Afshar tribe
Encyclopedia
Afshars, also called Avshar are a branch of the Turkic Oghuz groups. These originally nomadic Oghuz
tribes moved from Central Asia through Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and finally most of them settled in Anatolia
.Most of Afshars are followers of Shia Islam.
The Afshar tribes of Iran
are two distinct Turkic-speaking ethnic group
s. The larger group is concentrated in the north of the country, and the smaller in the south. The Turkic dialect
spoken by the Afshar of the north is closely related to the Azeri language, while the dialect spoken by the southern Afshar is more closely related to the Qashqai language
. Many famous Iranian figures are of Afshar origin, and commonly share the "Afshar" surname.
The Afshars in Iran still remain a largely nomadic group.
Anatolian Afshars (Avshar)s shared the same history with other Oghuz
tribes until entering the Anatolia. Until the 10th century, they are believed to have lived along the banks of the Syr Darya
(Seyhun) river and on the northern steppes of the river. Beginning from the 9th century, they started migrating towards west. Avshars are believed to have entered Anatolia after the Battle of Manzikert
in 1071. They settled in various places in Anatolia. During the Mongol invasion in the following period, some Avshar tribes migrated to Syria
and later formed what was called Halep Turkmens, which eventually migrated back to Anatolia and settled there.
There are branches of the tribe in central Anatolia
, N.E. Iran
, Afghanistan
and Azerbijan
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
tribes moved from Central Asia through Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and finally most of them settled in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
.Most of Afshars are followers of Shia Islam.
The Afshar tribes of 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...
are two distinct Turkic-speaking ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s. The larger group is concentrated in the north of the country, and the smaller in the south. The Turkic dialect
Afshar language
Afshar or Afshari, is a Turkic language spoken in Turkey, Syria, parts of Afghanistan and Iran. It is considered by many to be a dialect of Turkish...
spoken by the Afshar of the north is closely related to the Azeri language, while the dialect spoken by the southern Afshar is more closely related to the Qashqai language
Qashqai language
Qashqai is a Turkic language spoken by the Qashqai people, an ethnic group living mainly in the Fars region of Iran. Estimates of the number of Qashqai speakers vary. Ethnologue gives a figure of one and a half million...
. Many famous Iranian figures are of Afshar origin, and commonly share the "Afshar" surname.
The Afshars in Iran still remain a largely nomadic group.
Anatolian Afshars (Avshar)s shared the same history with other Oghuz
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
tribes until entering the Anatolia. Until the 10th century, they are believed to have lived along the banks of the Syr Darya
Syr Darya
The Syr Darya , also transliterated Syrdarya or Sirdaryo, is a river in Central Asia, sometimes known as the Jaxartes or Yaxartes from its Ancient Greek name . The Greek name is derived from Old Persian, Yakhsha Arta , a reference to the color of the river's water...
(Seyhun) river and on the northern steppes of the river. Beginning from the 9th century, they started migrating towards west. Avshars are believed to have entered Anatolia after the Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
in 1071. They settled in various places in Anatolia. During the Mongol invasion in the following period, some Avshar tribes migrated to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and later formed what was called Halep Turkmens, which eventually migrated back to Anatolia and settled there.
There are branches of the tribe in central Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, N.E. 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...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Azerbijan
See also
- AfsharAfsharAfshar is a district of Kabul, Afghanistan. Most of its population are of the Shia-Hazara ethnic group....
- Afshar languageAfshar languageAfshar or Afshari, is a Turkic language spoken in Turkey, Syria, parts of Afghanistan and Iran. It is considered by many to be a dialect of Turkish...
- Avshar Turkmen
- Afsharid dynastyAfsharid dynastyThe Afsharids were members of an Iranian dynasty of Turkmen origin from Khorasan who ruled Persia in the 18th century. The dynasty was founded in 1736 by the military commander Nader Shah who deposed the last member of the Safavid dynasty and proclaimed himself King of Iran. During Nader's reign,...
- Javanshir QizilbashJavanshir QizilbashJavanshir Qizilbash is an Azeri tribe and a part of Afshar, adherent of Twelver Shī'ism. They belong to Qizilbash people of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, the clan is known to have originally migrated into the country with Nader Shah Afshar...
- Javanshir clanJavanshir clanThe Javanshir clan was a Turkic clan in Karabakh, which belonged to the Afshar tribe in turn a branch of Oghuz Turks. In the mid-18th century, after the death of Nader Shah, the Javanshir tribe seized power of the region. Panah Khan, the chief of the Javanshir tribe, established the Karabakh...
- Qizilbash