Draft:History of Lakh people
Lak people or the Lak ethnic group are one of the Iranian peoples who have lived in their main settlement, the Central Zagros, since ancient times. This ancient ethnic group has experienced ups and downs throughout history, and Lak people live in various parts of Iran and the Middle East.
Lakestan meaning the settlement of Lak people is a word that refers to the Lak-inhabited lands and means the geographical area where Laks reside.
- The history of the Lak people dates back to the era of early humans, specifically cave dwelling, and extends to ancient and post-Islamic governments.
Pre-ancient era
[edit]In the pre-ancient era, or in other words, the era of early humans, which dates back 12,000 years or 148,000 years, you can see them in Mirmalas Cave, which is one of the caves in the city of Kuhdasht. Several objects and rock carvings have been found there.
- About Mirmalas Cave:
Mirmalas Cave is located about 18 kilometers northeast of Kuhdasht, Lorestan, on the route of Shirz Gorge road. Paintings and carvings remain on the southern and northern walls of this cave, mostly depicting scenes of battle, hunting, humans, and animals. Images of animals such as deer, cows, dogs, foxes, and especially horses and riders in the act of shooting and hunting, as well as combat themes, are carved on the walls of this cave in red and black colors. The size of the faces in the Mirmalas rock carvings is between 10 and 30 centimeters, and they are often depicted with animal figures in profile. Rock carvings are found in only four locations worldwide: Lascaux and Chauvet in France, Altamira Cave in Spain, and Homiān and Mirmalas in Kuhdasht, Iran.
The paintings on this cave lack any covering or protection, and the entrance to the cave is blocked due to the collapse of the upper layers. Unfortunately, the carvings on the walls of the cave's iwan have been damaged by human factors and nature and are difficult to see, and the entire walls of the cave are covered with graffiti.
On the top of Sar-e Sorkhin mountain, as well as Homiān mountain, which are other mountains in Kuhdasht county, there are also such rock carvings.
According to experts from the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization, the history of these rock carvings dates back 12,000 years, and in some written sources to 54,000 years, and orally to 148,000 years.
Discovered Bronzes
[edit]Bronze is an example of artistry in making these objects. However, the world and the people of Iran were unaware of the existence of such a valuable treasure for a long time until signs of these precious objects appeared in antique markets, prompting archaeologists to investigate. After extensive excavations in this province, they discovered the unique art of the people of Iran, which is a combination of art and industry. Excavations and diggings, sometimes with the efforts of foreign archaeologists such as "Louis Vandenberg" (Belgian archaeologist) and Roman Ghirshman (French archaeologist), have led to the discovery of objects dating back to the third millennium BC. Although the results of European archaeologists' excavations led to the discovery of Iran's rich civilization, it also came with a negative point: unfortunately, these archaeologists took the discovered items with them to their countries, thereby increasing the value and prestige of their museums. Nevertheless, the bronze objects that shine in the National Museum of Iran form a complete and diverse collection of bronze in the entire world. Currently, a thousand bronze objects that have been shaped into various forms exist in the National Museum of Iran, and unfortunately, a thousand other types of these artistic objects are also in foreign museums. Bronze, which is the result of casting and molding, was skillfully shaped by the people of Iran, an art that is an undeniable narrative of the culture and way of life of people from the distant past.
- By whom was the art of bronze shaped:**When the Kassite tribes entered Iran through the Caucasus, they brought with them a lasting art. These tribes, who were among the first groups to settle in Lorestan, began upon their arrival to make tools and objects such as safety pins, mirrors, rings, necklaces, cups, riding tools, and war tools, which show the bravery and skillful horsemanship of our ancestors, as well as statues of animals like deer, gazelles, horses, and cows, drinking bowls, and daggers. All of these manufactured objects have one major difference from other tools and items available at that time, and that is the designs and patterns adorning their bodies. Wherever excavation is done in the fertile soil of Lorestan, a sign of skilled Iranian artists will undoubtedly appear, and these artists will undoubtedly cause surprise and wonder for everyone.
