All tales / Tale 4
The Captivity of Uruz
The Captivity of Uruz, Son of Kazan
Salur Kazan takes his son Uruz on his first raid to teach him courage. When Uruz is captured, his mother Burla sets out after him too.
The story
At a feast, Salur Kazan realises that his sixteen-year-old son Uruz has never yet travelled the roads. He takes him to the borderlands and teaches him how to keep a road, follow a trail and rest his horse.
At the enemy's border, Kazan tells his son to stay on the hill and watch from afar. But when the enemy comes and surrounds his father, Uruz cannot bear it and rushes into battle. Being inexperienced, he is captured; in the dust and confusion, Kazan loses sight of him.
Kazan returns home alone. When Lady Burla learns that her son is a captive, she does not weep; she mounts her horse, takes up her bow and rides out with the rescuers. In the enemy's castle, Uruz is tied to a tree, but he does not lose hope. He talks to the tree and trusts that his father and mother will come.
The Oghuz warriors sweep down on the castle at dawn, and Lady Burla's arrows fly as true as the bravest lords'. Kazan cuts his son's chains. On the road home, Kazan understands that courage is not only swinging a sword; hope and a brave heart are courage too.
What this tale is about
Characters
Salur Kazan
Leader of the Oghuz lords. While trying to teach his son courage, he learns something himself.
Uruz
Kazan's sixteen-year-old son. Even as a captive, he never loses hope.
Lady Burla
Uruz's mother. A brave woman who rides out to rescue her son.
Dede Korkut
The bard who tells the tale.
Listen to this tale
The Captivity of Uruz, Son of Kazan
Salur Kazan takes his son Uruz to the borderlands to teach him courage. When Uruz is captured, his mother Lady Burla mounts her horse and rides out with the rescuers.
To talk about as a family
Courage is not only in the sword; never losing hope and setting out for someone you love is courage too.
