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Short, continuous scribbling sounds can be heard within the spacious room. A young and unusual-looking woman is sitting behind a wooden desk, deeply involved in a writing session. Her composure is stern and noble. Luxury, beyond the imagination of most, is surrounding this person, yet her dedication to the piece of parchment is unwavering. History is not easy to portray, outstandingly opposite to that. So many lost words, never written down. So many deeds, good and bad, never accounted for. Even with all the libraries of Isfahan at her disposal, she will never get the fullest sense about all that has happened. Infuriating to her character as well, too many contradicting stories and exaggerations exist, making the creation of one objective composition an impossible task.
Temporarily abandoning her composure, she tends to the ever-itchy neck. With a disappointing sigh, she starts rummaging through old texts, and not for the first time today.
"Caliphs...Turkish mercenaries...and an endless number of betrothals and weddings." -She mumbles to herself.
A truly chaotic era, in which war doesn't get much attention. Constant bloodshed has become so common and ordinary, that people considered it a daily part of their lives. Borders shifted, religious sects thrived and diseases ran rampant. What was deeply unusual to the writer, there were many conflicting sources about certain events. Her ancestor, Rostam, obviously came from those chaotic times with a stable and wealthy realm. However, he was regarded as an opposer to the great Caliphate, yet he was constantly allied to various Caliphs through marriage. Then again, some sources mention many wars against the Caliphate, but soon after, his armies marched alongside the Caliph. Very confusing and odd. All the signs were there, her long-dead relative was certainly a vily character. He did what had to be done to survive those struggling times. Her mind was fighting the urge to display Rostam as he truly was: a ruthless and cunning man, not stopping for a moment to give his enemies respite. Be that as it may, his actions paved the way for the future prosperity of Persia. His actions are the reason she is in her current position. And truly, it is the position at the center of the civilized world.
Another sigh...this time out of exhaustion. Diverting her eyes from the table, she observes the dusk slowly creeping from her window.
"I wonder if it is time yet?"
She stands up, with a slight pain in her back, and makes her way towards the ornamental window. Golden Isfahan comes into her view, incredible and inspiring. Warmth she feels towards this great city will never wane, despite being accustomed to it from her earliest childhood. Slowly-disappearing sun gives out vibrant colours, reflecting on many magnificent temples and palaces of the city.
Her mind is fixated on the Great Temple, searching for signs of any activity. Nothing was happening, and her mind came into ease.
Looking back at her desk and parchments with a slight disdain, she decides to remain by the window a bit longer. A dreamer in her heart, she truly wants this piece of literary work done. A perfectionist in her mind, she abhors the great lack of information she is facing.
City of Isfahan was not always in the hands of her family. Contrary to the beliefs of many, it was not great Rostam that conquered it. His son, Ardavan, was the one who triumphantly entered the city and proclaimed himself the Shah of Persia. Rule of Ardavan came as a surprise to the realm. He was the second in line to inherit Rostam, and never given much attention and respect. His older brother, Shervin, was groomed to rule, but sudden illness cut short the life of this strong and mighty prince. Truly, a sense of sadness and disappointment could've been felt everywhere, as a talented warrior and general was replaced by an irritable reveler and drunkard. Despite all of that, this undesirable ruler brought stability to the realm. As others crumbled around him, he remained focused and brought the much needed peace to his people. With his new capital as the pride of Persia, none could doubt the resurgence of rightful heirs of the Sassanids.
There are things that historians may never understand. The motives within minds of long-gone great people. We could ponder forever whether Ardavan stabilized his realm in a calculated and planned fashion, or he simply did not create any enemies, due to being busy with reveling. We may never know.
Beyond any doubt, anything imaginable could be found within this city, including all the pleasures of life.
Masses of people can be seen slowly flocking towards the Great Temple. Observing this, young woman knew it was time. She made her way towards the exit door of her room. Her appearance was respectfully greeted by guards and servants within the hallway. With no words being said, she simply clapped her hands twice. Servants immediately rushed towards and started following her. It was time for her to prepare for the great ceremony at the temple. Obviously, servants were there to make her appearance perfect, but her prideful nature also enjoyed this attention from others.
