Kirmanşah

Kirmanşah (Karmîsîn/Kirmanşahan) is a city located in western Iran, within the historical Cibal (Irak-ı Acem) region, and is mentioned in both ancient and Islamic period sources. Sources record that the city was founded during the Sasanian period (Cilt 4, s. 113).

Antiquity and Behistun

The city's importance in antiquity is highlighted by the Behistun (Bisotun) inscription located nearby. This cuneiform inscription, which describes in an epic language the succession process of the Persian king I. Darius, the revolts against the Persians, and the conquests of the period, is located on Mount Behistun near the city of Kirmanşah, Iran. The inscription, written in three languages: Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, is considered among the most important documents of the Persian Empire (Cilt 1, s. 63).

Islamic Period Sources

In Islamic period geographical literature, Yâkūt el-Hamevî, in his great geographical encyclopedia Muʿcemü'l-büldân, lists the Karmîsîn (Kirmanşah) region among the places he visited and benefited from its rich library collection; in this context, the city is mentioned along with Hakkâri, Hulvân, Erbil, Nihavend, and Şehrezor (Cilt 2, s. 26).

Kurdish Dynasties

The political history of the city was the scene of a struggle for dominance among Kurdish dynasties in the region during the IV-V./X-XI. centuries. Kirmanşah was for a period in the hands of the Hasanveyhî Kurds. The Annâzî ruler Ebü'ş-Şevk, taking advantage of the peaceful environment provided by marital ties, launched a sudden attack, killed Tâhir b. Hilâl, and seized all the lands held by the Hasanveyhs, including Kirmanşah. The increasingly powerful army of Ebü'ş-Şevk defeated Şemsüddevle, the Büveyhî ruler of Hemedan, in Kirmanşah; in 420/1029, it managed to stop the Oğuz Turks who were besieging Dînever and Esedabad. During this period, the Annâzîs reached the peak of their power (Cilt 1, s. 141, 142).

Geography and Kurdistan

Due to their geographical location, Kirmanşah and Nihavend form the northern border of the Loristan region; this region, located in the middle of the Zağros Mountains, is surrounded by İsfahan and Fars provinces to the east (Cilt 2, s. 56). Within the description of Kurdistan defined by Mamluk period geographers, Kirmanşah is counted along with the provinces of Bahteran and Kürdîstan (Senendec) and the western parts of Hemedan province (Cilt 2, s. 55). The city is shown in sources as one of the first places that come to mind among cities inhabited by Kurds, along with places like Şehrezor, Urumiye, Hoy, Salmas, and Erbil (Cilt 2, s. 115). It is recorded that the Goran (Goraniye) tribe lived north of the main road connecting Kirmanşah to the Iraqi border (Cilt 2, s. 108).

In late Ottoman press, Kirmanşah is introduced as the center of Iran's Kurdistan (Erdelan) province; it is stated that the Kurds in the vicinity of the province raised a large number of sheep (Cilt 4, s. 113). In another geographical work, it is recorded that the country where the city, shown as the center of Erdelan or Kurdistan province, is located is mountainous and that most of its inhabitants consist of nomadic Kurdish tribes (Cilt 4, s. 136). According to the data of the period, the city of Kirmanşah, with a population of 20,000, was shown as the center of Kurdistan (Cilt 4, s. 93).