Iwardo
Encyclopedia
Inwardo or Gülgöze – is an Assyrian/Syriac village that lies very high, east of the city Midyat
, in the Mardin Province
of Turkey
, and can be reached from Midyat on foot in 2 hours. The village was founded some time around the 10th century.
that belong to the Syriac Orthodox Church
. Many refugees from other villages of the Tur Abdin arrived, including Habasnos, Midyat
, Bote, Keferze
,Kafro Eloyto, Mzizah
and Urnas. In addition, the refugees from even farther areas had arrived, such as Deqlath, Bscheriye, Gozarto, Hesno d Kifo and Mifarqin. At one point, the number of Assyrians/Syriacs in the village was up to 21980 people. Being aware of the Turks and Kurds coming to the Gülgöze direction, the Gülgöze villagers and the refugees created a resistance group which was led by Masud son of the Malka of the Mirza family. The resistance lasted 60 days.
The Kurdish authority of Midyat
was given orders to attack Gülgöze and Arnas at the same time. However, Aziz Agha, the leader of the Madyat area was quoted as telling the mayor:
The Kurdish villages of Tur Abdin and Ramman, under the men of the Ahmed Agha and Salem Agha, collected themselves in Mardin
, and created a unit of 13,000 men. The government authorized the distribution of arms. They headed towards Gülgöze, arriving late at night, when the fight began.
After hours of gun-battle, the Assyrians/Syriacs
defeated and succeeded in driving the Kurds out, but there were many casualties on both sides. The first encounter lasted 10 full days.
The second attempt came, but the Kurds were beaten again, as the Kurdish men lost well over 300 men.
Before the beginning of a third attempt, Kurdish leaders called for aid from the Diyarbakır mayor Raschid and Madrin mayor Badri. A third attempt also failed and 30 days of battle, Aziz Agha suggested a peace treaty between the two sides. 3 Assyrians/Syriacs meet with Aziz and agreed to put down arms. But the Assyrians/Syriacs in the end refused to lay down their weapons, thus the battle continued. The battle continued for another 30 days leading to many deaths on both sides. In the end, the Kurdish soldiers surrendered and accepted the Assyrians/Syriacs to live in Gülgöze.
Many Assyrians/Syriacs died in Gülgöze, including women and children who died of hunger and disease. The number of deaths is unknown.
, the farmers operate a cattle economy.
Gülgöze has three churches: "Mar Shimuni", "Mar Hodtschabo" (the biggest of them all) and "Yoldath Aloho" (Virgin Mary, Literally: Mother of God).
Currently, there are 12 Assyrians/Syriacs
families in the village.
There is also a very sizable diaspora communities that originally come from Gülgöze:
Midyat
Midyat is an originally Assyrian/Syriac town in Mardin Province of Turkey. The ancient city is the epicenter of a centuries-old Assyrian/Syriac enclave in Southeast-Turkey, widely familiar under its Syriac name Tur Abdin. A cognate of the name Midyat is first encountered in an inscription of the...
, in the Mardin Province
Mardin Province
Mardin Province is a province of Turkey with a population of 744,606. The population was 835,173 in 2000. The capital of the Mardin Province is Mardin...
of 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...
, and can be reached from Midyat on foot in 2 hours. The village was founded some time around the 10th century.
World War I
At the beginning of 20th century, the village had about 200 families, all were ethnic Assyrians/SyriacsAssyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
that belong to the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
. Many refugees from other villages of the Tur Abdin arrived, including Habasnos, Midyat
Midyat
Midyat is an originally Assyrian/Syriac town in Mardin Province of Turkey. The ancient city is the epicenter of a centuries-old Assyrian/Syriac enclave in Southeast-Turkey, widely familiar under its Syriac name Tur Abdin. A cognate of the name Midyat is first encountered in an inscription of the...
, Bote, Keferze
Keferze
The Assyrian/Syriac village of Altıntaş is located 15 kilometers northeast from Midyat, in the Mardin Province of Turkey.It has a population of 1,622 inhabitants, and in the village, is Syriac, an Aramaic dialect spoken....
,Kafro Eloyto, Mzizah
Mzizah
Doğançay is an Assyrian/Syriac village in the Midyat district of Mardin Province, Turkey.There is a monastery, called Mor Yuhanon in Mizizah.- Population :1870: 16 families1915: 70 families 1960: 90 families families...
and Urnas. In addition, the refugees from even farther areas had arrived, such as Deqlath, Bscheriye, Gozarto, Hesno d Kifo and Mifarqin. At one point, the number of Assyrians/Syriacs in the village was up to 21980 people. Being aware of the Turks and Kurds coming to the Gülgöze direction, the Gülgöze villagers and the refugees created a resistance group which was led by Masud son of the Malka of the Mirza family. The resistance lasted 60 days.
The Kurdish authority of Midyat
Midyat
Midyat is an originally Assyrian/Syriac town in Mardin Province of Turkey. The ancient city is the epicenter of a centuries-old Assyrian/Syriac enclave in Southeast-Turkey, widely familiar under its Syriac name Tur Abdin. A cognate of the name Midyat is first encountered in an inscription of the...
was given orders to attack Gülgöze and Arnas at the same time. However, Aziz Agha, the leader of the Madyat area was quoted as telling the mayor:
We don't have enough men to fight two fronts at the same time. We will attack first Inwardo, then we if we have enough men, we will turn to Arnas.
The Kurdish villages of Tur Abdin and Ramman, under the men of the Ahmed Agha and Salem Agha, collected themselves in Mardin
Mardin
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for its Arabic-like architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria.-History:...
, and created a unit of 13,000 men. The government authorized the distribution of arms. They headed towards Gülgöze, arriving late at night, when the fight began.
After hours of gun-battle, the Assyrians/Syriacs
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
defeated and succeeded in driving the Kurds out, but there were many casualties on both sides. The first encounter lasted 10 full days.
The second attempt came, but the Kurds were beaten again, as the Kurdish men lost well over 300 men.
Before the beginning of a third attempt, Kurdish leaders called for aid from the Diyarbakır mayor Raschid and Madrin mayor Badri. A third attempt also failed and 30 days of battle, Aziz Agha suggested a peace treaty between the two sides. 3 Assyrians/Syriacs meet with Aziz and agreed to put down arms. But the Assyrians/Syriacs in the end refused to lay down their weapons, thus the battle continued. The battle continued for another 30 days leading to many deaths on both sides. In the end, the Kurdish soldiers surrendered and accepted the Assyrians/Syriacs to live in Gülgöze.
Many Assyrians/Syriacs died in Gülgöze, including women and children who died of hunger and disease. The number of deaths is unknown.
Gülgöze today
Gülgöze produces grain, fruit, and wine. As in many villages in TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the farmers operate a cattle economy.
Gülgöze has three churches: "Mar Shimuni", "Mar Hodtschabo" (the biggest of them all) and "Yoldath Aloho" (Virgin Mary, Literally: Mother of God).
Currently, there are 12 Assyrians/Syriacs
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
families in the village.
There is also a very sizable diaspora communities that originally come from Gülgöze:
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