Extravagance is a word some may use to describe a Persian shahdokht, a princess adorned with traditional garments and jewelry. Even beyond that goes for spouses of mighty Shahs, whose appearances alone may start bloody wars. What can then be said for the Queen of Queens? Her husband rules the civilized world and leads power beyond any other man on this world. Divine radiance may sound blasphemous, but no other words come even close with better description than that.
And there she is:
The rough jewel of Persia. Even though not fully Persian, as her mother was a Rajastani, she definitely had features from his father's side. Beauty comes from both of her parents, but also a curse. Her face and body were partially covered with scaly patches of skin. Disgusting to many, almost demonic looking, it combined with her natural beauty for an extremally unusual appearance. Of course, none would dare ever openly mocking the most powerful woman in the world, but whispers and stares were ever present. Considering her pride, it was unnerving for her to be present in public. As a young adult, she became reclusive and discovered her thirst for knowledge. With the newly established position as the Queen of Queens, her ambitions are on a precipice. She truly wants to write about history, but the future is now opening for her, roaring with potential greatness.
She carries her mother's name: Akkadevi.
With a column of servants and courtiers behind her, Akkadevi is starting her walk towards the great temple. Stunning and outrageous, her movement through the city leaves the gathered crowds in awe. Silk and jewelry in fantastic opulence make for poor walking garments, but she endures it in a proper and noble fashion. In her approach to the temple stairs, she stops and makes a bow towards the great priest, the Moabadan-Moabad of the Mazdayasna. Of course, she also bows to her husband, the powerful Shahanshah, who responds to her in same fashion.
This is a religious ceremony, so the word is reserved for priests, who carry out their preaches near the Great Fire. Righteous crowd and their sovereigns quietly observe and piously follow the words that are being spoken.
As part of the ceremony, the great priest honours the Bavandid family, rulers and protectors of Persia. Many martyrs of the faith are mentioned, those who prayed to Ahura Mazda in secret, during the oppression of other religions. Most notable mention is of the great Ardavan the Second, a legendary Shah, who rejected the humiliating secrecy and openly declared his faith. Born during the peaceful rule of his father, Ardavan the First, he grew a burning religious fervor within him. As soon as he consolidated his reign, he declared himself a true Mazdayasna follower, bringing ire upon him from many neighboring realms. Inheriting ruthlessness from his grandfather Rostam, he annihilated all the enemies that came upon him. His tumultuous and brutal reign marked Persia as a capable military power and ushered in a new dawn for all the followers of Zoroaster.
Mesmerizing fire is burning high and bright. Religious procession goes well into the night and ends with generous charity from the Shahanshah.
With the crowd dispersed and priests retired, young couple take their time wandering the temple grounds in bliss. King of Kings, with his Queen of Queens.
"Do you remember when you were betrothed to me, on these very grounds?"
Akkadevi stops, as her husband speaks to her.
"Of course. We were very young. I hated you." -With a smile, she responds to him.
"And I hated you. I wanted to punch you so dearly. And I thought being betrothed meant I was free to do that. I could not have been more wrong."
Both of them, hand in hand, continue their walk along the temple path, both laughing.
They came upon a great statue, adorned with many precious items. A guard is standing nearby, and promptly moves away as they approach.
"Great Sadri." -Shahanshah honors his great-grandfather.
A plaque stands, with writings about his life.
"Turn around!" -He quickly grabs her and stands between her and the statue plaque.
"What is wrong?" -Surprised, Akkadevi turns.
"How long did Sadri rule?" -His question was stern, almost tutor-like.
"Hmm, let me remember..." -She responds, with a slight chuckle. "Sadri ruled for 49 years, if I remember correctly."
"You are wrong!" Her husband yells out, proudly and with a grin. "He ruled for 29 years!"
