Agri rebellion
Encyclopedia
The Ararat rebellion, also known as the Ağrı rebellion, was an uprising of the Kurdish
residents of the province of Ağrı
in eastern Turkey
against the Turkish government that took place in 1930.
The leader of the Kurdish guerrilla forces in this rebellion, Ihsan Nuri, was from the Kurdish Jibran tribe.
commanded the Hesenan, Jalali, Haydaran tribes and started a rebellion (May 16 - June 17, 1926). On 16 May, Kurdish forces fought against the 28th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division of Turkish Army
and a Gendarmie regiment in Demirkapı region. Turkish troops were defeated and scattered 28th Regiment had to retreat towards Doğubeyazıt
. On June 16/17, Ibrahim and his forces were surrounded by 28th and 34th regiments, but they could escape through Yukarı Demirkapı to Iran
.
Kurdish
nationalist organisation co-ordinating this rebellion, urgently appealed for help from Kurds. This was a Kurdish rebellion by mostly Kurmancî Kurds, far outnumbered the Kizilbash
of Dersim. This is why, much to the Turks' dismay, Xoybûn's appeal was answered on a wide front, by a counter-offensive at Tendruk
, Iğdır
, Erdjish
, Sipan Dagh, Van
and Bitlis
, forcing the Turks to temporarily abandon their offensive against Ağrı. The rebels were gradually crushed by the superior numbers of the Turkish military.
The commander of the rebellion documented the role of the Turkish air force in defeating the Ağrı revolt in his book entitled La Révolte de L'Agridagh (The Mount Ararat revolt).
from all directions. According to General Ihsan Nuri, the military superiority of Turkish Air Force demoralized Kurds and led to their capitulation.
During the insurrection, the Turkish Air Force also bombed several Kurdish tribes and villagers. For instance Halikanli and Herki tribes were bombed on July 18 and August 2, 1930, respectively. Rebel villages were continually bombed from August 2 to 29th. From June 10 to June 12, 1930, Kurdish positions were extensively bombed, and this forced the Kurds to retreat to higher positions around Mount Ararat. On July 9, newspaper Cumhuriyet
reported that the Turkish air forces was "raining down" Mount Ararat with bombs. Kurds, who escaped the bombings, were captured alive. On July 13, the rebellion in Zilan was suppressed. Squadrons of 10-15 aircraft were used in crushing the revolt. On July 16, two Turkish planes were downed and their pilots were killed by the Kurds. Aerial bombardment continued for several days and forced Kurds to withdraw to the height of 5000 m (16,404.2 ft). By July 21, bombardment had destroyed many Kurdish forts. During these operations, Turkish military mobilized 66,000 soldiers and 100 aircraft. The campaign against the Kurds was over by September 17, 1930.
The insurrection was defeated in 1931, and Turkey resumed control over the territory.
. Turkey received total control over the Lesser Ararat and Ağrı Mountains and territory between the Armenian village of Guirberan and Kuch Dagh, Persia gained ninety square miles in the neighbourhood of Qotur (قطور).
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
residents of the province of Ağrı
Agri Province
The Ağrı Province is a province in eastern Turkey, bordering Iran to the east, Kars to the North, Erzurum to the Northwest, Muş and Bitlis to the Southwest, Van to the south, and Iğdır to the northeast. Area 11,376 km². Population 542,022 ....
in eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
against the Turkish government that took place in 1930.
The leader of the Kurdish guerrilla forces in this rebellion, Ihsan Nuri, was from the Kurdish Jibran tribe.
Prelude
In 1926, Ibrahim HeskiIbrahim Heski
Ibrahim Heski or Ibrahim Pasha Haski Tello , was a Kurdish Jalali tribesman, soldier and politician.-Life:...
commanded the Hesenan, Jalali, Haydaran tribes and started a rebellion (May 16 - June 17, 1926). On 16 May, Kurdish forces fought against the 28th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division of Turkish Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
and a Gendarmie regiment in Demirkapı region. Turkish troops were defeated and scattered 28th Regiment had to retreat towards Doğubeyazıt
Dogubeyazit
Doğubeyazıt is a city and district of Ağrı Province of Turkey, and is Turkey's most eastern district, the border crossing to Iran. Elevation 1625 m. Area 2.383 km². Population 115.354 of which 69.447 live in the town of Doğubeyazıt, the remainder in the surrounding countryside...
. On June 16/17, Ibrahim and his forces were surrounded by 28th and 34th regiments, but they could escape through Yukarı Demirkapı to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Attempt of Xoybûn
On June 11, 1930 armed responses to the rebellion were initiated by the Turkish military against the Ağrı insurgents. According to Wadie Jwaideh, Xoybûn, the KurmanciKurmancî
Kurmancî can refer to:Peoples:* Kurmancî , an Iranian language group spoken in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.* Kurmanc , Kurds who speak the Kurmanc dialect or group of dialects.Names:...
Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
nationalist organisation co-ordinating this rebellion, urgently appealed for help from Kurds. This was a Kurdish rebellion by mostly Kurmancî Kurds, far outnumbered the Kizilbash
Kizilbash
Qizilbash or Kizilbash is the label given to a wide variety of Shī‘ī Islamic militant groups that flourished in Anatolia and Kurdistan from the late 13th century onwards, some of which contributed to the foundation of the Safavid dynasty of...
of Dersim. This is why, much to the Turks' dismay, Xoybûn's appeal was answered on a wide front, by a counter-offensive at Tendruk
Mount Tendürek
Tendürek is a shield volcano located in the Ağrı and Van provinces of eastern Turkey, close to the borders with Iran. The elongated volcano rises above the Doğubeyazıt plain, south of Mount Ararat. The last known eruption was a gas and ash eruption in 1855...
, Iğdır
Igdir
Iğdır is the capital of Iğdır Province in the Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey, and borders Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. The border with Armenia is formed by the Aras River...
, Erdjish
Ercis
Ercis may refer to:* Erciş, a district of Van province in the east of Turkey* European Research Center for Information Systems...
, Sipan Dagh, Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
and Bitlis
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
, forcing the Turks to temporarily abandon their offensive against Ağrı. The rebels were gradually crushed by the superior numbers of the Turkish military.
The commander of the rebellion documented the role of the Turkish air force in defeating the Ağrı revolt in his book entitled La Révolte de L'Agridagh (The Mount Ararat revolt).
Last offensive against Mount Ararat
By the end of summer 1930, the Turkish Air Force was bombing Kurdish positions around Mount AraratMount Ararat
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter...
from all directions. According to General Ihsan Nuri, the military superiority of Turkish Air Force demoralized Kurds and led to their capitulation.
During the insurrection, the Turkish Air Force also bombed several Kurdish tribes and villagers. For instance Halikanli and Herki tribes were bombed on July 18 and August 2, 1930, respectively. Rebel villages were continually bombed from August 2 to 29th. From June 10 to June 12, 1930, Kurdish positions were extensively bombed, and this forced the Kurds to retreat to higher positions around Mount Ararat. On July 9, newspaper Cumhuriyet
Cumhuriyet
Cumhuriyet is a centre-left Turkish daily newspaper, founded on May 7, 1924 by journalist Yunus Nadi Abalıoğlu. Based in Istanbul, it has been situated since October 17, 2005 in Mecidiyeköy. Cumhuriyet was the last newspaper to leave the old press district Cağaloğlu...
reported that the Turkish air forces was "raining down" Mount Ararat with bombs. Kurds, who escaped the bombings, were captured alive. On July 13, the rebellion in Zilan was suppressed. Squadrons of 10-15 aircraft were used in crushing the revolt. On July 16, two Turkish planes were downed and their pilots were killed by the Kurds. Aerial bombardment continued for several days and forced Kurds to withdraw to the height of 5000 m (16,404.2 ft). By July 21, bombardment had destroyed many Kurdish forts. During these operations, Turkish military mobilized 66,000 soldiers and 100 aircraft. The campaign against the Kurds was over by September 17, 1930.
The insurrection was defeated in 1931, and Turkey resumed control over the territory.
Aftermath
On January 23, 1932, Persia and Turkey signed the "Accord realtif a la fixation de la ligne frontière entre Perse et al Turquie" in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. Turkey received total control over the Lesser Ararat and Ağrı Mountains and territory between the Armenian village of Guirberan and Kuch Dagh, Persia gained ninety square miles in the neighbourhood of Qotur (قطور).
Cultural influences
- Kemal TahirKemal TahirKemal Tahir was a prominent Turkish novelist and intellectual. Tahir spent 13 years of his life imprisoned due to political reasons and wrote some of his most important novels during this time...
, Yol Ayrımı ("The fork in the road", novel) - Esat Mahmut Karakurt, Dağları Bekliyen Kız ("The Girl who is waiting for the Mountains", novel)
- Dağları Bekleyen Kız ("The Girl who is waiting for the Mountains", 1955, film)
- Dağları Bekleyen Kız ("The Girl who is waiting for the Mountains", 1968, film)
See also
- Republic of AraratRepublic of AraratThe Republic of Ararat or Kurdish Republic of Ararat was a self-proclaimed Kurdish state. It was located in the northeasten part of modern Turkey, being centered on Karaköse Province...
- Zilan MassacreZilan massacreZilan massacre or Zilan Valley massacre , refers to the massacre of the Kurdish residents of Turkey during the Ararat rebellion, in which 800-1500 armed men participated....
- Dersim rebellionDersim RebellionThe Dersim rebellion was an uprising against the Turkish government in the Dersim region of eastern Turkey, which includes Tunceli Province, Elazığ Province, and Bingöl Province...
- Kurdish rebellionsKurdish rebellionsAccording to Turkish military records, Kurdish rebellions have been taking place in Anatolia for over two centuries.-Koçkiri rebellion, 1920:...
- List of modern conflicts in the Middle East