- Some examples of bronzes discovered in the cities of Kuhdasht:**
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Bronze axe blade
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Bronze bit
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Bit with a winged goat design
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Bronze mask, dating back to 1000 BC
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Bronze figurine from Kuhdasht in the Jahan Nama Museum
States before the ancient era
[edit]- Akudo Government**
This kingdom in the Zagros, known as Elymais, continued until the Sasanian period. Assyrian texts have recorded two cities of this kingdom, named Marubištu and Akudo, the former in Khorramabad and the latter in Kuhdasht. Sar-e Khadam-e Sharqi is the sanctuary of the city of Akudo, and Sar-e Khadam-e Laki are the buildings next to the sanctuary.
Mount Changari is located in the northern heights of the city of Kuhdasht, and on its northern slope is the ancient area of Sar-e Khadam-e Laki. This area is naturally terraced and has been transformed by human intervention into a large staircase enclosed within the rocks. The beginning of the historical period of this area dates back to the New Iron Age. Next to this site is Sar-e Khadam-e Sharqi, which is a sanctuary from the second half of the Iron Age. The buildings of Sar-e Khadam-e Laki were not sanctuaries, and various multiple buildings are seen there.
Architectural remains, pottery, metal, stone, etc., have been discovered in Sar-e Khadam-e Laki, belonging to the New Iron Age. The presence of Islamic period pottery in this location indicates its prosperity during this period. No roofed architectural remains have been found in Sar-e Khadam-e Laki, and it is likely that this place was a nomadic settlement. The architecture of this location can be compared with the architecture of Tepe Baba Jan and Tepe Gyan. The buff-colored pottery is the main type of pottery in this area. The pottery decorations are simple. The stone seal discovered in this area is comparable to Elamite seals and depicts a worshipper and a winged animal resembling a winged scorpion.
- Elymais Government**
The Kingdom of Elymais or Elymais was an ancient territory in the west of the Zagros Mountains, with its capital in Nisibis (Kermanshah). To its west was Babylon, to its northeast was the land of Media, to its north was the Mannaean civilization, to its south was the Elamite civilization, and near its north was the highway between Babylon and Hamadan. They were close relatives of the Elamites, and the remnants of the Gutian and Kassite tribes were located to their north.
This civilization expanded from the 9th to the 6th centuries BC. Based on historical evidence, this city flourished greatly due to a trade route around it and came under the control of the Aryans between the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Its king, Dalta, paid tribute to Sargon II from 714 BC, and after the death of King Dalta, his son Nibé was supported by the Elamites.
- Kassites Government**
Before the Medes and Persians, the Kassites entered southwestern Iran from the heights of the Caucasus and Azerbaijan, but initially settled on the Iranian plateau in the areas of the Caspian Sea and gave their name to this sea, calling it the Caspian Sea.[11] It is possible that the Kassites were a different people from the Khuzians.[3]
The Greek historian Strabo says about the Kassites:
- The Kassuwa tribes settled on the shores of the Caspian Sea at the beginning of their migration and gave their name to this sea.**
The word Kashi appears as Kasi or Kaspi in Babylonian inscriptions, and the Kassite (Kashi) tribes gradually settled in the cities of Kashan and Qazvin during their migration and gave their names to these two cities.[11] This tribe, which controlled parts of Lorestan at the same time as the Elamites, achieved extraordinary skill in making bronze artifacts. They were considered the most important mountain tribes of the Zagros, engaged in animal husbandry, and spoke a language related to Elamite.They were brave and warlike horsemen and repeatedly engaged in battles with their neighbors, including the Elamites and Babylonians. They even managed to overthrow the Babylonian government and rule over that land for six centuries. The rule of the Kassites over Babylon ended as a result of their defeat by the Elamites. After being defeated by the Elamites, they returned to their mountainous homeland, the Zagros Mountains.
Ancient Era
[edit]- From the Achaemenid to the Sasanian Rule
The concentrated Lak-inhabited areas of four provinces were considered part of the Kassite rule during the Achaemenid period, and the Achaemenids passed through this region when traveling from Babylon to Hamadan. Pahleh or Pahlu was the name of a vast territory in western Iran, which encompassed most of the cities and regions of the current Zagros. The province of Pahleh was named as such during the Sasanian era, and Pahlavi refers to the people, language, and script related to Pahleh. The name Pahleh changed to "Jibal" and later "Kuhistan" after the arrival of Arabs in Iran. Pahleh itself was composed of smaller regions called "Mehr" or "Mehragan," such as "Mehragan Kadak," which referred to the west of Lorestan province.