"Well, he ruled as *Shahanshah* for 29 years, which is written on that statue, but he also ruled 20 years before, as a Shah." -Akkadevi quickly lowers the enthusiasm of her spouse.
"Remember, he inherited his title from his father, Ardavan the Second, then went on conquering the ancient Persian lands. After 20 years, he declared himself Shahanshah." -Grin was now on her face. "I can't believe you don't know history of your family." -She scolds him.
"Somehow I knew I couldn't have outsmarted you. You know history better than the priests." -With his pride diminished, he concedes to her.
"Do you also know that he was a passionate gardener and traveled all of Persia twice?" -She continues with the lesson for her husband.
"No, but do you know he was absolutely crazy, and liked running around naked?" -He replies to her.
"Wait. How did you know that? I did not know that. Please tell me where you read that! I need to write this down!" -Surprised and intrigued, she learned something new about a historical ruler. And from all the people, it was her husband, notoriously known by his ignorance of history.
"You should also write about this day. I knew something from history that you didn't!" -Grin was back on his face. "If you must know, father told me this in confidance. He also told me to never speak about it to anyone. Not even to you, because you are a blabbermouth."
"I am not!" -Furious Akkadevi tries to find words to counter her husband, not being able to decide what was more insulting to her pride. Her not knowing something from history, or being mocked.
Their childish squabble goes on for a while, to the visible confusion of the nearby guard.
Eventually it all ends with a laugh, as the couple eventually retire to their palace.
Shahanshah of Persia. Avasara is his name. Intriguing character, to say the least. Skilled manipulator of men, with an ever-shifting face. Nevertheless, he was raised to be a humble and just prince. His cunning nature saw through every person's intention, giving him a constant edge in political matters. Sweet lies and silver tongue made him a lot of friends and confidants, which he utilized whenever an opportunity arose. At his young adulthood, his father appointed him Vizier, bringing him into the world of empire management. Politics is where he shined though, proving that you don't always need a legendary warrior to save the realm. Careful maneuvers diverted not just a few disasters on both domestic and foreign diplomatic scenes. His character was that of a protector, using all his skills, both legal and not-so-much for the benefit of his family and the realm.
Only person that ever saw through his appearance was Akkadevi. They were the perfect couple, complimenting each other in every way.
They both knew the harshness of this world, despite being pampered within the palace confines. They were born during the reign of his father, Shahanshah Burhanaddin, experiencing the horrors of civil wars, rebellions and invasions. Burhanaddin's grandfather was Sadri, the restorer of Persia, who comfortably ruled for many decades. Sadri had many sons and daughters, all of them reaching adulthood by the time of his death. However, his eldest son and heir, Shapur, died of a disease, some time before his father. Under severe grief, Sadri designated his grandson as heir, to the absolute fury of his other sons. Unwittingly, he created a hostile world for him, putting in jeopardy the fate of his beloved Persia. One by one, Sadri's sons rebelled, not before weaving an intricate web within the realm, cajoling powerful vassals into factions.
Young Burhanaddin's misfortunes didn't end just there. Inefficient tax collectors, growing debt and ever-jumping rebellions strained the economy of the realm. His appearance was hideous, turning away his love interests, further damaging his mental health. He married out of interest, to a Rajastani princess, which is where his luck started improving. Recognizing the power his husband could wield, noble princess managed to gather supporters for his cause, swinging the scales of war to a careful balance. Exhausted realm was however in no state for prolonged war, and a white peace was signed between Shahanshah and the rebellious princes.
Decades of peace ensued, albeit standing on a knife's edge. Volatile state was mantained by intrigue and skilled diplomacy.
This is where Avasara learned his craft. His father fought dearly and suffered greatly for Persia. For any and all threats, he will be ready.
Avasara and Akkadevi have reached the palace together. He simply adored her, constantly showering her with compliments. She wasn't really sure what has gotten into him, but she saw the honesty in his words.
Isfahan was slowly drifting into silence. Akkadevi gave one last look to the city from the window, before closing it. She approached her desk and went through all the rulers of Persia on her parchment.
