Sharazor

Sharazor (also: Sharassur, Shahrassor, Shahrassur, ShahreAssur, ShehriAssur, Land of Assur, and City of Assur) was name of a Sassanid district, Kurdish kingdom, Ottoman vilayet and finally a Sanjak of Mosul vilayet situated to the southern and eastern part of what is now known as Iraqi Kurdistan.

The plain of Sharazor has an important status among adherents of native religion of Yarsan as a holy and sacred region where God descends for the Last Judgement [Islamic Desk Reference, by Emeri van Donzel, page: 408, ISBN 9004097384] .

Etymology

The name of Sharazor is formed of two words: 'Shar' or 'shahr' meaning: land, region, city; and 'Zor' with several meanings but probably one of these: power, difficulty, generosity, too much, and probably is arabized form of 'jor' meaning height. However according to the 12th century geographer Yaqoot Hamawi, the word 'Zor' originates from name of Zor son of Zahhak (Aji Dahak), whom he mentions as founder of the famous city of Sharazor [Kitab Mu'jam Al Buldan by Yaqoot Hamawi, Book 3, p: 425-427] . It is worthy of note that old traditions hold that Kurds are descendants of kingdom of Zahhak.

History

Sassanid era

Sharazor and its king "Yazdan Kard" are mentioned in the Karnamag of Ardashir I [The Kârnâmag î Ardashîr î Babagân, Book of the Deeds of Ardashir son of Babag, Chapter VI ] and also in the inscription of Narseh alongside Garmian.

In the 4th century some of inabitants of Sharazor who converted to Christianity were persecuted by Sassanids, among whom one can mention the killing of Bishop Shahdost Shahrazori and 128 of his followers.

In 627 AD. Sharazor was invaded by Heraclius and remained under Byzantine Empire till 639.

Arab conquest

In the 642 AD. Sharazor witnessed a big battle between Kurds and invading Arab Muslims aiming to conquer the Sassanid empire, in which Arabs after facing heavy casualties, took possession of Shahrizor in 643 AD.

In the classical concept and especially under Sassanids era the region of Sharazor was corresponding to the modern provinces of Suleimania, Kirkuk, and parts of Diyala province and was centered at the city of Sharazor (around Suleimania),

Self rule

A Kurdish kingdom is reported to have ruled the region from XI to XVI century [Kurdistan: Divided Nation of the Middle East - Page 10, by S. S. Gavan - published 1958 Lawrence & Wishart - 56 pages] . The historic site of ruins of Yassin tepe represents its capital city [Encyclopædia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge - Page 521, by Walter Yust - 1951] [The Pageant of Persia: A Record of Travel by Motor in Persia, page:253 James Rives Childs, 422 pages, Published 1936The Bobbs-Merrill company] .

Yaqoot Hamawi describes the region of Sharazor as areas between Irbil to the west and Hamadan to the east including many cities, towns and villages. He mentions inhabitants of the region as 'all of them are Kurds', who are rebellious against Sultan and rule their own area [Kitab Mu'jam Al Buldan by Yaqoot Hamawi, Book 3, p: 425-427] .

SharAssur was the first capital of Assur and Ardalan state. The region was later under Baban dominion, another important medieval principality.

Ottoman era

In the later medieval era (about 16th century), vilayet of Sharazor centered at the city of Kirkuk was incorporated to the Ottoman Empire. This vilayet was formed of the three present-day gavornorates of Suleimania, Kirkuk and Irbil.

In 1879 the region of Suleimania was separtaed from the vilayet of Sharazor and the rest was incorporated as a sanjak to the vilayet of Mosul. About 1894 the Sanjak of Sharazor, after its capital city was renamed to 'Kirkuk" in order to avoid confusion with the Sanjak of "Zor" in the neighbouring vilayet of Sham.

Iraqi rule

In the 20th century government of Iraq formed a Kirkuk Governorate which was including the region of Kirkuk and excluding previously Suleimania and Irbil districts. Under Baath regime's rule the Kirkuk governorate underwent a process of arabization and Saddam separated Kurdish-inhabited towns of the governorate. He also renamed the governorate to 'Al-Tamim' meaning 'state-owned'.

Modern Sharazor

In modern usage the name Sharazor is used simply and primarily to refer to the plain between Suleimania and Derbendixan.

Under Sassanids era the region of Sharassur was not corresponding to the modern provinces of Arbil and Kirkuk. At that time, it was one of the 5 provinces of the satrapy of Medes. Modern Assyrians continue to revere the site.

Links

* [http://members.lycos.nl/kirkukjournal/Sheh.jpg] ,
* [http://members.lycos.nl/kirkukcity/ex1.jpg] ,
* [http://members.lycos.nl/kirkukcity/ex2.jpg] .

References

See also

* Al-Shahrazuri
* Kirkuk Governorate
* As Sulaymaniyah Governorate