sasanian dynasty hegemony over Greater Iran.

40 years after Ardashir Babakan's ascension

Shapour I

Son of Ardashir I; consolidated Sasanian power, expanded borders, and defended the empire against Roman incursions.

15 years after Shapour's coronation

Battle of Shapour I and Emperor Valerian

Sasanian armies under Shapour I crush the Roman legions, capturing Emperor Valerian alive and demonstrating Sasanian military superiority.

180 years after Shapour's reign

Bahram Gur

The colorful Sasanian monarch known for his hunting prowess, love for music, and political reforms, who defended Iran against eastern nomadic forces.

8 years after Bahram Gur's coronation

Surprise Night Attack on the Hephthalites

Bahram Gur leads a highly mobile force of select cavalry in a surprise night attack, catching the invading Khagan of the Hephthalites unprepared, slaying him and securing the eastern borders.

110 years after Bahram Gur's reign

Anoushirvan

Khosrow I, the 'Just King'. Known for administrative reforms, his wise minister Bozorgmehr, and securing Iran's borders against the Hephthalites and Romans.

20 years after Anoushirvan's ascension

The Conquest of the Hephthalite Empire

Anoushirvan allies with the Western Turkic Khaganate to wage war against the Hephthalites, defeating their king Faghanish and partitioning their lands.

30 years after Anoushirvan's coronation

The Deciphering of Chess by Bozorgmehr

The King of India sends a complex chessboard as a riddle to King Anoushirvan's court. The wise minister Bozorgmehr deciphers its rules in a single day and invents the game of Backgammon (Nard) as a counter-challenge.

60 years after Anoushirvan's reign

Rebellion of Bahram Chubin

A massive historical revolt by Sasanian General Bahram Chubin against King Hormozd and the young Khosrow Parviz, briefly usurping the throne.

1 year after Chubin's rebellion

The Battle of Blarathon

The young King Khosrow Parviz, with the aid of Roman auxiliary armies, defeats the brilliant general and usurper Bahram Chubin in a massive historical battle, forcing Chubin to flee to Turan.

10 years after Khosrow Parviz's coronation

The Romance of Khosrow and Shirin

The grand and tempestuous love story between Sasanian King Khosrow Parviz and the Armenian princess Shirin, filled with jealousy, exile, and the tragic fate of the master sculptor Farhad.

15 years after Bahram Chubin's rebellion

Khosrow Parviz

The grand monarch whose court represented the peak of Sasanian luxury, known for his love for Shirin and his legendary musicians Barbad and Sarkash.

35 years after Khosrow Parviz's death

Battle of Qadisiyyah

The monumental, tragic battle between the Sasanian army led by General Rostam Farrokhzād and the Arab armies, leading to the collapse of the Sasanian Empire.

During the Battle of Qadisiyyah

The Slaying of Rostam Farrokhzad

Sasanian General Rostam Farrokhzad fights heroically in the sandstorm during the Battle of Qadisiyyah, engaging in multiple combats before being slain, leading to the collapse of the Persian lines.

3 years after the Battle of Qadisiyyah

Yazdgerd III

The fiftieth and final King of Iran. His assassination in 651 CE marked the ultimate collapse of the pre-Islamic Persian Empire and the end of the Shahnameh.