Mahmud Barzanji
Encyclopedia
Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji or Mahmud Berzenji (1878 – October 9, 1956) was the leader of several Kurdish
uprisings against the British Mandate of Iraq
. He was sheikh
of a Qadiriyah Sufi family from the city of Sulaymaniyah
, which is now in Iraqi Kurdistan
. He twice proclaimed himself king of an independent Kurdish state
.
controlled Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan) in May 1919. Shortly before being appointed governor of Sulaimaniyah, he ordered the arrest of all British political and military officials in the region. After seizing control of the region, Sheikh raised a military force from his Iranian
tribal followers and proclaimed himself "Ruler of all of Kurdistan".
As the British became aware of the sheikh's growing political and military power, they were forced to respond militarily. Two British brigade
s were deployed to defeat Sheikh Mahmoud's fighters at Darbandi Bazyan near Sulaimaniyah in June 1919. Sheikh Mahmoud was eventually arrested and exiled to India
in 1921.
Mahmoud's fighters continued to oppose British rule after his arrest. The success of the Kurdish fighters' anti-British revolts forced the British to recognize Kurdish autonomy in 1923. Returning to the region in 1922, Sheikh Mahmoud continued to promote raids against British forces, and declared himself the king. On September 14, 1922, the British recognized Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji as the first King of Kurdistan under the British mandate. The Kingdom of Kurdistan lasted from 1922 to 1924. After the British government finally defeated Sheikh Mamoud, they signed Iraq over to King Faisal I and a new Arab
-led government. Sheikh Mahmoud retreated into the mountains, and later signed a peace accord with the Iraqi government and settled in the new Iraq in 1932.
that was set up by the French and English that evolved in the Middle East
after World War I
. After the Great War, the British and other western powers controlled the land once held by the Ottoman Empire
(later Turkey
). Due to plans made with the French in the Sykes–Picot Agreement, Britain was designated as the mandate power. The British were able to form their own borders to their pleasure to gain an advantage in this region. The British had firm control of Baghdad
and Basra
and the regions around these cities mostly consisted of Shiite and Sunni Arabs. In 1921, the British appointed Faisal I the King of Iraq. This was an interesting choice because Faisal had no local connections because he was part of the Hashemite
family in Western Arabia. As events were unfolding in the southern part of Iraq, the British were also developing new policies in northern Iraq which was primarily inhabited by Kurds. The borders that the British formed had the Kurds between central Iraq (Baghdad) and the Ottoman lands of the north. The Kurdish people of Iraq lived in the mountainous and terrain of the Mosul Vilayet. This was a difficult region to control from the British prospective because of the terrain and tribal loyalties of the Kurds. There was much conflict after the Great War between the Ottoman government and British on how the borders should be established. The Ottomans were unhappy with the outcome of the Treaty of Sèvres
. This treaty allowed the Great War victors control over much of the former Ottoman lands. In particular, the Turks felt that the Mosul Vilayet was theirs because the British had illegally conquered it after the Mudros Armistice which had ended hostilities in the war. With the discovery of oil in northern Iraq, the British knew they were unwilling to relinquish the Mosul Vilayet. Also, it was to the British advantage to have the Kurds play a buffer role between themselves and the Ottoman Empire. All of this leads to the importance of Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji. With the Kurds in the middle of the new Iraqi state and the Ottoman Empire, Britain could gain a protector shield for Iraq. The British made promises to the Kurds during the Great War that they would receive their own land to form a Kurdish state however the British were not certain they would keep their promise, and ultimately they did not, and this is the first of many instances the British manipulated the Kurds and lied to them. This initial lie formed mistrust on the part of the Kurds and left a bad taste in their mouth. In 1919 uneasiness began to evolve in the Kurdish regions because they were unhappy with the situation the British forced upon them. Thus the British tried to establish a puppet government in the region so they appointed a popular leader of the region, and this was Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji who became governor of southern Kurdistan.
