An Examination of the Role and Characteristics of the Forty-Six Kings of the Shahnameh in the Mathnavi "The Conclusion of Shahnameh" by Davari Shirazi

Mirzamohammad Davari is one of the most prominent and artistic offspring of Shiraz. His most significant work that remains in the realm of Shahnameh is a handwritten Shahnameh in Nastaliq script, forever associating his name with the Shahnameh. After completing the manuscript mentioned, Davari composed a 126-verse mathnavi in the style and context of the Shahnameh. In this mathnavi, after invoking God's name, praising Ferdowsi, and addressing the stages of writing the Shahnameh, he briefly but informatively discussed the characters and characteristics of the forty-six kings of the Shahnameh, excluding Houshang and Shapour, the son of Shapour Zolaktaf. What is notable in these verses is not only the reference to the forty-six personalities among the forty-eight kings of the Shahnameh but also a very brief and helpful mention of their actions and critical issues related to them. The significance of this small poem lies in providing a concise, brief, and informative summary of the entire Shahnameh and the historical narrative of Iran. This article aims to examine, analyze, and classify this mathnavi using a descriptive and analytical approach to demonstrate the exploitation of the Shahnameh and the history of Iranian kings. The analyses show that in this mathnavi, Davari not only mentions the names of the kings but also provides a concise account of their actions and characteristics, each of which is thought-provoking in its own right. Due to the high level of familiarity of the poet with the Shahnameh and the valuable and rare references he makes to the Shahnameh's kings and significant events, this mathnavi is a unique, unparalleled, and study-worthy composition in Persian literature.