# Hamawand (tribe)

The Hamawand (ḤAMĀVAND from MOḤAMMADVAND) is a Kurdish tribe in Kurdistan Region. In 1908, they rebelled against the Ottoman Empire. They also fought against the British occupation of Iraq in the early 1920s. During the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), they fought against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant alongside other Kurdish tribes. The Ḥamāvand tribe is an ethnic group of Kurdish origin, residing in the north-eastern region of Iraq. It has been documented as "the most renowned fighting tribe of southern Kurdistan". The Ḥamāvand tribe is believed to have migrated from the Kermānšāh region in Persia to the Bāz-yān district, situated between Kerkuk and Solaymāniya, during the early 18th century. As stated by George Curzon, a number of Ḥamāvand were present in the vicinity of Kermānšāh. According to other sources, the Hamawand tribe had emigrated to Persia in around 1865.

## Upper classes

However some sources claim that the tribe has Kurdish-Iranian origins and is originally from Sennah. The origin(s) of the tribe remains uncertain.
The Hamawand tribe is composed of nine distinct sub-tribes, with Muhammad Amin Agha serving as the paramount chief. The geographical boundaries of the Hamawand tribe are delineated by the Tokma Mountain to the north, the Tang Su to the south, the Tashluja range to the east, and the Qara Hassan to the west. The peasantry of the tribe are sedentary. The Begzada Chalabi clan, a lineage of limited and aristocratic status, does not confer any membership or familial connection due to its status as a member of the Hamawand tribe. The clan comprises Jwamer Agha Khan Hamawand, Ruler of Qasr-e Shirin to Sarpol-e Zahab, the sons of Jwamer Agha Khan Hamawand which were Hama Khan, Hama Sherif, Hama Reshid Qadir Haidar Beg Jawamer Agha. Mirza Qadir Faqe Rasoul Hamawand, Ali Agha, Yadgar Begzada, Ahmad Beg Chalavi, son of Prince Mohammed Chalavi Hamawand, Khuddad Dervish, the adopted son of the Sheikh of the Shleri area of Penjwen, Prince Mirza Faqe Qadir Hamawand, Muhammad Amin Agha Hamawand Mirza including less notable relatives and their descendants. The section Rashawand is also an aristocratic lineage, with Faqir Muhammad Agha as its head. The leadership of the Ramawand was held by Amir-ur-Rashid Qadir, while the Safarwand was led by Fatih-i-Riga and the Setabasar by Hamazap. The remaining sub-sections included the Kaferushi, Piriai, Sufiawand and Chingini. The Kaferushi tribe comprised 100 families, the Piriai tribe had 250 families, and the Sufiawand tribe had 130 families. The Kaferushi tribe had 150 men, the Piriai tribe had 350 men, and the Sufiawand tribe had 160 men. The Kaferushi, Piriai, and Sufiawand tribes were sedentary peasant tribes. In contrast, the Safarwand, Ramawand, Rashawand and Begzada Chalabi constituted a distinct noble sub-group. In 1958, The Begzada Chalabi family of the Hamawand tribe was formally acknowledged by the French as a noble lineage in a public declaration by the University of Paris. The Begzada Chalabi family also had several princes and princesses during their exile by the Ottoman Empire in 1887 to Benghazi, Libya.

## Historical significance

The Hamawand tribe is smaller than several Kurdish tribes. However, it has frequently been the pivotal factor in the resolution of disputes and has a highly influential role in the architectural landscape of neighbouring countries and in the perceptions of orientalists. This is particularly evident in the context of self-defence and the refusal to comply with all orders issued by the Ottomans. Even an orientalist such as Edmons, who states that Hamawand is one of the prominent Kurdish tribes, renowned for their military prowess until 1925, are believed to have originated from North Kurdistan in the 18th century, encompassing the present-day territories of Chamchamal and Bazian. Following the Ottoman government's designation of regional governance, the Hamawand tribe's borders were delineated as extending from Shuan in the north to Tokma Mountain in the north, Tawugh Su in the south, Kara Hassan and Shuani Khase in the west, and Tasluja and Ben Zard mountain ranges in the east. The linguistic characteristics of this group are comparable to those observed in the Kermanshah dialect, which is a combination of Hawrami and Zaway Zangana. From the outset, they allied themselves with the Babanis and commenced hostilities against the Ottomans. For this reason, the Hamawands consider him to be the founder of Chamchamal. In his account of the demise of his elder brother Sulaiman Kaka Rasul, Faqe Qadir makes the following observation in the fifth line:
'Sardar, go to my house. I went to the building in Chamchamal.'

