Bulduqani

The Bulduqani (c. 1049–1864) were a Kurdish dynasty that ruled an emirate around the town of Eğil[1] founded by Pir Mansûr (b.989),[2] who conquered the town around 1049.[3][4] Pir Mansûr claimed to be a descendant of Mohammed and settled in the area from Hakkâri (around Sinjar Mountains) in 1049. His descendants ruled Eğil for nearly eight centuries.[5] During the rule of Emir Muhammed, the principality had expanded southward to Karaca Dağ, Palu and Elazığ northward, Çermik to the west and the area between Hani and Lice to the east.[6]

History

During the reign of the Marwanids, Kurds from the Humeydiye, Beşneviye and Zuzaniye tribes settled in Eğil changing the composition of the area to the detriment of the Armenian, Greek, and Syriac-speaking population. It was during this period that Pir Mansûr settled in the town of Dicle which was populated by Kurds of the Mirdesan tribe. Pir Mansûr ultimately became their leader due to their admiration of him. Pir Mansûr would also become a murshid, a status his son and successor retained. It was during the next two rulers – Pir Musa, son of Pir Mansûr and his grandson Pir Bedir, that the Principality of Eğil was established. This is attributed to the support received from various tribes including the Mirdesan and their leadership on Sufism.[7]

Pir Bedir's reign was short as he was killed during the Seljuk siege of the territory in 1087. He was succeeded by his son Emir Bulduk who was born after Pir Bedir died in exile. Bulduk's mother died after giving birth and he was raised by the Mirdesan tribe. By the time the Emir of Eğil was Ibrahim the Mirdesan abandoned the title "Pir" for "Emir". After the death of Emir Ibrahim, the principality was shared between his three sons.[8]

In 1441, the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Jahangir (r. 1444–52) forged an alliance with the Bulduqani, though this was a convenience as opposed to a concrete agreement.[9] The same year, Jahangir's brother and successor Uzun Hasan (r. 1452–78) married the daughter of the Bulduqani ruler Dawlatshah.[10] Despite familial ties, Dawlatshah's son Isa joined the Battle on the Tigris against Uzun Hasan in 1457.[11] The Bulduqani, specifically Dawlatshah's daughter, was involved in a faction to install her son Ughurlu Muhammad as the leader of the Aq Qoyunlu against his half-brother Sultan Khalil (r. 1478) in a rebellion that lasted from 1474 to 1477.[12]

The principality was subsequently captured by the Safavids, which then lost it to Selim I. The Ottomans allowed the locals of the principality to govern themselves and would not interfere and it was exempted from the timar system. However, when the Ottomans began losing land on the Balkan peninsula, it started recruiting men from Eğil ultimately ending its special status. In 1864, all of its privileges were abolished and the emirate dissolved.[13]

Rulers

Spiritual & Proto-Political Era

Name Role / Status Relationship Dates Key Information
Pir Mansûr Spiritual founder Born c. 989 AD Arrived from the Hakkari region; established a spiritual center in Piran
Pir Musa Spiritual leader Son of Pir Mansûr 11th century Succeeded his father as spiritual guide; built a large takya in Piran
Pir Bedir Military founder Grandson of Pir Mansûr Died 1087 AD Conquered Eğil Castle with support of the Mirdasi tribe; killed while defending Mayyafariqin against Seljuk forces

Emirate Formation & Dynastic Expansion

Name Title Relationship Dates Key Information
Emir Bulduk Emir Son of Pir Bedir Late 11th – early 12th century
Emir İbrahim Emir Son of Emir Bulduk 12th century
Emir Muhammed Emir Son of Emir İbrahim 12th century Reached the territorial peak of the emirate, extending from Palu to Diyarbakır; after his death, the domain was divided among his sons
Emir İsa Emir of Eğil Son of Emir Muhammed Ruled the Eğil branch of the dynasty
Devletşah Bey Bey Son of Emir İsa Continued the Eğil line
Emir İsa II Bey / Emir Descendant
Şah Muhammed Bey Bey Descendant
Lala Kâsım Bey Emir of Eğil Descendant Died 1535 AD

Ottoman Hükûmet Era (Autonomous Rule)

Name Title Relationship Dates Key Information
Murad Bey Bey Nephew of Lala Kâsım Bey Mid-16th century Officially appointed by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent; Eğil formally classified as a hereditary Hükûmet
Ali Han Bey Bey Son of Murad Bey Hereditary ruler of Eğil
Kâsım Bey Bey Son of Murad Bey Died 1566 AD (973 AH) Governed during the consolidation of Ottoman administration
Cafer Bey (Cafer Pasha) Pasha Appointed 1572 AD Appointed by Sultan Selim II; praised for effective governance in the Sharafnama (1597)
Gazanfer Pasha Pasha Brother of Cafer Pasha Prominent member of the ruling family
Mümin Bey Bey Son of Cafer Pasha Continued the hereditary line
Merdan Ali Bey Bey Son of Mümin Bey Local ruler
Kâsım Bey II Bey c. 1701 AD Assumed office during the late Ottoman period
Muhammed Bey Bey 1737–1739 AD Appointed and later reconfirmed by Ottoman authorities
İbrahim Bey Bey 1738 AD Brief rule following recommendation by the Ottoman serasker
Hüseyin Pasha Pasha Died c. 1740 AD One of the last prominent rulers mentioned in historical records

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Gördük (2014), pp. 89, 93.
  2. ^ Gördük (2014), p. 91.
  3. ^ Gördük (2014), p. 92.
  4. ^ Minorsky, Vladimir (1978). The Turks, Iran, and the Caucasus in the Middle Ages. London: Variorum Prints. ISBN 0-86078-028-7.
  5. ^ Gördük (2014), pp. 89–91.
  6. ^ Gördük (2014), p. 94.
  7. ^ Gördük (2014), pp. 90–92.
  8. ^ Gördük (2014), pp. 93–94.
  9. ^ Woods 1999, p. 71.
  10. ^ Woods 1999, p. 186.
  11. ^ Woods 1999, p. 91.
  12. ^ Woods 1999, p. 121.
  13. ^ "Eğil'in Tarihi". tr: District of Eğil. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

Bibliography

Further reading