sentierodisole

C'è un brano nello Shahnameh, il "libro dei re" di Firdusi, che dice "e una volta catturata, l'afferrò e le strappò via l'elmetto dalla testa, perchè desiderava vedere il volto dell'uomo che aveva potuto affrontare il figlio di Rostam. E...quando ebbe fatto questo, fuoriuscirono dall'elmetto crocchie di una tinta scura, e Sohrab vide che era stata una donna ad averlo superato in combattimento. Era confuso e disse :
"Se le figlie dell'Iran sono come te, e avanzano in battaglia, nessuno potrà opporsi a questa terra."

Lo status delle donne iraniane nell'era sassanide:
Nella tradizione iraniana le donne hanno sempre avuto un rispetto speciale e un uguale trattamento. Secondo Plutarco, lo storico greco e biografo: "le donne iraniane usavano partecipare agli affari sociali e al combattimento sul campo di battaglia".
E' anche risaputo che l'esercito iraniano dell'impero sassanide includeva anche donne combattenti, e le fonti romane le descrivono come un gruppo di eccellenti combattenti. Esistono comunque alcuni resoconti di storici che indicano che nell'impero sassanide le donne non erano considerate come individui indipendenti ed erano completamente sotto la custodia del patriarca della loro famiglia. Da un lato, questi resoconti sono per la maggior parte inverosimili perchè non ci sono prove a supporto. Dall'altro lato, lo studio dell'Avesta, il libro sacro dello zoroastrismo, indica che le donne nella società iraniana erano considerate, in larga misura, uguali agli uomini e godevano un certo numero di libertà legali e sociali. Come è descritto nel Din Kard, un antico testo religioso, le donne potevano gestire la loro proprietà, potevano rappresentare il loro marito nei tribunali, potevano diventare giudici, e potevano eseguire cerimonie religiose. Di dovrebbe notare che, a causa dell'importante ruolo delle donne nella società, le antiche monete iraniane mostrano la regina su un lato della moneta.
http://azadeganiran.com/WomenCondition.asp

Azarmidokht era la ventisettesima regina sassanide della Persia, e figlia di Khosrau II.
Governò la Persia dopo sua sorella Purandokht.
Dopo la morte di suo padre Khosrau II l'anarchia si diffuse nell'impero sassanide. I governanti successivi poterono rimanere sul trono solo per un breve spazio di tempo, per cui di molti di essi non sappiamo niente altro che il nome.
Inoltre la storia tramandataci è poco affidabile e contradditoria così che il regno di Azarmedukht non è accuratamente datato. Dato che una successione femminile non era prevista nell'impero persiano potrebbe anche essere accaduto che lei avesse agito come una reggente.
Secondo Tabari, il suo regno durò qualche mese nell'anno 630; sebbene questo contradddice il fatto che sua sorella Boran, alla quale lei era succeduta, non morì prima del 631. Esse probabilmente regnarono solo qualche mese, ma probabilmente nel periodo 631/632. Tabari riporta inoltre che il generale Farrukh propose di sposare Azarmidokht. La regina, comunque, lo fece uccidere; e il figlio del generale una volta catturata la città di Ctesifonte, la fece accecare ed uccidere. Secondo Tabari, fù proprio lui Rostam Farrokhzad, che diventato generale sotto Yazdegerd II, perse la battaglia contro gli arabi.

Su un sito web ho trovato una lista delle figlie dell'Iran:
http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=174926
Pur non condividendo alcuni giudizi con riferimento agli arabi questo sito è interessante per cogliere un sentimento abbastanza diffuso riguardo a quella che viene chiamata "invasione araba".
 1. Doghdoo (selected) Mother of Zartosht Espantman (Zoroasta), the Persian Prophet.

2. Hovee (Owner of the fine cattle) Wife of Zartosht Espantman.


3. Chista (intelligent) Daughter of Zartosht Espantman, great preacher of Zoroastrianism.

4. Mandana (eternal) Wife of Cambisis, mother of Cyrus the Great.

5. Amitis (Wise Friend) Shahbanoo of Iran, daughter of Astiak shah of Mad, Wife of Cyrus the Great.

6. Atoosa (Beautiful Body) Shahbanoo of Iran, wife of Darius the Great, daughter of Cyrus the Great, mother of Xerxes (Kheshayar).

