Khwarazmid invasions and Kurdish regional defense

Kurdish resistance against Khwarazmid invasion (1217)
Part of Khwarazmid invasions and Kurdish regional defense
Date1217 CE
Location
Kurdistan province (centered at Bahar, northeast of Hamadan)
Result Kurdish victory
Territorial
changes
Kurdistan province under Sulayman's rule
Belligerents
Kurds of Zagros Khwarazmid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Troops sent by Ala ad-Din Muhammad II
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Province of Kurdistan established in 12th century by Sultan Sanjar, governed by his nephew Sulayman. Included Hamadan, Dinawar, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Sharazur.[1][2]

Battle

In 1217, the Kurdish forces of the Zagros region successfully repelled the invading troops dispatched from Hamadan by Ala ad-Din Muhammad II, the Khwarazmid shah.[3][4] The Kurds utilized their familiarity with the mountainous terrain to ambush and defeat the Khwarazmid forces in a significant regional conflict.[5]

Aftermath

Following their victory, the Kurds maintained control over the Kurdistan province, which was administered by Sulayman, the nephew of Sultan Sanjar.[6][7] This solidified Kurdish political autonomy in the region during a period of regional upheaval.[8]

Legacy

The establishment of Kurdistan province by Sultan Sanjar in the 12th century marked an important moment in Kurdish political history.[9] The successful defense against the Khwarazmid invasion demonstrated the military capabilities of the Kurdish tribes in the Zagros mountains.[10] This legacy influenced later Kurdish governance and regional identity.[11][12]

References

  1. Houtsma, Martijn Theodoor, ed. (1913–1936). [Khwarazmid invasions and Kurdish regional defense at Google Books "Kurds"]. Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. 4 (1st ed.). Brill. p. 1140. ISBN 9004097902. OCLC 258059134. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Check |url= value (help)
  2. Bruinessen, Martin van (1992). The Kurds: A Contemporary Overview. Routledge. p. 15. ISBN 9780415070600. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  3. Bosworth, C.E., ed. (2012). "Khwarazmshahs". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  4. Frye, Richard N. (1984). The History of Ancient Iran. G.P. Putnam's Sons. p. 276.
  5. Natali, Denise (2003). "The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran". Middle East Journal. 57 (4): 520–525.
  6. Bosworth, C.E., ed. (2012). "Sanjar". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  7. Savory, Roger M. (2007). Iran under the Safavids. Cambridge University Press. p. 12.
  8. McDowall, David (2004). A Modern History of the Kurds. I.B. Tauris. p. 33. ISBN 9781860647900. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  9. Minorsky, Vladimir, ed. (2012). "Kurdistan". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  10. Olson, Robert (1996). The Kurdish Nationalist Movement in the 1990s: Its Impact on Turkey and the Middle East. University Press of Kentucky. p. 5.
  11. Natali, Denise (2005). The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. University of Washington Press. p. 12.
  12. McDowall, David (2001). "The Kurds: A Nation on the Move". Current History. 100 (648): 385–391.