Bohtan

Not to be confused with Bhutan.

Bohtan Principality circa 1835.

Bohtan (also Buhtan, Bokhti), was a medieval Kurdish principality in the Ottoman Empire centered on the town of Jazirah ibn 'Omar (modern Cizre also known as Cizîra Botan (Jazira Botan)) in southeastern Anatolia. Bohtanis were an ancient and prominent branch of the Kurds that claimed descent from Khalid ibn al-Walid. Yazidism became the official religion of Jazira in the 14th century.

History

The Bokhtis are mentioned by Herodotus as inhabiting eastern Anatolia and forming thirteenth Achaemenid district (together with Armenia).

In the early 8th century Bukhtis and Bajnawi Kurds ruled the area surrounding Sinjar and Jazira mountains known under name Zozan by Arab geographers. Yaqoot Hamawi describes their residing area to be from Ikhlat to Salmas which included many strongholds belonging to Bokhtis; he also mentioned town of Jardhakil as their capital.

The emirate lost its independence and was directly governed by the Ottomans in 1847 following the massacres of Badr Khan.

Sub-groups

The main branches of Bukhtis were Brasbi, Dasni and Sindi. According to Sharafkhan Bidlisi in his time some Bukhtis followed Yazidi faith, furthermore he states that previously Bukhtis were among the Kurdish groups who were fully Yazidi.

See also

• List of Kurdish dynasties and countries
• Yazidis

External links

• Encyclopaedia Islamica (in Persian)