7. Esther (Star) Shahbanoo of Iran, wife of Xerxes.

8. Pantea (strong & immortal) Commander of the Immortal Guards, Achaemenids Dynasty. A sensitive military commander of Cyrus the Great, wife of General Aryasb, Achaemenid's Arteshbod.

9. Artoonis (true & faithful) Commander of Achaemenids, daughter of Artebaz, Sepahbod (General) of Darius the Great. She was a brave woman.

10. Pari Satis (Like Angel) Arteshbod (Field Marshal) of Achaemenids, wife of Darius the Second.

11. Mahrooyeh (Pretty Face) Shahbano (Queen) of Iran, wife of Cambisis (Kamboojiye) the Second.

12. Amestris (pal) Achaemenid's commander, daughter of Darius the Second.

13. Aspas (Guard of strength) Commander of Achaemenid's police, daughter of Ardeshir the Second.

14. Artemis (The great speaker of the truth) or Artemisia, Grand Admiral, leader of the Persian Navy during Xerxes, Xerxes' great love.

15. Sisi Cambis (Fortunate) Queen Mother, mother of Darius the Third, she was a remarkable Achaemenid woman fought & did not surrender to Alexander the drunk, Macedonian Tyrant

16. Roxanna (Very bright & beautiful) Princess of Achaemenid, daughter of Darius the Third.

17. Estatira (Creation of the stars) Sepahbod Princess (General) of Achaemenid, daughter of Darius the Third.

18. Youtab (unique) Commander of Achaemenids, sister of Ariobarzan (Achaemenid's General), she stood side by side to her brother & fought the Greeks & Macedonians to death.

19. Artadokht (Truthful girl) Secretary of Treasury during Ardavan the Fourth of Ashkanids Dynasty.

20. Sura (Flower Face) One of the Greatest Heroines of Persian History, A strategical Genius. Ashkanid's General, Sepahbod of Ashkanid Empire, daughter of Ardavan the Fifth, father's right hand.

21. Azarmidokht (Youthful girl) Empress of Iran, daughter of Khosrow Parviz, ruled Iran after her sister Poorandokht, Sassanid Dynasty.

22. Poorandokht (Sexy & beautiful girl) Empress of Iran, Older sister of Azarmidokht, older daughter of Khosrow Parviz, ruled Iran.

23. Shirin (sense of sweetness) Shahbanoo of Iran, wife of Khosrow Parviz Sassanids.

24. Parin (Angel like) Sassanid Princess, daughter of Ghobad, Counselor of the Sassanid Courthouse, extremely intelligent politician.

25. Toorandokht (Tooranian girl) Sassanid Princess, daughter of Khosrow Parviz.

26. Golandam (Flower Body) Shahbanoo of Iran, wife of Bahram Goor Sassanid.

27. Zand (Precious) Wife of Khosrow Anooshirvan Sassanid, niece of Bahram Choobin the Sassanid General.

28. Apranik (Daughter of Elder) Sassanid Commander, daughter of Peeran General of Yazdgerd the Third. She fought gracefully, resistance fighting against Arab Oppressors during Arab Invasion, killed many of them & done many damages to the Arab Army.

29. Negan (Good Destiny) A freedom Fighter Leader, Guerrilla Commander during Sassanids, one of the major resistance fighters of Iran against Arab Invasion.

30. Banoo (Lady) Wife of Babak Khoramdeen (Persian Legendary Freedom Fighter), she fought side by side to her husband Babak, during the occupation of Iran by Arab Hounds. She fought to the end.

31. Booran (Pretty) The Persian Prime Minister of Islamic Empire during Khalife Mamoon of Abassids, during the occupation of Iran by Arab oppressors, daughter of Hassan Sahl.

32. Azad (Free) Daylamee Guerrilla Commander, a partisan leader from north Iran, who fought for many years with her band of freedom fighters against the Arab Oppressors, during the Occupation era.

