Feridún

Family: Irán · Role: son of Abtín and Faránuk · First appears: Mirtás-Tází, and his Son Zohák · Part 5

After Abtín was killed by Zohák, Faránuk fled with infant Feridún, first leaving him with a pasture keeper, who cared for him for three years, and then entrusting him to a dervish on mountain Alberz. When Feridún came down from the mountain in his sixteenth year, Faránuk told him how Zohák had killed his father, and he resolved on revenge. With Kavah’s support, he gathered followers, overcame Zohák’s protections and forces, and subdued him. He freed Shahrnáz and Arnawáz, whom Zohák’s people had imprisoned, and took the throne and treasury. Though his brothers conspired against him, Feridún raised them to greater dignity rather than punish them.

When his sons Sílim, Túr, and Irij had grown up, Feridún arranged their marriages to the three daughters of the King of Yemen and divided his empire among them, giving Rúm and Kháwer to Sílim, Túrán to Túr, and Irán to Irij. When Sílim and Túr demanded that Irij receive a humbler portion and threatened war, Feridún warned Irij of their plans; Irij said he would surrender his throne rather than fight his brothers. But Túr had Irij killed and sent his head to Feridún, who ordered mourning and buried it in a favorite garden.

Feridún later gave Irij’s daughter in marriage to Pishung, and their son Minúchihr was raised to the throne and crowned by him. He opened his treasury so Minúchihr could assemble an army, and together they celebrated victory over Sílim and Túr’s forces. As his death approached, Feridún placed Minúchihr under the protection of Sám and Narímán, crowned him, and gave him counsel; after Feridún’s death, Minúchihr succeeded to the empire.