relates, The British appointed him governor of Sulaimaniah in southern Kurdistan as a way of gaining an indirect rule in this region. The British wanted this indirect rule with the popular Mahmud at the helm which they believed would give them a face and a leader to control and calm the region. However with a little taste of power, Mahmud had ambitions for more, not only for himself, but for the Kurdish people. He declared himself the "King of Kurdistan" and claimed to be the ruler of all Kurds. Yet the opinion of Mahmud among Kurds was mixed because he was becoming too powerful and ambitious for some. Mahmud was a very charismatic and energetic leader who hoped to create Kurdistan and initially the British allowed Mahmud to pursue has ambitions because he was bringing the region and people together for the British to control. However, by 1920, Mahmud, to British displeasure, was using his power against the British by capturing British officials in the Kurd region and starting uprisings against the British. As historian Kevin McKierman writes, "The rebellion lasted until Mahmud was wounded in combat, which occurred on the road between Kirkuk
and Sulaimaniah. Captured by Crown forces, he was sentenced to death but later imprisoned in a British for in India." Sheikh remained in India until 1922.
, were riding high in the early 1920s after their victory against Greece
and were looking to take that momentum into Iraq and take back Mosul
. With the British in direct control of northern Iraq after the exile of Sheikh Mahmoud, the area was becoming increasingly hostile for the British officials due to the threat from Turkey. At this time the region was led by Sheikh's brother, Sheikh Qadir, who was not capable of handling the situation and was seen by the British as an unstable and unreliable leader. Sir Percy Cox, a British military official and administrator to the Middle East especially Iraq, and Winston Churchill
, a British politician, were at odds on whether to release Sheikh from his exile and bring him back to reign in northern Iraq. This would allow the British to have better control over the hostile but important region. Cox argued that the British could gain authority in a region they recently evacuated and Sheikh was the only hope of gaining back a stable region. Cox was aware of the dangers of bringing back sheikh but he was also aware that one of the main reasons for the unrest in the region was the growing perception that the earlier promises of automony would be abandoned and the British would bring the Kurdish people under direct rule of the Arab government in Baghdad. The Kurdish dream of an independent state was growing less likely which caused conflict in the region. Bringing Sheikh back was their only chance of a peaceful Iraqi state in the region and against Turkey. Cox agreed to bring back Sheikh and name him governor of southern Kurdistan. On December 20, 1922 Cox also agreed on a joint Anglo-Iraqi declaration that would allow a Kurdish government if they were able to form a constitution and agree on boundaries. Cox knew with the instability in the region and the fact that there were many Kurdish groups it would be nearly impossible for them to come to a solution. Upon his return, Mahmud proceeded to pronounce himself King of the Kingdom of Kurdistan. Sheikh rejected the deal with the British and began working in alliance with the Turks against the British. Cox realized the situation and in 1923 he denied the Kurds of any say in the government and withdrew his offer of their own independent state. Sheikh was the king until 1924 and was involved in uprisings against the British until 1932 when the Royal Air Force
and British-trained Iraqis were able to capture Sheikh again and exile him to southern Iraq.
leader to emerge in the 20th century in Kurdistan and was the pioneer to many future Kurd leaders. He is a hero to the Kurd people to this day.
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...
uprisings against the British Mandate of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. He was sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
of a Qadiriyah Sufi family from the city of Sulaymaniyah
Sulaymaniyah
Sulaymaniyah is a city in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq. It is the capital of Sulaymaniyah Governorate. Sulaymaniyah is surrounded by the Azmar Range, Goizja Range and the Qaiwan Range in the north east, Baranan Mountain in the south and the Tasluje Hills in the west. The city has a semi-arid climate with...
, which is now in Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. He twice proclaimed himself king of an independent Kurdish state
Kingdom of Kurdistan
The Kingdom of Kurdistan can refer to two short-lived unrecognized states formed in the 1920s in the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, in the territory officially under the jurisdiction of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia.-Northern Iraq:During the collapse...
.