Islamic Era in Iran
[edit]- The Hasanwayhid Dynasty
This dynasty, named the Hasanwayhids, derived its name from the Hasanvand tribe of the Lak people.
The influence of Hasanwayh extended close to Khuzestan and Azerbaijan. Badr ibn Hasanwayh Barzikani (ruled 369–405 AH) built the Sarmaj fortress on a mountain near Bisotun and made it his capital. The founder of the family, "Hasanwayh ibn Husayn Barzikani," known as "Amir Husayn," was the head of the Barzikani clan, who began his rule in 330 from "Shahrazur."[citation needed] In 348 AH (961 AD), he conquered five important cities of western Iran at that time: Nahavand, Dinavar, Shapourkhast, Borujerd, and Asadabad.[1] During the time of "Amir Husayn," the army of Caliph Mustakfi Billah was defeated by him, and during the time of his successor, Muti' Lillah, a path of reconciliation was pursued. The ruling area of this family extended close to Khuzestan.
- The Zand Dynasty
This dynasty, led by Karim Khan Zand, came to power in Iran in 1163 AH. He was initially one of Nader Shah Afshar's commanders who returned with his companions after Nader's death. He entrusted the nominal kingship to Shah Ismail III and chose the title of Vakil al-Ra'aya (Regent of the Subjects) for himself. He temporarily made the city of Malayer his capital and managed to gain control over all of Iran, and then made the city of Shiraz his capital. The Karim Khan Citadel, Vakil Bazaar, Vakil Bath, and Vakil Mosque in Shiraz are among the buildings that remain from his rule. After the collapse of Nader Shah's rule in the 18th century, Karim Khan Zand initially ruled over southern and central Iran. Later, he rapidly expanded his territory and gained control over a large part of other areas of contemporary Iran, except for Balochistan and Khorasan. The present-day territories of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were under the control of Khanates that were officially considered part of the Zand territory but were de facto autonomous. Also, his brother, Sadeq Khan Zand, succeeded in separating Basra from the Ottoman Empire in 1189 AH and annexing it to Iran, thereby asserting Iran's influence over the entire Arvand Rud.
The island of Bahrain was also under the control of the autonomous Sheikhdom of Al Madhkur of Bushehr, which ruled there on behalf of the Zands.
The founder of this government was Karim Khan Zand from the Zand Lak tribe.
Contemporary Constitutionalist Support
[edit]Yar Mohammad Khan Zardalani, known as Yar Mohammad Khan Kermanshahi, the great constitutionalist leader, was truly and factually one of the first national and popular uprising leaders who felt a sense of commitment and challenge in the face of the hardships of Iranian society during the Constitutional Era, the era in which he lived.
Before uprising leaders such as Mirza Kuchak Khan Jangali, Colonel Mohammad Taqi Khan Pesian, Rais Ali Delvari, and others challenged the sovereignty, livelihood, political and military structure, and military and administrative relations of their time in some way, Yar Mohammad Khan, with his uprising, intended to defend the independence and integrity of Iran by sacrificing his life for the homeland. Regarding the ideological views, worldview, and religious thoughts of Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan, it is necessary to reiterate this point. In this regard, Ardeshir Keshavarz, a great writer and researcher on the biography of Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan, writes in his book "Gord-e Kord":"""Yar Mohammad Khan was born in the Zardalan rural district, part of the Hoolilan district, into a pure family from an Ilati mother of the Balvand-Lak tribe and an honest, hardworking, and rural father from the Lak of Zardalan tribe. He received tribal and Ilati upbringing and education within a healthy family environment. With a pure belief in the fundamental pillars of the pure religion of Mohammad, true divine Islam, and a belief in the righteousness of the Shi'a path, a lover of the family of Ali (peace be upon him) and the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), in his youth and young adulthood, he followed the path of his master Ali (peace be upon him). In the guise of a champion and interested in traditional sports, and acting according to the deeds of Pourya-ye Vali, he made this method a guiding light in all stages of his material and spiritual life. By seeking refuge in the love for his master Ali (peace be upon him), in difficult battles and terrifying dangers, without fear or dread, he was a courageous and popular uprising initiator and movement starter in the scenes of battle and fields of fervor and honor.
