Bargiri

Bargiri, in the Van Gölü basin, is historically a kaza center affiliated with Van Sancağı (Van mutasarrıflığı). Along with Erciş and Adilcevaz, it is one of the towns located around the northern and eastern perimeter of the lake.

Administrative Position and Division

In the Ottoman administrative division, Bargiri is counted among the kazas of Van Sancağı, along with Karcikan, Şatak, Gevaş, Adilcevaz, Erciş, and Müks (Volume 4, p. 119). In Ali Tevfik's Memalik-i Osmaniyye Coğrafyası, the administrative center of the kaza is recorded as "Bargiri Kale" (Volume 4, p. 142). In the administrative statistics compiled from the Salnameler, Bargiri Kazası is seen to consist of 121 villages and 4 nahiyes (Volume 4, p. 126).

The distance of the kaza to the provincial center is given in hours in the sources of the period: The distance of Bargiri town to the provincial center is twelve hours, the distance between Bargiri and Erciş is seven hours, and the distance between Erciş and Adilcevaz is twelve hours (Volume 4, p. 143).

Geography and Water Resources

In the geography of the region, Bargiri is also noteworthy in terms of Van Gölü's water regime. In the Salnameler, it is stated that the Bend-i Mahi Nehri, originating from Bargiri Kazası, flows into Van Gölü; from mid-May to late June, numerous fish reach the lake via the rivers that merge with it, and are caught by means of weirs (Volume 4, p. 277).

Sancak Under Ottoman Administration

In early Ottoman records, Bargiri is mentioned among the sanjaks granted to Kurdish beys. In Mühimme records, Bargiri sancakbeyliği is mentioned among the sanjaks given to Kurdish beys and provided with weapon and ammunition support (Volume 3, p. 16). However, in a record dated 14 Şevval 969 / 17 Haziran 1562, it was stated that Bargiri and Kotur sanjaks were not independent sanjaks, and that information regarding Bargiri sancak hass was included in the tımar ruznamçe defters (Volume 3, p. 28).

In administrative geography sources, Bargiri is also included in broader Kürdistan/Van livası classifications; Van Livası is counted as consisting of Van along with Bargiri, Akanis, Erciş, Adilcevaz, Gevaş/Miks, Şerivi, Havasor, and Vestan (Volume 4, p. 247).

Population Structure

In the Salnameler regarding the population structure of the kaza, the description "the majority of the kaza's population consists of Kurdish people and a small part of Armenian people" was made (Volume 4, p. 269).