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Hakkari, or Al-Hakkariyya, was a large medieval Kurdish tribe, That played a significant role in Ayyubid regime and the crusades.

Name

The Hakkari was recorded in Islamic sources, written in Arabic as Al-Hakkāriyya (الهکارية), while in Christian Syriac sources as Hakkarāyē (ܐܹܝܵܪܵܟ ܼܿܗ, Hakkarians).

Region

The Hakkari tribe resided in eastern part of Zozān region, in the district of Jabal Al-Hakkariyya. located Between modern day northeast of Mosul highlands and the Foothills of western Adharbayjan, near the Gulmarkiyya tribe. Their domain included Asheb or Asep, Tushi or Tusi, Judaydla catles, Suri, Harur, Malasi, Babukha, Bakza and Jabal Luhayja to the north of Mosul (in the direction of Nisibis). Ashib was the their capital.

History

Early record

The tribe was probably lived nomadic lifestyle in early 10th century. In 979, The Hakkari tribe moved further westward. Crossing the greater Zab, and taking over the Beth Daseni, an old Nestorian diocese. Massacring the local Christian population. According to 10th century Syriac writer, Joseph Busnaya, over 5,000 Christians were massacred by Hakkari Kurds.

In 980AD, the Buyid ruler, Pana Khosrow sent an expedition against the Hakkari tribe. Probably as punishment as a response their mass murder of Christians in Dasen. The Hakkari chief was besieged by the Buyid army, the Buyids promised the Hakkari chief if he surrender he'll be spared. however when the Hakkari chief surrendered, he was crusified and his body was put on display on the road to Mosul.

Turkic incursions

In 1041AD, after the defeat of the invading Ghuz turks and subsequent massacre in Urmia by Rawadids. They fled to Hakkari where they ravaged it. they were eventually defeated by the Kurds and 1500 Ghuz tribesmen were killed and the survivors were enslaved by Hakkari Kurdish tribe.

Jayush Bag, the Seljuk Governor of Mosul, in 1115-1116, led an expedition against the Hakkari Kurds. as a consequence of Hakkari Banditry on the roads of Mosul.

Zengid era

In 1133, the Hakkari chief, Abu'l-Hayja Al-Hakkari. went to Mosul and pledged his Allegiance to Imad ad-Din Zenki. According to some sources, he never went back to reign over his land and stayed in Mosul, leaving his son Ahmad and his deputy, Baw al-Arji to rule over his domain. He died in Mosul in 1142. In the summer of 1142, Imad ad-Din Zanki he marched with a large force towards Hakkari capital, Ashib. he captured the castle of Julab and killed the Usurper of Hakkari throne, Al-Arji. Imad ad-Din Zenki demolished the Julab castle and rebuild another one carrying his name, Al-'imaddiyya. afterwards the Hakkariyya tribesmen enlisted in Zengid army as mercenaries, numbering over 4,000.they made the Hakkariyya regiment that were led by Sayf ad-Din Mashtub (son of Ahmad and grandson of Abu'l-Hayja Al-Hakkari) and Isa Al-Hakkari.

Ayyubid era

The Hakkariyya regiment were the main reason for Saladin's succession in Egypt and establishing the Ayyubid Sultanate. The Hakkariyya along with the Al-hadhbaniyya, were the largest and most powerful Kurdish tribes that made the Military oligarchy in the Ayyubid Sultanate. Emir Mand, one of the Hakkari Emirs was granted the emirate of Kilis. In 1185, Sayf ad-Din Mashtub the commander in chief of Hakkariyya regiment, Took part in Saladin's expedition against Zengid Emirate of Mosul. Sayf ad-Din Mashtub was assigned by Saladin to take over Jazirat ibn Omer. probably using him as a rallying point for his tribesmen, In fact many Hakkari Kurds gathered around him. but Saladin had to give up the campaign. During the siege of Acre, Sayf al-din was actively engaged in supplying Ayyubid troops through Sidon. in the beginning of 1191, he was appointed to the post of commander of the garrison within the fortress besieged by the crusaders. Acre was in its throes. Sayf al-din went out to meet the French king but the latter insisted on an unconditional surrender, There began desertions from the fortress. Saladin could not break the ring of the siege and Acre fell on 12 July 1191. Sayf ad-Din Mashtub was captured and closely guarded, but he was able to escape. he appeared before Saladin on May 15 1192. Sayf ad-Din was granted the Fiefdom of Nablus, but died on 6 November 1192. After Saladin, the Hakkariyya regiment were under the service Az-Zahir Ghazi and his successors. The hakkariyya remained the dominant military oligarchy within the Ayyubid emirate of Aleppo, until they were eventually replaced by Qaymariyya as the Dominant Kurdish military oligarchs.

Sources

• Wilmshurst, David (2011). The Martyred Church: A History of the Church of the East. East and West Publishing.
• Humphreys, Stephen (1977), From Saladin to the Mongols: The Ayyubids of Damascus, 1193–1260, SUNY Press, ISBN 978-0-87395-263-7
• Minorsky, Vladimir (1953). Studies in Caucasian History. New York: Taylor’s Foreign Press. ISBN 0-521-05735-3.

References

1. ^ El-Azhari, Taef (2016-03-31). Zengi and the Muslim Response to the Crusades: The politics of Jihad. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-58938-9.
2. ^ Al-Jeloo, Nicholas (2023-01-01). "Geography, Demographics, and the Value of Medieval Syriac Historical Texts: A Case Study of the Vita of Rabbān Joseph Busnāyā (III, Final)". Banipal: Issued by General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts.
3. Guli, Nizar. "امارة هكاري في العهد العثماني- دراسة وثائقية The Emirate of Hakkari in the Ottoman Era 1514-1849 A Historical Study". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. ^ E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936. BRILL. 1987. p. 1137. ISBN 978-90-04-08265-6.
5. A.K.S. Lambton, Contributions to the Study of Seljuq Institutions (PhD London, 1939). P. 35.
6. ^ James, Boris (2006-01-01). Saladin et les Kurdes ; Perception d'un groupe au temps des Croisades (in French). Vol. Hors Série II. pp. 37–44.

• Kurdish tribes