Political Concepts, Agents and Order in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

Ferdowsi versified Shahnameh in order to revitalize Iranian identity and provide an alternative political order that preserved the lost Iranian glory. Thus the inner layer or focal point of Shahnameh which lies in its totality and comprehensiveness involves Ferdowsi''s political thought and explains his ideal form of government on the basis of Iranshahri royal elements. Politics in Ferdowsi''s thought relates to handling the worldliness but it has a divine basis. Its main concepts are as follows: Yazdan (almighty)، Farah-e-Izadi (divine charisma)، Kherad (reason)، and Dad (justice). The political agents who choose a policy and reinforce it، include Shahryar (prince)، Pahlevan (hero) and Mubed (clergy). On the basis of those concepts، these people seek to realize an ideal political order in Iranshahr. This order is formed through placing the almighty over the universe and giving the absolute power to the prince on the earth and giving divine charisma on him. But in order to govern according to reason and justice like the almighty، the prince should use the opinions of heroes and clergies. If he does this، his charisma will sustain and he will remain powerful، but if he does not، the charisma will vanish and he will be overthrown. According to Ferdowsi، the solution for Iranian''s identity crisis and their emancipation is to return to this political order