Kay Kawad is a mythological figure of the Iranian national history. The 'Kay' stock epithet identifies Kawad as a Kayanian, a mythological dynasty that in tradition Kay Kawad was also the founder of. In the Shahnameh, the 'Kay' epithet is not always indicative of a king being of Kayanian origin. For instance, Kavad I, who was a Sassanid King, is frequently referred to as 'Kay Qobād' in the Story of Mazdak and Qubad. The Bundahishn describes his childhood as harsh, saying he was quote: "a child in a waist-cloth (kuspud); they abandoned him on a river, and he froze upon the door-sills (kavadakan); Auzobo perceived and took him, brought him up, and settled the name of the trembling child." In the tradition preserved in the Shahnameh, Kay Kawad was a descendant of Manuchehr, and lived in the Alborz mountains, and was brought to Estaxr by Rustam. Under Nowzar, who loses the xvarənah for oppressing the Iranians, the Pishdādi dynasty grows weak, and Iran falls to the Aniranian General Afrasiab, who kills Nowzar in battle. Kay Kawad then led the Iranian forces in battle and Afrasiab's army was routed after Rustam defeated and almost captured Afrasiab. For this feat and because he possesses the xvarənah he is elected king by the Iranians, and the descendants of Nowzar—Zou, Garshasp and Gastham—pay him allegiance.