Mamoud's Revolts
Sheikh Mahmud led the first Kurdish revolt in BritishUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
controlled Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan) in May 1919. Shortly before being appointed governor of Sulaimaniyah, he ordered the arrest of all British political and military officials in the region. After seizing control of the region, Sheikh raised a military force from his Iranian
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
tribal followers and proclaimed himself "Ruler of all of Kurdistan".
As the British became aware of the sheikh's growing political and military power, they were forced to respond militarily. Two British brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s were deployed to defeat Sheikh Mahmoud's fighters at Darbandi Bazyan near Sulaimaniyah in June 1919. Sheikh Mahmoud was eventually arrested and exiled to India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in 1921.
Mahmoud's fighters continued to oppose British rule after his arrest. The success of the Kurdish fighters' anti-British revolts forced the British to recognize Kurdish autonomy in 1923. Returning to the region in 1922, Sheikh Mahmoud continued to promote raids against British forces, and declared himself the king. On September 14, 1922, the British recognized Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji as the first King of Kurdistan under the British mandate. The Kingdom of Kurdistan lasted from 1922 to 1924. After the British government finally defeated Sheikh Mamoud, they signed Iraq over to King Faisal I and a new Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
-led government. Sheikh Mahmoud retreated into the mountains, and later signed a peace accord with the Iraqi government and settled in the new Iraq in 1932.
Background
Kurdish people were unfamiliar with the Western systemWestern culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
that was set up by the French and English that evolved in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the Great War, the British and other western powers controlled the land once held by the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(later 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...
). Due to plans made with the French in the Sykes–Picot Agreement, Britain was designated as the mandate power. The British were able to form their own borders to their pleasure to gain an advantage in this region. The British had firm control of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
and the regions around these cities mostly consisted of Shiite and Sunni Arabs. In 1921, the British appointed Faisal I the King of Iraq. This was an interesting choice because Faisal had no local connections because he was part of the Hashemite
Hashemite
Hashemite is the Latinate version of the , transliteration: Hāšimī, and traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or "clan of Hashim", a clan within the larger Quraish tribe...
family in Western Arabia. As events were unfolding in the southern part of Iraq, the British were also developing new policies in northern Iraq which was primarily inhabited by Kurds. The borders that the British formed had the Kurds between central Iraq (Baghdad) and the Ottoman lands of the north. The Kurdish people of Iraq lived in the mountainous and terrain of the Mosul Vilayet. This was a difficult region to control from the British prospective because of the terrain and tribal loyalties of the Kurds. There was much conflict after the Great War between the Ottoman government and British on how the borders should be established. The Ottomans were unhappy with the outcome of the Treaty of Sèvres
Treaty of Sèvres
The Treaty of Sèvres was the peace treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Allies at the end of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles was signed with Germany before this treaty to annul the German concessions including the economic rights and enterprises. Also, France, Great Britain and Italy...
. This treaty allowed the Great War victors control over much of the former Ottoman lands. In particular, the Turks felt that the Mosul Vilayet was theirs because the British had illegally conquered it after the Mudros Armistice which had ended hostilities in the war. With the discovery of oil in northern Iraq, the British knew they were unwilling to relinquish the Mosul Vilayet. Also, it was to the British advantage to have the Kurds play a buffer role between themselves and the Ottoman Empire. All of this leads to the importance of Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji. With the Kurds in the middle of the new Iraqi state and the Ottoman Empire, Britain could gain a protector shield for Iraq. The British made promises to the Kurds during the Great War that they would receive their own land to form a Kurdish state however the British were not certain they would keep their promise, and ultimately they did not, and this is the first of many instances the British manipulated the Kurds and lied to them. This initial lie formed mistrust on the part of the Kurds and left a bad taste in their mouth. In 1919 uneasiness began to evolve in the Kurdish regions because they were unhappy with the situation the British forced upon them. Thus the British tried to establish a puppet government in the region so they appointed a popular leader of the region, and this was Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji who became governor of southern Kurdistan.
