Sheik Ubeydullah
Encyclopedia
Sheikh Ubeydullah (Kurdish
: Şêx Ubeydullayê Nehrî, شێخ وبهيدوڵاي نهری), also known as Sayyid Ubeydullah, was the leader of the first modern Kurdish
nationalist struggle. Ubeydullah demanded recognition from Ottoman Empire
and Qajar dynasty
authorities for an independent Kurdish state, or Kurdistan, which he would govern without interference from Ottoman or Qajar authorities.
Sheikh Ubeydullah was an influential landowner in the 19th century and a member of the powerful Kurdish Şemdinan
family from Nehri. After his rebellion was suppressed, he was exiled first to Istanbul, then to Hijaz where he died.
, as national leaders among the Kurds was the result of the elimination of hereditary semi-autonomous Kurdish principalities in the Ottoman Empire, especially following the Ottoman centralization policies of the early 19th century. Sheikh Ubeydullah was one of several religious leaders who were there to fill the void and reestablish a sense of lawfulness in the former principalities that had been since left to feuding chieftains. Despite previous revolts by Kurdish leaders to reassert control over territories, mainly their own former principalities, Sheikh Ubeydullah is regarded as the first Kurdish leader whose cause was nationalist and who wished to establish an ethnic Kurdish state.
Sheikh Ubeydullah was from an already powerful family, the Şemdinan from the region of the same name - Şemdinan
- who owned considerable amounts of land in the Kurdish
areas of the Ottoman Empire. Following the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Ubeydullah filled the political vacuum left by the devastation in the region and assumed the Kurdish leadership role.
Ubeydullah was able to gain the military support of Kurdish tribesmen as well as local Nestorian Christians who along with missionaries noted Ubeydullah's character with great admiration. A letter written by a Christian missionary who was in constant contact with Ubeydullah noted, "The Shaykh wrote in his paper a great deal about the Nestorian Christians there, praising them as the best subjects of the Sultan. The Sultan objected to such language, and three times returned the letter for correction. Finally, the Shaykh said, "I don't know much about politics, but I do know something about truth telling, and this is the truth."
Sheikh Ubeydullah was able to successfully assert his control over the area by gaining the support of Kurdish tribesmen who were hopeful of his objective to restore order in the war-ravaged region. British correspondence during the height of Ubeydullah's power indicates that he was able to successful assert control over a vast region that stretched the former Bohtan, Badinan
, Hakkari
, and Ardalan
confederacies. A late nineteenth century writer, George Curzon, wrote, "A chieftan named Shaykh Obeidallah acquired a great reputation for personal sanctity...and gradually came to be looked upon as the head of Kurdish nationality."
In 1880, Ubeydullah's militia invaded the northwestern Kurdish territories of Qajar dynasty
in attempt to expand his control. Ubeydullah demanded recognition of a Kurdistan state and his rule over the region. His militia was defeated by the Qajar army and he withdrew his forces to Ottoman territories. Facing attacks from both sides of his territory, Ubeydullah eventually surrendered to Ottoman authorities in 1881. He was exiled to Istanbul, and then later to Hijaz, where he died in 1883.
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
: Şêx Ubeydullayê Nehrî, شێخ وبهيدوڵاي نهری), also known as Sayyid Ubeydullah, was the leader of the first modern 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 struggle. Ubeydullah demanded recognition from 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...
and Qajar dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
authorities for an independent Kurdish state, or Kurdistan, which he would govern without interference from Ottoman or Qajar authorities.
Sheikh Ubeydullah was an influential landowner in the 19th century and a member of the powerful Kurdish Şemdinan
Semdinli
Şemdinli is a district located in the Hakkari Province of southeastern Turkey.The population is 11,211 as of 2010.It was previously in the Ottoman vilayet of Van and the district centre was called Nevşehir...
family from Nehri. After his rebellion was suppressed, he was exiled first to Istanbul, then to Hijaz where he died.
Rise to power
The emergence of Islamic scholars and leaders, or SheikhsSheikh
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"...
, as national leaders among the Kurds was the result of the elimination of hereditary semi-autonomous Kurdish principalities in the Ottoman Empire, especially following the Ottoman centralization policies of the early 19th century. Sheikh Ubeydullah was one of several religious leaders who were there to fill the void and reestablish a sense of lawfulness in the former principalities that had been since left to feuding chieftains. Despite previous revolts by Kurdish leaders to reassert control over territories, mainly their own former principalities, Sheikh Ubeydullah is regarded as the first Kurdish leader whose cause was nationalist and who wished to establish an ethnic Kurdish state.
Sheikh Ubeydullah was from an already powerful family, the Şemdinan from the region of the same name - Şemdinan
Semdinli
Şemdinli is a district located in the Hakkari Province of southeastern Turkey.The population is 11,211 as of 2010.It was previously in the Ottoman vilayet of Van and the district centre was called Nevşehir...
- who owned considerable amounts of land in the 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...
areas of the Ottoman Empire. Following the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Ubeydullah filled the political vacuum left by the devastation in the region and assumed the Kurdish leadership role.
Personality and Kurdish nationalism
In a clear indication of Kurdish nationalist intentions, Ubeydullah wrote in a letter to a Christian missionary in the region: "The Kurdish nation, consisting of more than 500,000 families is a people apart. Their religion is different, and their laws and customs distinct.... We are also a nation apart. We want our affairs to be in our hands, so that in the punishment of our own offenders we may be strong and independent, and have privleges like other nations.... This is our objective.... Otherwise, the whole of Kurdistan will take matter into their own hands, as they are unable to put up with these continual evil deeds and the oppression, which they suffer at the hands of the [Persian and Ottoman]] governments."Ubeydullah was able to gain the military support of Kurdish tribesmen as well as local Nestorian Christians who along with missionaries noted Ubeydullah's character with great admiration. A letter written by a Christian missionary who was in constant contact with Ubeydullah noted, "The Shaykh wrote in his paper a great deal about the Nestorian Christians there, praising them as the best subjects of the Sultan. The Sultan objected to such language, and three times returned the letter for correction. Finally, the Shaykh said, "I don't know much about politics, but I do know something about truth telling, and this is the truth."
Expeditions and subsequent fall
Badinan Emirate
Bahdinan or Badinan was one of the more powerful and enduring Kurdish principalities. It was founded by Baha-al-Din originally from Şemzînan area in Hakkari in sometime between 13th or 14th century CE. The capital of this emirate was Amadiya for a long time.It was centered in the town of Amadiya...
, Hakkari
Hakkari
Hakkâri , is a city and the capital of the Hakkâri Province of Turkey. The name Hakkâri is derived from the Syriac word, Akkare, meaning farmers...
, and Ardalan
Ardalan
Ardalan or was the name of a vassaldom in north-western Persia during Qajar period.Ardalan vassaldom was established in an area encompassing present day Iranian province of Kurdistan from medieval period up to mid 19th century. Ardalan is also the name of the ruling family of that vassaldom...
confederacies. A late nineteenth century writer, George Curzon, wrote, "A chieftan named Shaykh Obeidallah acquired a great reputation for personal sanctity...and gradually came to be looked upon as the head of Kurdish nationality."
In 1880, Ubeydullah's militia invaded the northwestern Kurdish territories of Qajar dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
in attempt to expand his control. Ubeydullah demanded recognition of a Kurdistan state and his rule over the region. His militia was defeated by the Qajar army and he withdrew his forces to Ottoman territories. Facing attacks from both sides of his territory, Ubeydullah eventually surrendered to Ottoman authorities in 1881. He was exiled to Istanbul, and then later to Hijaz, where he died in 1883.