Ardeshir Keshavarz writes elsewhere: "In his youth, Yar Mohammad Khan, with a pure Muslim belief, learned the love for religious and doctrinal principles from the Zurkhaneh. In his young adulthood, in the presence and service of the enlightened scholar, the most learned Mujtahid, His Holiness Ayatollah Haj Agha Mohammad Mehdi Mujtahid, a virtuous and respected cleric, he took the path of true Islam. Following the fatwas issued by the Marja' Taqlid in Samarra and Najaf, such as the late Ayatollah Khorasani, Ayatollah Mazandarani, and others, who affirmed the righteousness and legitimacy of the Constitutional Revolution, he left his life and home and rushed to Tabriz to support the revolutionaries and Azerbaijan."
According to research, Yar Mohammad Khan's birth was in 1296 AH in Zardalan, Hoolilan. Dr. Salamollah Javid, in his booklet "Forgotten Devotees," mentions Yar Mohammad Khan's birth year as 1292 AH.
Yar Mohammad Khan became interested in traditional sports in the city of Kermanshah and, along with his friend and adopted brother Hossein Khan Kolah Mal, would attend the traditional sports venue, the cobblestone pit, or the Hooriabad Zurkhaneh, every day and engage in sports.
Migration to Tehran and Tabriz:
Yar Mohammad Khan Zardalani, who was with the constitutionalists during these struggles and had gained fame, decided to embark on a general uprising at the invitation of the associations. To assist and help the constitutionalists, he set out for Tehran. After arriving in the religious city of Qom, he learned that the first parliamentary session had been destroyed by Russian and Iranian Cossack artillery under the command of Colonel Lyakhov, and the leaders of the Constitutional Revolution had been arrested and martyred, while a group had gone into hiding and fled. Therefore, after entering Tehran and contacting the freedom fighters who were taking refuge in the British embassy, with their guidance and recommendation, he set out for Tabriz to cooperate with Sattar Khan. Ahmad Kasravi writes in his book "History of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution": "The only people who came from the cities of Iran to help Tabriz were Yar Mohammad Khan Zardalani of Kermanshah and his companions. In those days, when the parliament sent telegrams to all cities asking for help, he bought a rifle and a horse with an adopted brother and a friend, both named Hossein Khan, and set out for Tehran to help the Dar al-Shura. But when they reached Qom, they learned about the bombing of the parliament there and with difficulty reached Tabriz by a detour."
Dr. Malekzadeh writes in his book "History of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution": "Among those whose names should truly remain immortal in the history of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution is Yar Mohammad Khan, a brave man from the Lak tribe of Kermanshah. This zealous and courageous constitutionalist man made sacrifices and showed great bravery in the revolution and struggle between the constitutionalists and the autocrats of Kermanshah."
When Yar Mohammad Khan and his companions arrived in Tabriz, the city was under siege by the government army, but the entry routes to the city were blocked and under the control of the forces of autocracy. Thus, he and his companions joined the national forces and became part of the defenders of Tabriz and the companions of Sattar Khan.
The Mujahid Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan and Hossein Khan Amirbargh, after conquering Kermanshah and freeing it from the clutches of the autocrats, in the days when the nation, with thunderous slogans of "Either death or independence," rose up with all their might to confront the colonial governments of Russia and England, and in a patriotic and revolutionary act, they shot and killed Ala al-Dowleh, one of the autocrats of Kermanshah, this ignoble and traitorous element.
Ahmadi Kasravi writes elsewhere in his book "History of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran":""""On the eighteenth of Safar in the year 1330, war was everywhere, and the mujahideen advanced step by step until they reached all parts of Kermanshah. Salar al-Dawla, with his companions Dawood Khan Kalhor, Sardar Mozaffar, and others, did not stand their ground and fled. Thus, Yar Mohammad Khan, with a small group, opened the city of Kermanshah."
Yar Mohammad Khan, a simple, pure, and honest rural man, a sincere hero from the Lak tribe, thus sacrificed his life for the independence of dear Islamic Iran. However, he is still unknown. He should rightly, truly, and factually be considered the initiator of the series of popular uprisings and struggles against oppression that occasionally materialized against the deviation of the constitutional statesmen from the true principles of constitutionalism.
