Arzanene

Arzanene (Arzonoyo; also referred to as Arzenene/Arzun in ancient sources) is a historical region located in the Upper Dicle basin during Late Antiquity, placed in today's Batman and its surroundings. As one of the regions concerning the pre-Islamic geography of Kurdish history, it is mentioned alongside Kardukhia/Corduene and Armenia.

Place in Sources

In ancient sources, Arzanene, along with Med, Kardukhia, Corduene, and similar appellations, is one of the controversial names of pre-Islamic Kurdish history-geography that needs careful consideration; it appears alongside region names like Adiyabene (Volume 1, p. 17). Data concerning Arzanene, along with places located south of the Singar (Şengal), Thamanon, and Media regions, is considered among the information that should be emphasized from the perspective of Kurdish history-geography (Volume 1, p. 41).

Pers-Roman Wars

Arzanene was one of the regions where the Pers-Roman struggle was most intense and was considered Pers territory. Procopius, while recounting the Sasani-Roman wars during the reigns of Sasani shahs I. Kawad and his son I. Hüsrev with vivid descriptions, provides detailed information about the plight of the people living along the borders who were subjected to the wrath of both empires (Volume 1, p. 39). It is recorded that Arzanene was plundered by the Romans after I. Hüsrev's ascension to the throne (Volume 1, p. 38). Theophylact Simocatta also shows that the inhabitants of the Arzanene, Corduene, and Armenia geographies were caught between both empires throughout the Pers-Roman wars (Volume 1, p. 41).

According to Efesli Yuhanna (Efesli or Asyalı Ioannes), during the reign of Roman emperor Mauricus, the Roman army attacked Arzenene/Arzun, which was considered Pers territory, crossing the Dicle Nehri and devastating everything in its path (Volume 1, p. 56). In Süryani sources, the region is sometimes also mentioned as Arzonoyo (Volume 1, p. 59).

Life of the People

Among the information conveyed in sources regarding the lifestyle of the region's people, it is noteworthy that the inhabitants of Arzanene lived in cave dwellings (Volume 1, p. 41).