Rostam, Ardavan the First, Ardavan the Second, Sadri, Burhanaddin...
"Soon I will need to start writing your name on this list." -She smiled at her husband.
"You will be writing your name alongside mine as well." -He replied to her warmly.
"We will rule Persia together...my beloved sister."
Temporarily abandoning her composure, she tends to the ever-itchy neck. With a disappointing sigh, she starts rummaging through old texts, and not for the first time today.
"Caliphs...Turkish mercenaries...and an endless number of betrothals and weddings." -She mumbles to herself.
A truly chaotic era, in which war doesn't get much attention. Constant bloodshed has become so common and ordinary, that people considered it a daily part of their lives. Borders shifted, religious sects thrived and diseases ran rampant. What was deeply unusual to the writer, there were many conflicting sources about certain events. Her ancestor, Rostam, obviously came from those chaotic times with a stable and wealthy realm. However, he was regarded as an opposer to the great Caliphate, yet he was constantly allied to various Caliphs through marriage. Then again, some sources mention many wars against the Caliphate, but soon after, his armies marched alongside the Caliph. Very confusing and odd. All the signs were there, her long-dead relative was certainly a vily character. He did what had to be done to survive those struggling times. Her mind was fighting the urge to display Rostam as he truly was: a ruthless and cunning man, not stopping for a moment to give his enemies respite. Be that as it may, his actions paved the way for the future prosperity of Persia. His actions are the reason she is in her current position. And truly, it is the position at the center of the civilized world.
Another sigh...this time out of exhaustion. Diverting her eyes from the table, she observes the dusk slowly creeping from her window.
"I wonder if it is time yet?"
She stands up, with a slight pain in her back, and makes her way towards the ornamental window. Golden Isfahan comes into her view, incredible and inspiring. Warmth she feels towards this great city will never wane, despite being accustomed to it from her earliest childhood. Slowly-disappearing sun gives out vibrant colours, reflecting on many magnificent temples and palaces of the city.
Her mind is fixated on the Great Temple, searching for signs of any activity. Nothing was happening, and her mind came into ease.
Looking back at her desk and parchments with a slight disdain, she decides to remain by the window a bit longer. A dreamer in her heart, she truly wants this piece of literary work done. A perfectionist in her mind, she abhors the great lack of information she is facing.
City of Isfahan was not always in the hands of her family. Contrary to the beliefs of many, it was not great Rostam that conquered it. His son, Ardavan, was the one who triumphantly entered the city and proclaimed himself the Shah of Persia. Rule of Ardavan came as a surprise to the realm. He was the second in line to inherit Rostam, and never given much attention and respect. His older brother, Shervin, was groomed to rule, but sudden illness cut short the life of this strong and mighty prince. Truly, a sense of sadness and disappointment could've been felt everywhere, as a talented warrior and general was replaced by an irritable reveler and drunkard. Despite all of that, this undesirable ruler brought stability to the realm. As others crumbled around him, he remained focused and brought the much needed peace to his people. With his new capital as the pride of Persia, none could doubt the resurgence of rightful heirs of the Sassanids.
There are things that historians may never understand. The motives within minds of long-gone great people. We could ponder forever whether Ardavan stabilized his realm in a calculated and planned fashion, or he simply did not create any enemies, due to being busy with reveling. We may never know.
Beyond any doubt, anything imaginable could be found within this city, including all the pleasures of life.
Masses of people can be seen slowly flocking towards the Great Temple. Observing this, young woman knew it was time. She made her way towards the exit door of her room. Her appearance was respectfully greeted by guards and servants within the hallway. With no words being said, she simply clapped her hands twice. Servants immediately rushed towards and started following her. It was time for her to prepare for the great ceremony at the temple. Obviously, servants were there to make her appearance perfect, but her prideful nature also enjoyed this attention from others.