After the suppression of the uprising of the mujahid Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan, other uprisings such as the Lahuti movement and the Gendarmerie officers in two time periods, the uprising of Seyyed Hossein Lari, the confrontation and battle of the Qashqai tribes with the British in Fars, the uprising of the brave men of Tangestan and Dashtestan in the south, the uprising of Sardar Jangal, Mirza Kuchak Khan, the uprising of Sheikh Mohammad Khiabani, the uprising of Colonel Mohammad Taqi Khan Pessian, and the formation of the Kaveh guerrilla army came into being. And what a pity that the fires of these movements burned separately in time and space and were extinguished separately.
Dr. Mehdi Malekzadeh writes elsewhere in his book "The Constitutional Revolution of Iran": "On the night of the thirteenth of Mehr 1291, Yar Mohammad Khan and the mujahideen entered the city of Kermanshah and, with unparalleled bravery, captured most areas of the city and attacked the government citadel where Farmanfarma was stationed. Farmanfarma defended, and in several parts of the city of Kermanshah that they held, they began shooting. The mujahid Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan, bareheaded and foaming at the mouth, without fear or dread of the fire raining down on him, with a number of his mujahid Lak companions from Kermanshah, responded to the defenders' fire step by step and advanced. Everything indicated a quick victory, when suddenly, from a window in the market roof, a blind-hearted, dark-souled person fired a shot at the head of the last mujahid Sardar of the Constitutional Revolution, and what had life moments before and the dream of freeing the homeland from bondage was suddenly extinguished.
The plan to assassinate the Sardar was as follows: one of Yar Mohammad Khan's mujahid companions, who participated in the planning of the mujahideen leaders' military operations, informed the tyrannical Farmanfarma of the plan and the route of the mujahid Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan through the market into the citadel. And that dark-faced governor stationed one of his blind-hearted mercenaries on the roof of the cookie bakeries in the city of Kermanshah with an evil and devilish purpose to stand guard and carry out his malicious intent from the market roof window at the appropriate moment. And at that time, when the mujahid Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan was talking with a number of his companions, following the first shot that entered the Sardar's mouth and exited from behind his head, the life of a vigilant and brave man was ended.
Dr. Ali Akbar Naghipour, the author of the book "Yar Mohammad Khan, the Great Sardar of the Constitutional Revolution," writes: "Yar Mohammad Khan Kermanshahi Lak is one of the last self-sacrificing Sardars of the Constitutionalism of Iran. Most historians have forgotten him, and those who have mentioned him have done so very briefly. Therefore, his position in the Constitutional Revolution of Iran is not clearly defined, and the right of his sacrifice and devotion has not been paid as it should have been." Engineer Karim Taherzadeh also writes in his book "The Uprising of Azerbaijan in the Constitutional Revolution": "The late Yar Mohammad Khan and his brother Hossein Khan, two brave men from Kermanshah, showed great bravery during the Constitutional period, and their names remained in the history of Iran."
And the newspaper Sa'adat Iran, published on Monday, August 14, 1330 Solar Hijri, writes about Yar Mohammad Khan: "Greetings to the martyrs of freedom, the late Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan Kermanshahi. In our afflicted city of Kermanshah, brave and courageous men rose up in arms to raise the banner of constitutionalism and fought against the opponents of freedom for a long time. The late Yar Mohammad Khan Zardalani, the renowned Sardar of Kermanshah, who sacrificed everything for them and continued to fight against the enemies of liberty until his last breath, until he finally rolled in his own blood and was martyred (Sa'adat Iran newspaper, published on Monday, August 14, 1330)."
Extent of the Lak-speaking people in Iran
[edit]The Lak people, who are one of the original Iranian ethnic groups, have a concentrated population in Iran.
Population extent:
The provinces of Lorestan, Kermanshah, Hamadan, and Ilam, where they have the maximum population in these areas, and the Lak people call that part by the unofficial name Lakestan. Besides these areas, the Lak people live in other provinces of Iran such as: Gilan, Mazandaran, Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, Qazvin, and they speak different dialects of the Lak language.Lakestan Rural District is in West Azerbaijan Province, and some residents of Miankaleh and the village of Zaghmarz, part of Behshahr in Mazandaran, consider themselves Lak. Chahardolis are also from the Laks. Clans of Laks reside in Qazvin and Khorasan provinces.
