Origins of Tyareh
Some historical sources trace the history of Tyareh in the Hakkari district back as early as the 7th century B.C., even before the fall of the Assyrian Empire. Ancient Persian records indicate that the Persian army was still fighting against remnants of the Assyrian Empire in Hakkari in the 5th century B.C. which they refer to as "Athura." The etymology of the name Tyareh is rooted in some variation of the word "Atorayeh" or Assyrians. An analysis of the migration patterns of Assyrians to Hakkari indicates that the Hakkari mountains served as a safe shelter in times of persecution. Historical records indicate that one of the largest exodus of Assyrians from northern Bet Nahrain (Iraq) to Hakkari came during the attacks of the Mongol Khans Hulagu in 1258 A.D. and Tamerlane (Timur) in 1401 A.D. respectively. These two merciless Mongol leaders caused great destruction and death in Mesopotamia, especially the Muslim fanatic Tamerlane, who was determined to annihilate the Assyrian Christians.
Although historical records indicate the existence of Tyareh as far back as the 5th century B.C., it can accurately be deduced that permanent settlements in that region were being established as late as the 13th century A.D., when the numbers of persecuted migrants increased due to massacres taking place in Mesopotamia at the hand of the Mongols.
Political & Religious Status of the Ashirats within the Ottoman Empire
The region of Hakkari was located in the southeastern part of the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey). The region was nominally administered by a Kurdish Emir (prince) as an Ottoman subordinate who resided at the capital of Hakkari, Julamerk. In reality, control over the region was extremely cumbersome for the Ottomans. True power emanated from the local Assyrian Maliks and Kurdish Aghas. For example, the Tyareh tribes did not pay taxes or provide soldiers to the Ottomans and appointed their own maliks. The degree of autonomy a tribe enjoyed, however, was contingent upon a tribe's military power and was therefore relative. Various other tribes (both Assyrian & Kurdish) did not enjoy such autonomy and were subordinated by the Ottomans or the Kurdish Emir. The Assyrian independent tribes were referred to as Ashirats, those were Upper Tyareh, Lower Tyareh, Tkhooma, Baz, Jelu, Diz and Tal. The non-independent tribes were known as Rayat. The Ottoman government recognized Assyrians, among others, as a Millet or ethno-religious minority.The Assyrian patriarch was the spiritual and temporal leader of his Millet, this was accepted by all the Assyrian tribes and recognized by the Ottoman government. The Patriarch was second in command to the Emir of Hakkari and it was customary for him to rule Hakkari in the absence of the Emir.
Geopolitically, the Hakkari region, where the major Assyrian tribes (Upper & Lower Tyareh, Tkhooma, Diz, Tal, Jelu and Baz) resided along with the more advantageously populous Kurds was divided administratively into Left and right Sectors or "Bazikeh." The Left sector was comprised of Upper Tyareh, Lower Tyareh,Tal,Baz as well as neighboring Kurdish tribes. The Right sector consisted of Tkhooma and Jelu along with numerous Kurdish tribes. According to various sources, the cohabitation of Assyrian and Kurdish tribes in each sector, in theory, was meant to prevent any religious wars between the two. Accordingly, Assyrian and Kurdish tribes of each sector owed their primary allegiance to their sector rather than their ethnic or religious identity and subsequently, it was common for Assyrian and Kurdish tribes of one sector uniting in hostilities against the Assyrian and Kurdish tribes of the opposing sector.
Some historical sources trace the history of Tyareh in the Hakkari district back as early as the 7th century B.C., even before the fall of the Assyrian Empire. Ancient Persian records indicate that the Persian army was still fighting against remnants of the Assyrian Empire in Hakkari in the 5th century B.C. which they refer to as "Athura." The etymology of the name Tyareh is rooted in some variation of the word "Atorayeh" or Assyrians. An analysis of the migration patterns of Assyrians to Hakkari indicates that the Hakkari mountains served as a safe shelter in times of persecution. Historical records indicate that one of the largest exodus of Assyrians from northern Bet Nahrain (Iraq) to Hakkari came during the attacks of the Mongol Khans Hulagu in 1258 A.D. and Tamerlane (Timur) in 1401 A.D. respectively. These two merciless Mongol leaders caused great destruction and death in Mesopotamia, especially the Muslim fanatic Tamerlane, who was determined to annihilate the Assyrian Christians.
Although historical records indicate the existence of Tyareh as far back as the 5th century B.C., it can accurately be deduced that permanent settlements in that region were being established as late as the 13th century A.D., when the numbers of persecuted migrants increased due to massacres taking place in Mesopotamia at the hand of the Mongols.
Political & Religious Status of the Ashirats within the Ottoman Empire
The region of Hakkari was located in the southeastern part of the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey). The region was nominally administered by a Kurdish Emir (prince) as an Ottoman subordinate who resided at the capital of Hakkari, Julamerk. In reality, control over the region was extremely cumbersome for the Ottomans. True power emanated from the local Assyrian Maliks and Kurdish Aghas. For example, the Tyareh tribes did not pay taxes or provide soldiers to the Ottomans and appointed their own maliks. The degree of autonomy a tribe enjoyed, however, was contingent upon a tribe's military power and was therefore relative. Various other tribes (both Assyrian & Kurdish) did not enjoy such autonomy and were subordinated by the Ottomans or the Kurdish Emir. The Assyrian independent tribes were referred to as Ashirats, those were Upper Tyareh, Lower Tyareh, Tkhooma, Baz, Jelu, Diz and Tal. The non-independent tribes were known as Rayat. The Ottoman government recognized Assyrians, among others, as a Millet or ethno-religious minority.The Assyrian patriarch was the spiritual and temporal leader of his Millet, this was accepted by all the Assyrian tribes and recognized by the Ottoman government. The Patriarch was second in command to the Emir of Hakkari and it was customary for him to rule Hakkari in the absence of the Emir.
Geopolitically, the Hakkari region, where the major Assyrian tribes (Upper & Lower Tyareh, Tkhooma, Diz, Tal, Jelu and Baz) resided along with the more advantageously populous Kurds was divided administratively into Left and right Sectors or "Bazikeh." The Left sector was comprised of Upper Tyareh, Lower Tyareh,Tal,Baz as well as neighboring Kurdish tribes. The Right sector consisted of Tkhooma and Jelu along with numerous Kurdish tribes. According to various sources, the cohabitation of Assyrian and Kurdish tribes in each sector, in theory, was meant to prevent any religious wars between the two. Accordingly, Assyrian and Kurdish tribes of each sector owed their primary allegiance to their sector rather than their ethnic or religious identity and subsequently, it was common for Assyrian and Kurdish tribes of one sector uniting in hostilities against the Assyrian and Kurdish tribes of the opposing sector.