Sason

Sason is historically a mountainous settlement area, which was a kaza affiliated with Muş Sancağı in the Ottoman administrative division and densely populated by Kurdish tribes. It is also referred to as "Hazo" in documents (Vol. 4, p. 119).

In Archival Documents

In Ottoman archival documents, Sason is frequently mentioned in lists defining areas predominantly inhabited by Kurds; it is counted alongside units such as Cizre, Palu, Genç, and Eğil within the framework of "Eyalet-i Kürdistan" (Vol. 3, p. 51). Similarly, it is mentioned alongside places like Silvan, Genç, Mutki, Bargirî, and Ahlat; this indicates that Sason is an access point to numerous documents concerning Kurdish and Kurdistan history in archival searches conducted via place names (Vol. 3, p. 77).

Administrative Structure and Geography

In terms of administrative structure, Sason is located within Muş Sancağı as "Sason (Hazo)" (Vol. 4, p. 119). In village censuses based on Vilayet salnames, Sason Kazası was recorded with 118 villages within the scope of Muş Sancağı of Bitlis Vilayeti (Vol. 4, p. 126). The geography of the region also stands out in sources: Sason and Talori Mountains among the Şark-ı Anadolu mountains were introduced separately; their locations, altitudes, weather and terrain conditions, as well as their economic and military roles were discussed (Vol. 4, p. 184). Historically, Sason, along with regions such as Çemişgezek, Pertek, Palu, Hizan, Müküs, and Şirvan, is mentioned among Kurdish domains where over three hundred derebeys ruled, sometimes subject to sultans, sometimes to emirs (Vol. 4, p. 216).

Conflicts and Tribes

Sason is also reflected in documents concerning conflicts and public order incidents in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the reign of Abdülhamid II, "conflicts in Sason" became the subject of archival correspondence, particularly within the scope of public order incidents related to the Ermeni Meselesi (Armenian Question) (Vol. 3, p. 88). Similarly, tables and reports concerning Armenian and Kurdish relations in places like Erzurum and Sason are found in the archives (Vol. 3, p. 135). The region is also grouped in map catalogs to be the subject of a single map along with Lice, Muş, Çapakçur, and Kıği (Vol. 3, p. 145).

The tribal structure of the region appears with concrete names in documents: In a coded telegram dated 1919, Hasan, the chief of the Bıdrî tribe in Sason, is mentioned among the tribal chiefs of the period (Vol. 3, p. 124).

Belief and Folk Culture

Sason is also a geography rich in belief and folk culture. It is believed that a stone, thought to be the cradle of Hz. İbrahim, is located in the eastern part of the town; regarding Mereto Dağı in Sason, a روایت (legend/narrative) has been conveyed that upon those in Hz. Nuh's ark speaking of the mountain's grandeur, Hz. Nuh used the word "mürût" meaning "we passed" (Vol. 4, p. 299). It is recorded that once a year, the local population gathers and sets up a fair at the church next to Kani Maran in Sason; this indicates the heterogeneous religious structure of the region and that shrines and fairs served as centers of belief and gathering (Vol. 4, p. 300).