The Narrative of Historical Epics from the Conquest of Baghdad: Iranian-oriented or Religious-oriented?

Document Type : مقالات علمی پژوهشی

Author
M. Gohari Kakhaki
2634.18.72.6
Abstract
The fall of Baghdad and the destruction of the Abbasid caliphate by Hulagu Khan provided a fertile ground for Iran's independence and the re-emergence of Iranshahri political thought. Changizi Shahnameh, Mostufi’s Zafarnameh and Tabrizi’s Shahanshahnameh are the most important historical epics composed in the court of the Ilkhanate. The main purpose of this study is to examine the approach of the poets of these historical poems to the event of the conquest of Baghdad and how this event and the historical figures were described in these works to determine the extent to which the poets had an Iranian or religious view in interpreting this event. Examination of this poems shows that despite the similarity of the narrative, two different approaches are seen in these works: Kashani and Tabrizi have a more triumphant and Iranian-oriented approach to this event. Instead of considering the annihilation of the Abbasids as a historical tragedy, they consider it a fateful and natural thing in order to fulfill the Iranians' long-held desire for independence. Mostufi has a religious view of the conquest of Baghdad and has repeatedly expressed his grief and sorrow over the fall of the Abbasids. Of course, all three poets in the narration of the conquest of Baghdad paid attention to the political thought of Iranshahri and tried to introduce Hulagu Khan as a king in the thought of Iranshahri by attributing the outstanding attributes of the ideal Iranian king to him. On the other hand, by highlighting traits such as irrationality and stinginess in the Abbasid caliph, they show that he is not worthy of ruling.

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Literary Research
Volume 18, Issue 72
July 2021
Pages 125-148