Sikander

Family: Rúm · Role: king · First appears: Dáráb and Dárá

After the death of Failakús, Sikander became king of Rúm. Before his death, Failakús had placed the crown on his head and appointed Aristú as vizir. Failakús passed Sikander off as his own son; Sikander was the son of Dáráb and Nahíd. At his elevation to the throne, Sikander rejected Dárá’s demand for tribute and threatened to invade Persia. He entered Dárá’s camp disguised as an envoy, escaped from a feast after being recognized, and defeated Dárá’s forces in repeated battles. After his victories he worked to win the people’s support, restored Dárá’s captured family, and offered to restore him to the throne.

After Dárá was mortally wounded by his ministers Jamúsipár and Mahiyár, he revealed to Sikander that “thou and I are sons of the same father.” Dárá died after asking Sikander to fulfill his wishes, and Sikander promised to do so. He had Jamúsipár and Mahiyár executed at Dárá’s tomb, married Dárá’s daughter Roshung, and began ruling Persia without a rival. He later proceeded toward Ind and, after Kaid acknowledged his authority, married Kaid’s daughter.

At Kanúj, Sikander slew Faúr and became ruler of the kingdom. He built a barrier that kept Yájuj and Májuj from molesting the inhabitants. Prophecies foretold that he would die at Kashán without seeing his mother or family again; after falling sick there, he died a few days later.