West Azerbaijan:
The Chahardoli region is located in the Jaghatu River valley (Zarrineh Rud plain) in southern West Azerbaijan. Its inhabitants are Chahardolis who speak the Laki language. The Chahardoli dialect is part of the Indo-European languages, which is itself an Indo-Iranian branch. Chahardolis are one of the large Lak tribes and, according to the history of Mardukh Kurdistani, Farsnameh, Sir Mark Sykes, and Sharafnameh, they have moved from Shiraz, Lorestan, and Ilam to other areas. They are Twelver Shia and are known for their bravery and valor. Chahardolis are ethnically close to the Laks of Lorestan and Ilam, and in terms of customs andand their customs, clothing, music, and other ethnic components have fundamental differences from the Lurs and Turks. The Shi'a culture and devotion to the Imams (Ahl al-Bayt) are very strong among the Chahardolis, and the holding of mourning ceremonies for Aba Abdillah al-Hussein (AS) in the month of Muharram in the Chahardoli regions, especially in the city of Mahmoud Jagh (Deh Mahmoud), is a magnificent manifestation of this. Dr. Eskandar Amanollahi Baharvand says in his book "The Lur Tribe": "The Laks are from the ancient tribes of Iran and do not intermarry with outsiders except rarely. This tribe, mixed with their own community, consists of 36 tribes (Chahardolis, Varmazyaris of Zarrineh, Varmazyaris of Mordeh Dar, Bezaniha, Garus, Golbaghiha, Zandiha, and........) and are estimated to be 50,000 households. Mohammad Karim Khan, Mohammad Zaki Khan, and Sadegh Khan Zand, all three brothers, are from this tribe." The Chahardoli tribe was always dominant over neighboring tribes in conflicts and disputes due to their bravery and were considered one of the Shi'a tribes who, along with the Shamlu and Ustajlu tribes, and others, rushed to the aid of Shah Ismail.
For this reason, in later eras, they were also favored by the Safavid kings, and for political expediency, they employed members of the tribe to guard the government, to the extent that they used Chahardoli cavalry in the Battle of Chaldiran. They were initially settled in the mountains of Shiraz and Ilam province. When the Qajars were victorious in the war against the Zands, Agha Mohammad Khan decided to collectively massacre, exile, or break up the large and powerful rival tribes. For this reason, he brought a thousand households from these very Chahardolis with him and relocated some to Kermanshah, Mazandaran, southern Tehran, Kurdistan, Hamadan, and... Mohammad Sadegh Mousavi Isfahani says in his book "History of Giti Gosha in the Zand Dynasty": "Agha Mohammad Khan stayed in Isfahan for two months and collected taxes......... and relocated some of the remaining Chahardolis and sent their belongings to Mazandaran and Kermanshah." After the death of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, the head of a Chahardoli clan named Nowruz Khan fled for fear of being killed. At the beginning of the 19th century (19th century AD), corresponding to the second decade of the 13th century AH, he traveled to the northwestern part of the country and settled in the Jaghatu River valley with a large group of his clans (Great Islamic Encyclopedia, article by Professor Rawlinson). Another head of the Chahardolis named Sardar Qasem Khan fled towards the east of Sanandaj (Esfandabad). Another group, like Jasem Khan, settled in Qareh Chal, Malekan, East Azerbaijan, and occasionally, with the help of other Chahardoli clans, attacked the cities of Bonab, Azarshahr, Maragheh, Tabriz, and..... Haj Seifollah Bonabi has compiled all these events in a book titled "Memoirs of Haj Seifollah Bonabi". Today, this group is known as Chardoli or Cherdavli. Some also migrated to Hamadan and continue their lives in areas of Asadabad, Hamadan, and about 15 villages in Malayer. These tribes have, to some extent, moved away from their original Laki dialect due to their place of residence (History of Mardukh Kurdistani).
According to Rawlinson's writings, there were 300 villages in this region, where about 3500 Afshar households, especially three clans: Qasemlu, Qalich Khani, and Qarqalu (Qarkhlu), lived in 150 villages. After a large group of the Chahardoli tribe came to Jaghatu, many Afshars were forced to leave this area and returned to Urmia. The Chahardoli tribe was more powerful than its other rivals, and for this reason, the banner of the Chahardoli tribe, which was carried in front of the cavalry in all wars, fell into the hands of this tribe from the time of Parviz Khan and remained in the hands of this tribe until the time of Salim Khan and Ali Ashraf Ja'fari (this banner was made in the shape of a bull's head and was therefore called the Bull's Head banner, which was made of pure gold and weighed 3 kilograms). Unfortunately, on May 8, 1946 (1325 SH), the Azerbaijan Democratic Party led by Ja'far Pishevari was taken to Tabriz and later from there to Italy. After Nowruz Khan, his son Parviz Khan - who participated in the ten-year wars between Iran and Russia (History of the Iran-Russia Wars) - and after him, his grandson Hosseinqoli Khan, was the head of the Chahardoli tribe.