Extravagance is a word some may use to describe a Persian shahdokht, a princess adorned with traditional garments and jewelry. Even beyond that goes for spouses of mighty Shahs, whose appearances alone may start bloody wars. What can then be said for the Queen of Queens? Her husband rules the civilized world and leads power beyond any other man on this world. Divine radiance may sound blasphemous, but no other words come even close with better description than that.
And there she is:
The rough jewel of Persia. Even though not fully Persian, as her mother was a Rajastani, she definitely had features from his father's side. Beauty comes from both of her parents, but also a curse. Her face and body were partially covered with scaly patches of skin. Disgusting to many, almost demonic looking, it combined with her natural beauty for an extremally unusual appearance. Of course, none would dare ever openly mocking the most powerful woman in the world, but whispers and stares were ever present. Considering her pride, it was unnerving for her to be present in public. As a young adult, she became reclusive and discovered her thirst for knowledge. With the newly established position as the Queen of Queens, her ambitions are on a precipice. She truly wants to write about history, but the future is now opening for her, roaring with potential greatness.
She carries her mother's name: Akkadevi.
With a column of servants and courtiers behind her, Akkadevi is starting her walk towards the great temple. Stunning and outrageous, her movement through the city leaves the gathered crowds in awe. Silk and jewelry in fantastic opulence make for poor walking garments, but she endures it in a proper and noble fashion. In her approach to the temple stairs, she stops and makes a bow towards the great priest, the Moabadan-Moabad of the Mazdayasna. Of course, she also bows to her husband, the powerful Shahanshah, who responds to her in same fashion.
This is a religious ceremony, so the word is reserved for priests, who carry out their preaches near the Great Fire. Righteous crowd and their sovereigns quietly observe and piously follow the words that are being spoken.
As part of the ceremony, the great priest honours the Bavandid family, rulers and protectors of Persia. Many martyrs of the faith are mentioned, those who prayed to Ahura Mazda in secret, during the oppression of other religions. Most notable mention is of the great Ardavan the Second, a legendary Shah, who rejected the humiliating secrecy and openly declared his faith. Born during the peaceful rule of his father, Ardavan the First, he grew a burning religious fervor within him. As soon as he consolidated his reign, he declared himself a true Mazdayasna follower, bringing ire upon him from many neighboring realms. Inheriting ruthlessness from his grandfather Rostam, he annihilated all the enemies that came upon him. His tumultuous and brutal reign marked Persia as a capable military power and ushered in a new dawn for all the followers of Zoroaster.
Mesmerizing fire is burning high and bright. Religious procession goes well into the night and ends with generous charity from the Shahanshah.
With the crowd dispersed and priests retired, young couple take their time wandering the temple grounds in bliss. King of Kings, with his Queen of Queens.
"Do you remember when you were betrothed to me, on these very grounds?"
Akkadevi stops, as her husband speaks to her.
"Of course. We were very young. I hated you." -With a smile, she responds to him.
"And I hated you. I wanted to punch you so dearly. And I thought being betrothed meant I was free to do that. I could not have been more wrong."
Both of them, hand in hand, continue their walk along the temple path, both laughing.
They came upon a great statue, adorned with many precious items. A guard is standing nearby, and promptly moves away as they approach.
"Great Sadri." -Shahanshah honors his great-grandfather.
A plaque stands, with writings about his life.
"Turn around!" -He quickly grabs her and stands between her and the statue plaque.
"What is wrong?" -Surprised, Akkadevi turns.
"How long did Sadri rule?" -His question was stern, almost tutor-like.
"Hmm, let me remember..." -She responds, with a slight chuckle. "Sadri ruled for 49 years, if I remember correctly."
"You are wrong!" Her husband yells out, proudly and with a grin. "He ruled for 29 years!"
"Well, he ruled as *Shahanshah* for 29 years, which is written on that statue, but he also ruled 20 years before, as a Shah." -Akkadevi quickly lowers the enthusiasm of her spouse.
"Remember, he inherited his title from his father, Ardavan the Second, then went on conquering the ancient Persian lands. After 20 years, he declared himself Shahanshah." -Grin was now on her face. "I can't believe you don't know history of your family." -She scolds him.
