Bedir Khan Beg's campaign against the Assyrians

In June 1843, Bedr Khan Beg launched a campaign against the Assyrian tribes in the Hakkari region of Turkey, leading to a massacre of the Assyrians and the destruction of their villages.

Bedir Khan Beg's Campaign Against the Assyrians
Part of 1843 and 1846 massacres in Hakkari
Date June – July 1843 Location Hakkari, Turkey Result Kurdish victory Assyrian churches and villages were destroyed.
Belligerents
Bohtan Emirate Some Assyrian tribes opposed to the rule of Mar Shimun	Assyrian Tribes
Commanders and leaders
Bedir Khan Beg Han Mahmud Nurullah Beg Zaynal Beg	Mar Shimun Malik Ismail
Strength
30,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	10,000 killed Many Assyrians were enslaved

Initial Raids

The attacks started in June 1843 when Bedr Khan Beg's troops began attacking isolated Assyrian villages, along with Assyrian tribes that were against Mar Shimun's reign. They took advantage of the weak connections between the Assyrian tribes. Many Assyrian families were surprised and suffered from theft and being forced to leave their homes. The Kurdish forces moved easily from one village to another, stealing and capturing people along the way.

The Death of Malik Ismail

A crucial event in the conflict was when Bedr Khan Beg's forces captured Malik Ismael 1. As Ismael lay severely wounded, he defiantly declared, "This arm has taken the lives of nearly twenty Kurds; and, had God spared me, as many more would have fallen by it!" Soon after, Bedr Khan Beg ordered his men to execute Ismael by beheading him and throwing his body into the river. Ismael's wife and many Assyrians were taken prisoner, However, a few managed to escape by crossing the Upper Zab river and to avoid being chased, they destroyed the Lezan bridge behind them on the orders of Mar Shimun.

References

Literature

• Aboona, H (2008), Assyrians, Kurds, and Ottomans: intercommunal relations on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire, Cambria Press, ISBN 978-1-60497-583-3.