Other actions of the Chahardolis include the cleansing of Miandoab city from bandits in the Balbas incident (where Shamzini Kurd massacred people and even small children due to religious fanaticism, and only thirteen horsemen under the command of Salim Khan Chahardoli defeated them and killed Shamzini Kurd's son), direct role in the expansion of the Islamic Revolution, organizing the revolutionary Muslim Kurdish population, cleansing the region from hypocrites, eradicating poverty in the region, the eight years of Holy Defense, and.......... The martyrs of this region are themselves a testament to this claim.Among the ancient sites of this region are the 148-year-old Bahador Malek bathhouse, the Jameh Mosque, Shir Sara Castle, the watermills and qanats of Mahmoudabad, the historical city and castle of Hulagu Khan the Mongol, and the ruins of Seh Qaleh (Three Castles) in the villages of Hosseinabad and Chechekloo, Qezlar Qalasi Castle in the village of Qarah Tappeh, old two-story houses, Sheytan Takhti in the village of Yengi Arkh, Jorm Dash Castle in the village of Khalaj, the ruins of Sari Dash Castle in the village of Fatur, and two large caves in the villages of Joshatu and Qarah Tappeh.
Distribution of the Lak People in Iraq
[edit]The Laks of Iraq, who were from Lak tribes, migrated from Iran to Iraq.
The Laks of Kirkuk (Taq Taq Kirkuk region), which include the villages of: Qashqeh, Khorkhor, Awmar, and several other villages.
The Laks of the Erbil plain region, which include the villages of: Doshiwan, Awdaluk, Ashab Lak, and later they dispersed throughout the plain and are composed of these tribes: Ibrahimi, Ismaili, Khoman, and Jardisi. Of course, the word Lak is seen in many geographical names, including: Jadideh Lak village, Brayem Lak, Awdaluk (Awdal Lak), Ashab Lak, Lak Khormatu village. The Laks of the Khormatu region are called Garmiyani Laks.
Distribution of the Lak People in Turkey
[edit]Explanations about the Sheikh Bizini tribe based on what is written in the book by Cecil Edmonds, a European orientalist during the Qajar era:
Today, populations of the old tribe named Sheikh Bizini live in the countries of Iraq and Turkey. It seems their origin is in the border areas of western Iran and eastern Iraq today, around Qasr-e Shirin, Khanaqin, Kalar, and Diyala, which have been the dwelling place of various Lak tribes and branches such as Homyavand, Bajulvand, Rizavand, etc., for centuries.
Certainly, the battles between the Ottoman and Safavid states during the 10th and 11th centuries AH had major impacts on the displacement of the Sheikh Bizini population and the migration of some of them to more northern areas up to southern Turkey around Jazira Botan or Jazira Ibn Umar.
The Ottoman government moved the Sheikh Bizinis from Jazira Botan to Gaziantep.
The Sheikh Bizinis were massacred there due to a rebellion. Their survivors were exiled among the Kurmanji Kurds in Diyarbakir and finally settled near Ankara in the Haymana region. Today, Sheikh Bizini populations are present around Konya, Erzurum, and Kayseri.
They call themselves Sheikh Bizini and sometimes Lak. The Turks think they are Kurmanji Kurds, but the Kurmanjis are aware of the difference between their language and that of the Sheikh Bizinis. Their language has been mixed with Kurmanji Kurdish and Turkish after several centuries of proximity.
Haji Qadir Koyi, a Kurdish nationalist poet in the 19th century AD, mentioned the Sheikh Bizinis around Khanaqin and Kirkuk and referred to the linguistic and behavioral differences between them and his own Kurds.