The Start of The "Iranian Women's Freedom Movement"
Women played a very important role in the freedom movement of Iran. They struggled side by side of men. Women were the most oppressed fraction of Iranian society, simply because, after the establishment of Islamic Government & its fanatical backwarded Judicial laws & the imposing & enforcing of these Bedouin Nomadic Laws of the Desert into the very sophisticated Persian Empire's culture, the women practically lost all their status in the Persian Society & became the second rate citizens of the country; furthermore, the property of men!


After the establishment of the Islamic Government, Iranians in general, first became another "Slave Race" for the Arabs & in later years, they became the "Second Rate Citizens" of the Islamic Empire. But women had even lesser value among the citizens of the Islamic Empire! Women in general are second rate human in Islamic Society. Their testimony in a court of law, counts as half, their inheritance from the will of their parents is half as the male, they cannot occupy certain positions like the judicial, military, high clerical, & high political executive offices, & many more unfair Islamic rules & regulations, isolates them from the rest of the society.


Now, women is general, are treated as unequal to the men, all around the Islamic World; however, imagine that you are a woman, & also a woman from a defeated Non Muslim Nation, like the Persian Empire! This is like a Double Whammy! After the Arabo-Muslim Invasion-Occupation of Iran, Non Arab women were basically having the value & social status, similar as the "Concubines" & "Female Slaves". They were traded as property, same as cattle or land property. Tens of thousands of beautiful Persian Women were captured, shackled & chained, & then shipped on camel's backs to Arabia & Caliph's courthouse. Once these women arrived, they were distributed among the Arab officials, generals & tribal chiefs. The prime & the most beautiful women of Iran were forced to join the harems of these Desert Animals. The women of Sassanid Imperial family were forced to wed the Inferior Beasts of the Desert.


If you were a Persian woman during those days, what would you do? Would you:


a) Gladly choose the harem of a stinking smelly, sweaty, half beast, barbarian Desert Rat Arabo-Muslim with a mouth smelled like rotten eggs?


b) Pick up arms & rather to fight to death, than to sleep with these animals?


When many forced into the first choice, yet many chose the second choice. Persian Women's Freedom Movement did not start from the middle of Zand or Qajar Dynasty's era! In reality,


"Persian Women's Freedom Movement", started from the first day of Arabo-Muslim Occupation of Iran 651 AD.


Lets glance through a selected leaders of this freedom movement, yet by no means this list covers all the brave female freedom fighters of Iran who lost their lives for the Mother Persia. From 651 AD & on going, Iran witnessed a rise of a different breed of warriors! The famous legendary female resistance warriors of Iran.


Female Freedom Fighters of Iran
Now, I shall state these female heroines' names, the meaning of their names in parenthesis, & a bit of their history:


Apranik
(Daughter of Elder)
The Female Symbol of Persian Resistance.
The Sassanid Commander, daughter of Peeran, General of Yazdgird the Third. She fought gracefully, resistance fighting against Arab Oppressors during Arab Invasion, killed many of them & done many damages to the Arab Army.


Apranik, was a Sassanid High Ranking Commander of Army. Like her father, she decided to become a professional soldier. Peeran was a famous Persian General, & when Arabs invaded our land Peeran was like a solid rock standing on their way. Apranik was more like a Tom Boy! Since childhood, she loved military. She was Father's Right hand, & the amazing Nationalistic Feelings that she developed during her teenage years, forced her to become a military person. Apranik, joined the mighty Persian Army. Due to her worthiness, & not her father's influence, she climbed the steps of progress, one by one & after her complete education, she managed to rise from a petty officer, to a full commander of the Persian Army. When Arabs invaded Iran, Apranik took the command of a major battalion of his father's Army. Her tactics were hit & run battles with the Arab Bandits. As she got wiser, she found out that "Organized Warfare" with the Desert Rats who invade & hide, & then reinforce & invade again, does not work; therefore, she started a campaign of a treacherous battle against the Arabo-Muslim Invader-Occupiers. For years to come, Apranik, first fought an official war with the invaders, & later on when all hopes were destroyed, Apranik, started her Hit & Run Rebellious Campaign against the Desert Beasts.


