Botan

Botan (Bohtan) is a region located in the southeast of historical Kürdistan, taking its name from the Botan (Bohtan) River that flows through the region, and is the center of a Kurdish mîrlik/tribal geography bearing the same name. The region has a historical continuity extending from antiquity to the late Ottoman period.

Name and Ancient Sources

The Botan River, which is the source of the region's name, has also left its mark in ancient sources. The route Ksenophon called "Kardukhia" extends from the south of this river towards the historical lands of Kürdistan (Cilt 1, s. 26). In Ksenophon's Anabasis, the Kardukhialılar are described as a warlike people, disobedient to the king, and inhabiting steep mountains; it is recounted that in the face of great danger, they took their wives and children, abandoned their homes, and took refuge in the mountains (Cilt 1, s. 27). The Bohtan [Botan] River is also mentioned in late period geographical descriptions as part of the region's water network, along with mountains like Cudi and rivers like Dicle and Zap (Cilt 4, s. 154).

Islamic Period

In the Islamic period, Botan appears in sources as one of the prominent political-geographical units of the Cezîre region. El-Umerî writes that the mîrs of Hısn-ı Keyfâ, Cezîre, Botan, Suruç, and Nusaybin declared their allegiance to a central authority (Cilt 2, s. 64).

Botan Mîrlik

The most prominent phase in Botan's political history is the Botan Mîrlik in the 19th century. The process referred to in literature as "first centralization," which began in the 1830s, extends to the "second centralization" process that ended in the mid-1840s with the fall of the Botan Mîrlik (Cilt 3, s. 57). During the implementation phase of Tanzimat, the region is associated with the rule of Cizre-Botan Mîri Bedirhan Bey; during this period, the Nesturîler in the region suffered from Bedirhan Bey's wrath (Cilt 3, s. 78).

Post-Mîrlik Administration and Tribe

After the dissolution of the Mîrlik, Botan was included as a sub-unit in the Ottoman administrative division. The administrative unit established under the name Kürdistan Eyaleti was formed by combining Diyarbekir Eyaleti with the Sancaks of Van, Muş, and Hakkâri, and the Kazas of Cizre, Bohtan (Botan), and Mardin (Cilt 4, s. 199). In the Salnameler, Botan is also listed as a unit subordinate to the Cizre Livası of Kürdistan Eyaleti, along with Cezire-i Ömeriye, Hacı Behram, and Mardin (Cilt 4, s. 247). Administrative issues concerning the region entered the agenda of the provincial administration; indeed, an issue regarding the bridges over the Botan River was also brought to the agenda of the Kürdistan assembly (Cilt 3, s. 67).

The name Botan continued to be used for communities belonging to the region. In Ottoman archival documents related to the years of I. Dünya Savaşı, the Botan Aşireti is mentioned; there are records indicating that a unit from the Botan tribes was formed and gathered in Pervari (Cilt 3, s. 130).