Rişvan

Rişvan is one of the large Kurdish tribes frequently mentioned in Ottoman archive documents and 19th-century travelogues. The tribe, which mostly led a nomadic life, has been recorded with its settled and nomadic branches whose traces can be followed in a wide geography such as Maraş, Adana, Diyarbekir, and Ankara.

Settlement and Kurdish Identity

Within the framework of the Ottoman State's efforts to settle Kurdish tribes in the 18th century, Rişvan is counted among the large tribes, along with Zilan, Bisyan, Bociyan, Mili, Badıllı, and Şeyh Bızıni, that were attempted to be settled. However, like a significant portion of these tribes, Kurdish tribes unwilling to submit to the central government's authority remained in conflict with the state for a long time (Cilt 3, s. 31).

The Kurdish identity of the tribe is clearly seen in the expressions in archive records. Terms such as "Rişvan Ekradı aşairi" (Rişvan Kurdish tribe) and "Rişvanoğlu Halil" appear in the orders sent to Maraş and Adana provinces; in these orders, problems related to the tribe are discussed together with the mütesellims of Divriği and Arabgir sancaks (Cilt 3, s. 31). Disputes related to the tribe were also reflected in the Şikâyet Defterleri, which were kept until 1752 and recorded issues such as land, borders, water, pastures, summer pastures, winter pastures, and debts/receivables (Cilt 3, s. 32).

Tension with the Center

The tribe's tension with the central authority continued in the subsequent period. Archive documents contain records regarding the prevention of damage caused by the Rişvan tribe to its surroundings (Cilt 3, s. 65).

Related Institutions

Institutions related to the Rişvan family have also been recorded in sources. Among the madrasahs in Amid (Diyarbekir) in the 18th century, the Rişvanzade Ömer Paşa Medresesi is also mentioned in the Hurufat Defterleri, which recorded the educational institutions of the period (Cilt 3, s. 34).

Rişvan in Travelogues

19th-century travelogues confirm the tribe's size in the region. Mehmed Hurşid, in his work titled Seyahatnâme-i Hudud, which describes the region where the Ottoman-Iranian-Russian borders intersect, counts Rişvan as one of the large Kurdish tribes of the region, along with Atmanî, Baban, Badikî, Bıradost, Caf, Celali, Hayderan, Hemavend, Lek, Milan, Sebkî, Şemsikî, Şemzînan, Şeyhbızın, Şeyh Hasenan, Şikakî, and Zîlan, and provides detailed information about its branches (Cilt 4, s. 78).

Branches of the tribe extending westward are also encountered. Among the nomadic Kurdish tribes in Ankara province, Rışvan is mentioned along with Şeyhbızınlı, Badillis, Terikiyanlı, Mikaili, Yambekli, Kuybanlı, Seyfanlı, and Aninanlı. Almost all of these tribes were settled on the Haymana side and engaged in animal husbandry rather than agriculture; they raised sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and mules, and transported their herds to İstanbul and various other places (Cilt 4, s. 130).