"Somehow I knew I couldn't have outsmarted you. You know history better than the priests." -With his pride diminished, he concedes to her.
"Do you also know that he was a passionate gardener and traveled all of Persia twice?" -She continues with the lesson for her husband.
"No, but do you know he was absolutely crazy, and liked running around naked?" -He replies to her.
"Wait. How did you know that? I did not know that. Please tell me where you read that! I need to write this down!" -Surprised and intrigued, she learned something new about a historical ruler. And from all the people, it was her husband, notoriously known by his ignorance of history.
"You should also write about this day. I knew something from history that you didn't!" -Grin was back on his face. "If you must know, father told me this in confidance. He also told me to never speak about it to anyone. Not even to you, because you are a blabbermouth."
"I am not!" -Furious Akkadevi tries to find words to counter her husband, not being able to decide what was more insulting to her pride. Her not knowing something from history, or being mocked.
Their childish squabble goes on for a while, to the visible confusion of the nearby guard.
Eventually it all ends with a laugh, as the couple eventually retire to their palace.
Shahanshah of Persia. Avasara is his name. Intriguing character, to say the least. Skilled manipulator of men, with an ever-shifting face. Nevertheless, he was raised to be a humble and just prince. His cunning nature saw through every person's intention, giving him a constant edge in political matters. Sweet lies and silver tongue made him a lot of friends and confidants, which he utilized whenever an opportunity arose. At his young adulthood, his father appointed him Vizier, bringing him into the world of empire management. Politics is where he shined though, proving that you don't always need a legendary warrior to save the realm. Careful maneuvers diverted not just a few disasters on both domestic and foreign diplomatic scenes. His character was that of a protector, using all his skills, both legal and not-so-much for the benefit of his family and the realm.
Only person that ever saw through his appearance was Akkadevi. They were the perfect couple, complimenting each other in every way.
They both knew the harshness of this world, despite being pampered within the palace confines. They were born during the reign of his father, Shahanshah Burhanaddin, experiencing the horrors of civil wars, rebellions and invasions. Burhanaddin's grandfather was Sadri, the restorer of Persia, who comfortably ruled for many decades. Sadri had many sons and daughters, all of them reaching adulthood by the time of his death. However, his eldest son and heir, Shapur, died of a disease, some time before his father. Under severe grief, Sadri designated his grandson as heir, to the absolute fury of his other sons. Unwittingly, he created a hostile world for him, putting in jeopardy the fate of his beloved Persia. One by one, Sadri's sons rebelled, not before weaving an intricate web within the realm, cajoling powerful vassals into factions.
Young Burhanaddin's misfortunes didn't end just there. Inefficient tax collectors, growing debt and ever-jumping rebellions strained the economy of the realm. His appearance was hideous, turning away his love interests, further damaging his mental health. He married out of interest, to a Rajastani princess, which is where his luck started improving. Recognizing the power his husband could wield, noble princess managed to gather supporters for his cause, swinging the scales of war to a careful balance. Exhausted realm was however in no state for prolonged war, and a white peace was signed between Shahanshah and the rebellious princes.
Decades of peace ensued, albeit standing on a knife's edge. Volatile state was mantained by intrigue and skilled diplomacy.
This is where Avasara learned his craft. His father fought dearly and suffered greatly for Persia. For any and all threats, he will be ready.
Avasara and Akkadevi have reached the palace together. He simply adored her, constantly showering her with compliments. She wasn't really sure what has gotten into him, but she saw the honesty in his words.
Isfahan was slowly drifting into silence. Akkadevi gave one last look to the city from the window, before closing it. She approached her desk and went through all the rulers of Persia on her parchment.
Rostam, Ardavan the First, Ardavan the Second, Sadri, Burhanaddin...
"Soon I will need to start writing your name on this list." -She smiled at her husband.
"You will be writing your name alongside mine as well." -He replied to her warmly.
"We will rule Persia together...my beloved sister."
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