İdris-i Bitlisi

İdris-i Bitlisi, born in Bitlis, is a prominent historian and statesman of Kurdish origin from the Ottoman period (Cilt 4, s. 89; Cilt 4, s. 106). He is mentioned in sources both as the author of one of the first examples of official Ottoman historiography and as a politician who played a central role in Kürdistan's entry into Ottoman rule.

Heşt Bihişt and Historiography

The first examples of official historiography in the Ottoman Empire began with works written in Persian and Turkish by İdris-i Bitlisi and İbn Kemal during the reign of II. Bayezid (Cilt 4, s. 18). İdris-i Bitlisi's main work is the Persian Ottoman history Heşt Bihişt, written at the command of II. Bayezid (Cilt 4, s. 89). The studied parts of this chronicle, consisting of eight volumes, provide important information about the military, political, social, economic, and cultural structure of the Ottoman State; based on the volume belonging to the Fatih period, it narrates the bravery and valor of Kurdish soldiers in Fatih's army, referred to as "Garip Yiğidi"; it reports that their numbers were around two thousand, that they were devout, zealous, and like lions and tigers on the battlefields (Cilt 4, s. 26).

Ottoman Service and the Conquest of Kürdistan

İdris-i Bitlisi fled from the oppression of Şah İsmail-i Safevi, sought refuge in the Ottoman State, and received the acceptance and favor of II. Bayezid (Cilt 4, s. 106; Cilt 4, s. 89). During the time of Sultan I. Selim, he rose to important positions, was tasked with bringing Kurdish tribes under Iranian protection and the Acems to the Ottoman side, and brought about twenty-five large tribes, mostly consisting of Kurds, into the Ottoman State (Cilt 4, s. 89). After I. Selim's campaign in Iran, İdris-i Bitlisi, sent to the emirs of Kürdistan in 1515, gave effective advice to about twenty to thirty Sunni Kurdish tribes, drawing them against Şah İsmail and to the Ottoman side; these tribes liberated their lands by fighting and joined the Ottoman State (Cilt 4, s. 90). Through his efforts, Diyarbakır, Musul, and Kürdistan were brought under Ottoman administration, and in return for these services, he received many favors from the sultan (Cilt 4, s. 106).

His role in subjugating the Kurdish emirs who acted alongside the Ottoman army during the conquest of Kurdish towns is detailed in sources (Cilt 4, s. 35). Bitlis also fell into Ottoman hands during the reign of I. Selim, thanks to the efforts of İdris-i Bitlisi (Cilt 4, s. 131).

Archival Documents and Correspondence

Ottoman archival documents consider the correspondence between İdris-i Bitlisi and the central administration as an important factor in the entry of Kurdish beys into Ottoman rule; records show that İdris-i Bitlisi presented developments in Kürdistan to the sultan (Cilt 3, s. 51). In a document dated 922/1516, it is seen that İdris-i Bitlisi participated in discussions between Şerif Bey's vizier Şeyh Emir's brother Mehmed Ağa and the beys of Kürdistan, and Bıyıklı Mehmed Paşa; after these discussions, the beys of Kürdistan informed Bıyıklı Mehmed Paşa that they also wanted to take Diyarbekir from the Safevids (Cilt 3, s. 52). The Ottoman State followed developments in Kürdistan through İdris-i Bitlisi and other Kurdish beys and received reports from Kurdish beys; archival records indicate that İdris-i Bitlisi frequently sent reports from the region to the capital (Cilt 3, s. 52).

Demise and Legacy

İdris-i Bitlisi, considered among Kurdish emirs and historians (Cilt 4, s. 106), passed away in the Gregorian year 1515 (Hijri 921); İdris Köşkü and the fountain near Eyüp Ensari are his endowments, while the mosque there is an endowment of his wife Ziynet Hatun (Cilt 4, s. 89). The author, also referred to as Mevlâna İdris in sources, is mentioned as a Kurdish scholar who rendered many services to the Ottoman State with his various works; his son Ebulfazl Efendi also served the Ottomans (Cilt 4, s. 268).