Bedir Khan Beg

Bedr Khan Beg also Bedir Khan or Badr Khan (1802 in Cizre; † 1868 in Damascus) was a Kurdish prince of the dynasty of Botan in today Şırnak of the House of Azizan / Azizi. The family claimed descent from a Muslim general Khalid ibn al-Walid.

Was born in 1802 or 1808 in Cizre Bedirxan, capital of Botan, the son of Abdullah Bey. Already with 18 years he has been with the help of the Ottomans in 1821 for Prince of Botan. The Principality Botan was an autonomous Kurdish principality in Ottoman Empire. Bedirxan collected locally collected taxes for the Ottoman Empire and bore the title of Mütesellim (tax collectors). He was largely loyal to the Ottomans, but sent only once troops for the Sultan in the Battle of Nizip on June 24, 1839 against the Egyptian Ibrahim Pasha. After the defeat of the Ottomans themselves Bedirxan moved back to Botan. He presented with an iron hand the security in the emirate recovers. Under his leadership, the region flourished economically. There was a continuing emigration from surrounding provinces. This was one of the causes of the conflict between him and the Vali of Mosul, which also impacted its relations with the Porte.

The conflict with the Nestorians

The Christian Nestorians lived in tribes. Tribal conflicts and attacks were among them as commonplace as in the Kurdish neighbors. The Nestorian Patriarch, Mar Shimon, was in conflict with the Emir of Hakkari. This called Bedr Khan Beg for Help. In 1843 there were two campaigns, the second of which went extremely bloody. This brought Bedirxan in the former European public - in spite of the political nature of the conflict - the reputation of a Christian butcher a.

Riot

For discomfort of the Ottomans Bedirxan met with the Kurdish prince of Bitlis, Hakkâri, Muş, Van and Kars a "Sanctify agreement". Later, the Principality came Ardalan in Iran now. Bedr Khan Beg was the new Ottoman policy of centralization dissatisfied because they threatened the local autonomous principalities. Botan was between the Ottoman governors in Diyarbakir and Mosul are divided.

 Bedirxan declared independence in 1842 and began to dominate Botans own coins. The Ottomans tried to keep one hand Bedirxan under control and on the other hand they met military preparations to attack from several fronts Cizre ago. The first battle between the Ottomans and Bedirxan took place on 4 June 1847th When it attacks Bedirxans men to Christian Nestorians came, he lost the goodwill of the Europeans who now disempower it more crowded Bedirxan with the Ottomans. Bedirxan could not afford long resistance and retreated to the castle of Eruh back. What mattered was that the Ottomans could Bedirxans nephew Yezdan Ser, who led a large part of Bedirxans troops persuade, not to assist his uncle, by giving him the promise to recognize him as ruler of Botan.

On July 27, 1847 resulted Bedirxan, was with chains on their feet through the bazaar of Cizre and then to Istanbul brought and sent to Crete by then exiled. In 1858 he went back to Istanbul and received the title of Pasha. Later he went to Damascus, where he died 1868th Among the Kurds Bedirxan is regarded as the ideal ruler. He left behind four wives, six concubines (odalık), 42 children and ten grandchildren.

Massacre of Kurdish Yazidi

Bedr Khan Beg was repeatedly for massacres against the Kurdish Yazidis, a religious minority among the Kurds, responsible. In 1832 was in cooperation with the Kurdish Soranfürsten Mohammed Pasha Rewanduz thousands of Yazidis killed in Schei Khan area. Bedirxans Beg aim was to force the Yazidis in his territory to the adoption of Islam.

Family members

Some of his descendants and relatives were active and groundbreaking for the Kurdish national movement, so his son Emin Ali Bedirxan and his grandchildren Celadet Bedir Khan, Süreyya Bedirxan and Kamuran Bedirxan. Other family members such as Hüseyin Vasif Çınar and Cemal Kutay played within Turkish politics and society major roles.