When Edmonds reached the tents of Mahmoud Agha Sheikh Bizini in Basti Hevar Sartek near Erbil, a conversation about the identity and language of the people of that area took place at night. Mahmoud Agha Sheikh Bizini told Edmonds that in addition to the villages on both sides of the Zab River belonging to the Sheikh Bizini tribe, the two villages of Sekerdgan and Omar Gonbad, which were on Edmonds' route, also belonged to this tribe, and they had preserved the older language instead of the new Kurdish language. Upon hearing a few words of this language, Edmonds considered it similar to Kermanshahi Kurdish or Laki of northern Lorestan. In that conversation, the Sheikh Bizinis, based on the narrative of their arrival in the Erbil area, considered it to be from Mosul or more northern parts.
P.S.: Kermanshahi Kurdish is nothing but non-ergative and modified Laki, which is close to the language of the Kalhor, Zanganeh, Kolyai, etc. tribes.
Davood Davoudi
Distribution of the Lak People in Pakistan
[edit]They are also known by the name Kalash people.
In Pakistan, there are people of Lak descent who do not have accurate population statistics. They are mostly in the provinces of Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, etc. They love Iran and believe that their ancestors migrated from Iran to Pakistan hundreds of years ago. Many of them have the surname "Lak" and are known by the name "Lak".
Distribution of the Lak People in the Caucasus
[edit]Lak is a large ethnic group that has gone through many ups and downs throughout history, and many of them have been exiled or displaced to lands other than their original location and land for various reasons. Among the main origins of Lak speakers are Poland, Dagestan, and the Zagros Mountains of Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and Iraq.
One of the lands where a significant number of Lak speakers live is the Republic of Dagestan in the Russian Federation, where they have been separated from their land and the embrace of Iran for centuries and have settled there.According to the statistics obtained from the 2010 census in Dagestan, the Lak population was over 161,000 people, equivalent to 6.5% of the total population of Dagestan. They live in the two urban areas of Kulinsky and Kumukh. During World War II in 1944, many of their tribes were transferred to the northern regions of Dagestan by the Germans, and they were absorbed into Russian culture.
The Kumukh fortress, located in the urban area of Kumukh in the Lak-inhabited regions, has historically been the political center of the Lak rulers and an ancient capital. In the 6th century AD, the Kumukh fortress was one of the political centers of Dagestan, and in the 13th century AD, by accepting Islam, it became an Islamic state. In the 15th century AD, it became the main Islamic political center of Dagestan and has played a key role in the development of Islam in the Caucasus to this day.
The grandfather or elder is the Tokhum. Each Tokhum is composed of several families descended from a common male ancestor. Members of a Tokhum are expected to provide mutual assistance in work and family matters within the Tokhum, such as migration, revenge, and construction. The eldest children play an important role in decision-making. Marriage is traditional and arranged by the families of the bride and groom, including the marriage agreement and wedding ceremonies. These decisions and arrangements for ceremonies and proposals are made by elderly and prominent women. The bride and groom are likely from the same Tokhum; marriages are usually attempted to be conducted within the Tokhum.
Conclusion:
Despite many years having passed since the migration of the Laks to the Caucasus region, their way of life, many of their customs, and many words have not changed. Arts such as carpet weaving, production of saddles and harnesses, and coppersmithing are prevalent among them. This issue indicates the reality that this original Iranian ethnic group has preserved its Iranian-Islamic culture despite all the problems and wars they have had with Albanian and Turkic tribes, and they are proud of being Lak and their origin. More importantly, they have been promoters of their religion, both during the time of Zoroastrianism and after accepting Islam in the Caucasus region, which shows the power of their cultural influence in the Caucasus. Therefore, it is necessary for the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to establish close economic and cultural ties with this original Iranian ethnic group for greater influence in the Caucasus region.
Due to economic backwardness, this region can be a good market for Iranian goods. It is worth mentioning that Iran's economic support for this ethnic group, preventing the complete destruction of Iranian culture in this region, and establishing cultural ties between Iran and the Laks will lead to a change in political relations in favor of Iran, and Iran will enjoy a good political position in the Caucasus region and the Russian Federation.
References
[edit]- لک و لکستان, داوود داوودی (1402). https://pishookpub.ir/books/116-%D9%84%DA%A9-%D9%88-%D9%84%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%81%D8%AF%D9%87/. پیشوک. ISBN 9786225745773.
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- "لک های داغستان". وبگاه لک و لکستان. ۴ آبان ۱۳۹۲. Retrieved ۳ اکتبر ۲۰۱۴.
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- "مردم لک". ویکی پدیا. ۴ آبان ۱۳۹۲. Retrieved ۳ اکتبر ۲۰۱۴.
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