Loristan

Loristan (Bilad-ı Lor, Lor Ülkesi), is a mountainous region located in the western part of Iran, in the central Zağros Dağları; a significant portion of its inhabitants consists of Lurs (Loriler), who are related to the Kurds (Cilt 4, s. 109; Cilt 2, s. 56). Classical Islamic geographers sometimes considered the region as an independent place, and sometimes as part of Cibal (Irak-ı Acem) or Huzistan.

Geography and Administrative Affiliation

Geographically, Loristan is located in the central Zağros Dağları, in the western part of Iran; between the regions of Huzistan to the south and Kürdistan to the north. To its east are İsfahan and Fars province, and to its north are Kirmanşah and Nihavend (Cilt 2, s. 56). The administrative affiliation of the region is debatable in sources: Lor was considered part of the Huzistan region before being included in the Cibal region, a view also shared by İbn Havkal (Cilt 2, s. 56). Ebü'l-Fidâ, on the other hand, allocated a special place to the Lor region, mentioning "Cebel or Loristan region" first among the lands inhabited by Kurds (Cilt 2, s. 36). Even concerning the pronunciation of the name "Lor", historians have disagreed; Ebü'l-Fidâ stated in Taḳvîmu'l-Buldân that this word is read with "o" and "r" coming after "l" (Cilt 2, s. 56).

Kurdish Presence and Administration

Sources report that a large number of Kurds lived in the region, especially in the Loristan Dağları, and that the Kurds dominated this area, possessing emirates and having their own leaders and rulers, just like in other lands (Cilt 2, s. 57). Loristan had its own rulers; indeed, a ruler who reigned between h. 555-626 / m. 1160-1228 is mentioned as one of the rulers of Loristan (Cilt 2, s. 31). El-Umerî regarded the Lurs as tribes with independent authority in the regions known as "Lor Dağları or Loristan" (Cilt 2, s. 57).

Great and Small Lor Emirates

Significant political structures were established in the region over time. The Büyük Lor and Küçük Lor Emirates emerged respectively between h. 543-827 / m. 1148-1424 and h. 591-1005 / m. 1195-1596 (Cilt 2, s. 58). Information about these two emirates is provided by İbn Haldûn's work, Şerefhan Bidlîsî's Şerefnâme, and Ramazan Şerif ed-Davûdî's work titled Loristan el-Kubra (h. 550-827 / m. 1115-1424); Şerefhan Bidlîsî also recounts the dramatic events experienced by the members of these dynasties and their rulers, as well as their relations with the Selçuklular, Moğollar, and Osmanlılar (Cilt 2, s. 58). The emirates and statelets formed by the Kurds during the Buveyhîler period continued to exist during the Selçuklu period; the region remained under the rule of various authorities, including the Moğollar, in the fifteenth century, even after losing its own authority (Cilt 2, s. 57).

Border Region and Lor-Kurdish Relationship

Loristan is also referred to as a border region in a broad geographical sense: The south of Azerbaycan is described as being surrounded by the Irak-ı Acem and Loristan provinces of Iran (Cilt 4, s. 181). In Ottoman periodicals, Loristan is defined as a region "among the western provinces of Iran, with Kürdistan to its north, and a large part of its population being Kurdish" (Cilt 4, s. 113).

Although the Lor people have relations and kinship with the Kurds, it is noted that due to a degree of difference in their languages and the envy (rivalry) between them, the Lurs do not wish to consider themselves Kurds, nor do the Kurds tend to accept the Lurs into their lineage (Cilt 4, s. 109).