## Politics

Following the removal of Abdullah Pasha from the governorship of Sulaymaniyah in the spring of 1850 by order of Abdulkarim Nader Pasha, also known as Abdi Wali, Ismail Pasha of Egypt was appointed to the role. Additionally, Osman Beg, Qadir Beg and Hassan Beg, sons of his brother Sulaiman Pasha, and several other Babani princes were selected to serve in this capacity. Additionally, 500 Hamvand cavalry members initiated an insurrection against Ottoman authority who constituted one of the twelve cavalry units stationed in Marivan. Following the collapse of the Baban dynasty, Hamvand became a persistent source of resistance for the Ottomans. The displacement of these individuals has been a protracted process. They subsequently crossed the border, proceeding from Zahaw to Qasr Shirin. Both governments have expressed concern about the situation. Nasreddin's eldest son selected Jawamer Agha Hamvand as the ruler of Zahaw. It can be argued that the Hamwands' success in defending themselves against the attempts to centralise the Ottoman state was largely due to their advantageous geographical position, situated as they were in both mountainous and border regions.

## A number of successful attacks

In 1874, the Hamwands invaded the south and occupied the border towns, effectively besieging Mandali, an important border city. They were ultimately defeated by the army and other forces and subsequently withdrew, launching several successful attacks northwards as far as the Christian villages at they returned to the vicinity of Bayazid. Following years of intermittent conflict with the Ottoman Empire, It was decided that the Hamwands should be kept at a distance. In 1876, he was ordered by the Sultan to meet with several tribal chiefs in Kirkuk with the assistance of Ismail Pasha's representative.
As was customary with all the forces in the region, Hamwand sent 200 horsemen to meet him. He informed them of his intention to meet with the Hamwands and that he had brought them the Sultan's letter. The following day, he informed the Bahamwans of this.
"We want to bring you to Rumadiya and after two years you can go back to your area and you have to bring your families. But if you don't, we will take you to Mosul. They agree and bring their families to all 900 households. But they lie to them and take them on foot to Mosul." They will be imprisoned there for a while. There are four men running away'.

## British forces

In May 1918, following the occupation of Kerkuk and Solaymāniya by British forces, the Ḥamāvand provided support to Shaikh Maḥmud in his endeavours to establish an independent Kurdish state under British protection. However, when the British withdrew from the area later that year for strategic and political reasons, the Ḥamāvand felt betrayed and decided to collaborate with the returning Ottoman officials. Following the cessation of hostilities, the Ḥamāvand (in conjunction with Shaikh Maḥmud) persisted in their opposition to the British, motivated by their resentment of the British government's repeated intervention in Kurdish affairs. This resentment was further compounded by their subsequent opposition to the Iraqi government.

## Support

Following a period of 20 years, the Hamwands assembled in Benghazi and resolved to return to their place of origin. After nine months, they returned to Chamchamal on foot with the assistance of an astronomer named Mohammad Ali Ghulam. It is noteworthy that in 1880, Jawameri Hamwand emerged from the Begzadeh clan and established Qasri Shirin as his headquarters. The subjects subsequently returned to Chamchamal. One of the individuals in question is Mahmoud Khadr. Subsequently, they are the ones who persuade the inhabitants of Mosul that these individuals should be removed from the area. Subsequently, they are transported on foot to Adana, Turkey. Subsequently, the group will be separated and dispersed to various locations, including Cyprus, Malta, Rhodes, Greece, North Africa, Algeria, and Tripoli. The process of division was a lengthy one, spanning several years. This one was in conflict with the Ottoman Empire. His relationship with the Qacharis was characterised by periods of peace and periods of conflict. Consequently, the two governments, the Ottoman and Qachar, engaged in diplomatic negotiations, while the Iranian army, under the command of Hussam al-Mallak, and the Ottoman forces, led by Qurt Ismail, were engaged in military operations. Pasha of Diyarbakır, accompanied by the troops from Baghdad, commenced their journey. The Iranian leader, in a deceitful move, summoned Jawari and subsequently killed him, promising reconciliation. Subsequently, the Hamwand tribe withdrew to Karadag. Following the return of some Hamwands from Benghazi, A portion of the Hamwands remained in Turkey. These are the individuals in question. They proceeded to arm themselves and surround Mosul, demanding the return of the remaining territory to Chamchamal. Should they fail to comply, the decision has been taken to destroy Mosul. The request was granted, and the remaining houses in Turkey were also returned. He facilitated their return to Bazian and Chamchamal. This evidence demonstrates that Shaker Fatah wrote in the Chamchamal newspaper in 1946: 'Even in times of trouble, they are free and do not know how to bow their heads.'

## Leaders

* Jwamer Aga (died 1887)
* Faqe Qadir Hamawand (died 1890)
* Mohammad Amin Agha Hamawand (died 1954)