Apranik & her Ranks, never surrendered, they have fought an on going battle to the bitter ends. Apranik became a symbol for the "Persian Resistance". Her braveries were so known, that she became the talk of the "Persian Resistance" & Persians created an expression for her! Every time a female soldier would have shown bravery among the resistance, other soldiers would smile & call her:


"Who do you think, you are? Commander Apranik?"


Apranik, practically became a symbol of resistance, & one of the worthiest commanders of Persian Army, who did not even surrender her forces after the occupation. She kept on launching a Partisan Hit & Run Rebellious Battle against the Arabs, way after the Sassanid Main Army Collapsed. Separated Circles of Sassanid Immortals (Elite Persian Guards), Cavalry, Army & Navy kept on fighting the Arabo-Muslim for years after the occupation. Apranik's band of Resistance fighters, fought hard, even after the loss of Persian Empire, Sassanid Dynasty, Arteshbod General Rostam-e Farokhzad, Yazdgird III, & her loving father General Peeran. Apranik's famous words & policy was:


"No retreat, no surrender"


Apranik chose to fight with her soldiers, until the bitter end, she chose to be cut to pieces by the Arab Sword, than to become a whore in the Arab Bed........and eventually Apranik became a legend. The Legend of Apranik, is still living in every female freedom fighter of Iran's heart. May her great spirit rest in peace. Apranik Daughter of Peeran or as they used to call her Apranik of Peeran's name will always be in the "Persian Resistance Hall of Fame"




Negan
(Good Destiny)
A freedom Fighter Leader, Guerrilla Commander during Sassanids, one of the major resistance fighters of Iran against Arab Invasion. Negan was not a military woman, nor a woman of nobility, yet she had a heart full of the love of Iran. Her heart was pounding for the Mother Land. she has decided to pick up the sword & lead a band of resistance fighters against the Arabo-Muslim Animals who invaded The Civilized World & Mother Persia.


Banoo
(Lady)
The famous female commando & revolutionary Banoo, was a lioness. The central area of activity for Banoo was State of Atropatgan or Azar-Abadegan (Today's Azerbaijan). Wife of Babak Khoramdin (Persian Legendary Freedom Fighter), she fought side by side to her husband Babak, during the occupation of Iran by Arab Hounds. She fought to the end. Now this woman was amazing! she was the better half of Babak-e Khoramdin. Banoo was a temperamental Azeri Woman, with determination of steel from Azerbaijan or as it used to be called State of "Atropatgan". This amazing woman was a skilled archer, she grew up with her bow & arrows! She was Babak's partner in life & death, in war & peace. Banoo was a symbol of Pure Persian Pride, Azeri Style! Banoo & Babak fought the Arab Occupation for years, they lived & they died as Proud Persians.


Booran
(Pretty)
The Persian Prime Minister of Islamic Empire during Caliph Ma'mun of Abassids, during the occupation of Iran by Arab oppressors, daughter of Hassan Sahl.


Booran's time was later on during the occupation years. When Arabo-Muslim ruled every aspect of life in Persia, & when fighting by the sword & arch was not possible, Booran the wise daughter of Hassan-e Sahl launched a different type of a battle! She grew up to become a politician. Furthermore, she became the first female Wazir (Prime Minister); morely, the first Non Arab Wazir of the whole Islamic Empire! Just imagine the sound of that! A female Persian Wazir in the Arabo-Muslim court of Ma'mun, The Caliph of Abbasid! A Persian woman with that kind of power, could do many goods for Iran, & indeed she did. she actually fought the Arab Hierarchy from within. She was in the inside, way inside; therefore, she started her famous "Changes From The Within" reforms. Booran, Daughter of Sahl, fought the political war & forced many reforms for embetterment of Persian's Lives to the Abbasid's Government. During her years in office, she fought for the rights of Minorities (Non Arabs) in the Islamic Empire. A very interesting woman indeed.


Azad
(Free)
The central area of activity for Azad was State of Daylam (today's Gilan).
A Daylami (Gilani) Guerrilla Commander, a partisan leader from Caspian Sea shores in north Iran, who fought for many years with her band of freedom fighters against the Arab Oppressors, during the Occupation era.