The Turkish tribes of Iran
It
has been affirmed by several well-informed Persians, that perhaps one-fourth of
the population of Persia consists of wandering communities, forming an almost
distinct class by the nature of their habits and their modes of graining their
livelihood. We will first investigate their origin, then look into their
present condition, observe how they are governed, how they contribute to the
strength of the state, and then remark upon the advantage to which they might
be turned as military bodies.
The
I’liyats in general are not original Persians, but may be compared to foreign
shoots grafted upon the main stock. The original Persian is to be found in the
cities, and in the old-established towns and districts of the provinces. The accretion
of new population flowed in both from the east and the west. Until the conquest
of Persia by the Saracens (A. D. 651), her people might be said to be unmixed.
They having conquered the country, spread themselves even to Balkh, Bokhara,
and Merv, were incorporated with the Persian nation, and, it is said, first
inoculated it with roving propensities. The next tribe of wanderers was brought
from the eastward, in 1234, with Jengiz Khan, which was followed by Timur, who
crossed and re-crossed Persia so frequently, that many of his hordes were even
left in Turkey, where they exist to this day under the name of Yuruk [wanderer].
Such
in general terms may be called the origin of the I’liyats, but each tribe has
its own particular history, recording whence it came, and by whom it was
introduced into Persia. Many have become inhabitants of cities and villages,
therefore the tribes are classed into what are called Shehr-nishin, or dwellers in cities, and Sahra-nishin, or dwellers in the field. A few only have adhered to
their original modes of life, and abide all the year round in tents, in the
winter keeping to the plains, and in the summer, seeking the pasturage of the
mountains. In their own estimation, they look upon the Shehr-nishins as degenerate, applauding the hardihood and
simplicity of manners of those who have no other dwelling-place than the tent,
and reviling those who recur to the luxuries of a hose and the protection of a
city.
The
principal tribes are as follows: ―
1.
The Kajar. This is the tribe of the present king of Persia, and takes its
origin from Turkistan. It came into Persia with O’guz Khan, grandson of Jengiz,
and branches of it have taken root in Kazwin and the territory of Erivan. There
is a popular notion, however, that its origin is from Damascus, and the
circumstance which calumny has evidently added, that many of the tribe formed
part of the army of the hated Yezid, who killed their beloved Imam Husein,
helps much to increase the odium in which they are held. They are subdivided into
six smaller families, viz.: Kavanlu, Devehlu, Shambeyati, Yokari-bash, and
Kajar Kazvini. The king’s family is of the Kavanlus, and his mother of the
Yokari-bashes. They do not count altogether more than 400 houses, or, as they
are called, Khanehwars, and their
chief place of residence is Aster-abad and Tehran. Some few are at Erivan and
Merv, and generally at all places governor by a Shah-zadeh, or king’s son. They
are all Shehr-nishins, or dwellers in
cities. Their old wandering habits, however, break out in the spring. Fat-h
‘Ali Shah invariably quitted his winter quarters, or kishlak of Tehran, and proceeded to his Yailak, or summer quarters of Sultaniyeh, Ojan, Firuz Kuh, or
Cheshmeh ‘Ali, as suited the humour or necessity of the day, and there spread his
camp and his cattle over the surrounding pasturages.
2.
The Afshars. They call themselves originally of the Turkoman tribes, and are
divided into two principal branches, Shamlu and Kirklu. This is a large tribe,
and counts altogether about 20,000 houses, but it is not held in high
estimation by the king, who does not willingly give their members places of
confidence about his person, perhaps owing to the ancient grudge handed down in
his family against the famous Nadir, who was an Afshar, and who killed Fat-h
‘Ali Khan, their ancestor, the first powerful chief of the Kajars. Nadir was of
the Kirklu, and they who are famous for their vaunting, do nor pride themselves
a little upon their affinity to so great a conqueror. They principally reside
in towns, and are to be found in the greatest numbers at Abiverd, the
birth-place of Nadir, and at Kelat, the place he so carefully peopled and
strengthened.
3.
Bayat. This is a small tribe, calculated at about 1,000 houses, which
originated in Turkistan, and is dispersed in towns and cities through different
parts of Persia.
4.
Khodabendehlu, or, the Servants of God. They acknowledge ‘Ali for God; consist
of 1,000 families, live for the greatest part near Tehran, and call themselves
of old Persian origin.
5.
Shekagi. This is a large tribe, said to consist of about 50,000 houses,
principally inhabitants of the northern province of Azerbaijan, and are
dispersed over the districts of Hasht-rud, Germ-rud, Miyaneh, and Ardebil. The
late Prince ‘Abbas Mirza drew from them the greatest part of his infantry,
disciplined after the European manner, and very good soldiers they are reputed
to make, if properly managed. Their language is the Turkish.
6.
Shah-seven. The principal members of this tribe are in Azerbaijan; they are
also in numbers about Tehran, and live mostly in tents. Nadir Shah dispersed
them throughout different parts of Persia. Their present force is calculated at
20,000 families. About 100 Shah-sevens are Gholams, or privates in the king’s
service, performing the duties of body-guard; their language is the Turkish,
and their origin from Turkistan.
James Morier — Some Account of the I'liyats, or
Wandering Tribes of Persia, obtained in the Years 1814 and 1815 (1837)
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