Deylem

Deylem (Deylemîler) is a people and a region bearing the same name, mentioned in ancient and Islamic sources in the mountainous region east of the Kürt geography, extending to the Hazar Denizi. Sources often mention this people alongside the Kürtler, and sometimes consider them related to them.

In Ancient Sources

Deylemîler, in ancient sources, are mentioned as a community "remaining far from the Dicle river" on the Pers border; they are recorded for their war techniques and their duties in the Pers army. These records also mention them among the groups fighting against Roma under the command of the Pers or as their allies (Cilt 1, s. 38).

Deylem Country in Geography

In geographical literature, "Deylem Ülkesi" was one of the regions into which geographers divided the Islamic lands in the fourth Hijri / tenth AD century; it is counted among the twelve regions Kalkaşendî placed in the northern part of İran when dividing the inhabited part of the earth, along with Ermenistan, Azerbaycan, Ran, Cibal, Cil, Tabaristan, and Mazenderan (Cilt 2, s. 54). The Deylem region is described with a location east of Azerbaycan and Cibal, extending to the Hazar Denizi (Cilt 2, s. 60).

Relationship with the Kürtler

Himyerî, when speaking of Kelar, one of the cities of Taberistan, records that a community called "Ekrad-ı Deylem" (Deylem Kürtleri), skilled in courage and horsemanship, lived there (Cilt 2, s. 46). Kazvinî, on the other hand, counts the Deylemîler, Kürtler, and Türkmenler among those living in places without suitable conditions for settled life; he asserts that the natures of these communities are mixed and confused (Cilt 2, s. 28).

Some authors connect the Deylemîler and the Kürtler in terms of lineage. According to Dımaşkî, there are two groups whose lineages merge with the Araplar: the Deylemîler and the Kürtler. Accordingly, the Deylemîler are the children of Deylem b. Basil b. Mudar, and the Kürtler are the children of Kürd b. Ömer/Amr b. Sa'sa b. Rebîa; however, lineage scholars are not in agreement on this matter (Cilt 2, s. 34).

Büveyhî Dynasty

The Deylemîler are also the source of a dynasty: The Büveyhîler are a dynasty originating from the Deylemîler, whose center was the Geylan province in present-day İran. Sources also report that Ebu's-Sac utilized the Deylemîler to use Deysem against his Kürt rivals (Cilt 2, s. 61).