Power and Revolts
Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji was a very proud person and had ambitions for the Kurdish people to control their own state and gain independence from the British. As Charles TrippCharles R. H. Tripp
Professor Charles R. H. Tripp, Ph.D., is an academic and author specializing in the politics and history of the Near and Middle East.Tripp's main areas of research include the study of state and society in the Middle East, especially Iraq, and Islamic political thought., he lectures on government...
relates, The British appointed him governor of Sulaimaniah in southern Kurdistan as a way of gaining an indirect rule in this region. The British wanted this indirect rule with the popular Mahmud at the helm which they believed would give them a face and a leader to control and calm the region. However with a little taste of power, Mahmud had ambitions for more, not only for himself, but for the Kurdish people. He declared himself the "King of Kurdistan" and claimed to be the ruler of all Kurds. Yet the opinion of Mahmud among Kurds was mixed because he was becoming too powerful and ambitious for some. Mahmud was a very charismatic and energetic leader who hoped to create Kurdistan and initially the British allowed Mahmud to pursue has ambitions because he was bringing the region and people together for the British to control. However, by 1920, Mahmud, to British displeasure, was using his power against the British by capturing British officials in the Kurd region and starting uprisings against the British. As historian Kevin McKierman writes, "The rebellion lasted until Mahmud was wounded in combat, which occurred on the road between Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
and Sulaimaniah. Captured by Crown forces, he was sentenced to death but later imprisoned in a British for in India." Sheikh remained in India until 1922.
Return and 2nd Revolt
With the exile of Sheikh in India, Turkish nationalists in the crumbling Ottoman Empire were causing a great deal of trouble in the Kurdish regions of Iraq. The Turkish nationalists, led by Mustafa KemalMustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
, were riding high in the early 1920s after their victory against Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
and were looking to take that momentum into Iraq and take back Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
. With the British in direct control of northern Iraq after the exile of Sheikh Mahmoud, the area was becoming increasingly hostile for the British officials due to the threat from Turkey. At this time the region was led by Sheikh's brother, Sheikh Qadir, who was not capable of handling the situation and was seen by the British as an unstable and unreliable leader. Sir Percy Cox, a British military official and administrator to the Middle East especially Iraq, and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, a British politician, were at odds on whether to release Sheikh from his exile and bring him back to reign in northern Iraq. This would allow the British to have better control over the hostile but important region. Cox argued that the British could gain authority in a region they recently evacuated and Sheikh was the only hope of gaining back a stable region. Cox was aware of the dangers of bringing back sheikh but he was also aware that one of the main reasons for the unrest in the region was the growing perception that the earlier promises of automony would be abandoned and the British would bring the Kurdish people under direct rule of the Arab government in Baghdad. The Kurdish dream of an independent state was growing less likely which caused conflict in the region. Bringing Sheikh back was their only chance of a peaceful Iraqi state in the region and against Turkey. Cox agreed to bring back Sheikh and name him governor of southern Kurdistan. On December 20, 1922 Cox also agreed on a joint Anglo-Iraqi declaration that would allow a Kurdish government if they were able to form a constitution and agree on boundaries. Cox knew with the instability in the region and the fact that there were many Kurdish groups it would be nearly impossible for them to come to a solution. Upon his return, Mahmud proceeded to pronounce himself King of the Kingdom of Kurdistan. Sheikh rejected the deal with the British and began working in alliance with the Turks against the British. Cox realized the situation and in 1923 he denied the Kurds of any say in the government and withdrew his offer of their own independent state. Sheikh was the king until 1924 and was involved in uprisings against the British until 1932 when the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and British-trained Iraqis were able to capture Sheikh again and exile him to southern Iraq.
Death and legacy
Sheikh sued for peace and was exiled in southern Iraq in May 1932 and was able to return to his family village in 1941 where he remained the rest of his years. He ultimately died in 1956 with his family. Sheikh was a true and loyal Kurd. He is still remembered today with displays of him around northern Iraq and especially Sulaimaniah. He was a brave leader against the British Mandate in Iraq and fought for the independence and respect of his people. He was the first MujaMujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
leader to emerge in the 20th century in Kurdistan and was the pioneer to many future Kurd leaders. He is a hero to the Kurd people to this day.