One of the challenging questions in post-Islamic Iranian history is how indigenous identities based on Sassanid descent were preserved or reconstructed. Among these, the Bāvandi family in Tabaristān is a prominent example, as historical narratives link them to a Sāssānid descendant named “Bāv,” from whom the family derived its identity.

However, “Bāv” is one of the ambiguous figures in Tabaristān history, mentioned only in a single historical source called “The Tarikh-i Tabaristān” by Ibn-e Isfandyār, and there is no material or historical evidence of him.

The main research question of this study is whether “Bāv” — the ancestor of the Bavandid dynasty — was a real historical figure or a construct of local storytelling traditions.

The central hypothesis posits that the character of “Bāv” is a fictional amalgam of several historical personalities such as Farrukhzād, Farrukh Hormizd, Vistahm, and Abulfarkhān Zaynabi, crafted to legitimize the Bāvandid lineage during the post-Sāsāniān period.

The objective of this article is to critically examine the historical credibility of “Bāv” through the comparative analysis of textual sources, local narratives, and archaeological evidence.

The research methodology follows an analytical-critical approach, drawing upon primary sources (especially The Tarikh-i Tabaristān by Ibn Isfandiyār), archaeological findings, and cross-referencing of conflicting accounts.

The findings show that the period of Bāv's life is uncertain and full of narrative gaps, and no evidence of him has been recorded in non-local sources. Therefore, the character of “Bāv” should be considered a legendary and fake figure created in order to legitimize the Bāvands.