Iğdır and the Hamidiye Regiments

My dear readers might ask: Where did the Hamidiye Regiments come from all of a sudden? They are right! I had not planned to address this topic. However, after my article titled "Traitors and Heroes in the History of Iğdır" was published, the multifaceted questions from curious readers who contacted me via social media and phone made it necessary for me to write such an article. I apologize, the article will be long! But since it will reflect important segments of Iğdır's history, I will ask for your patience and request that you focus more on the content of the article.

To present my thoughts systematically and effectively, I first need to make some explanations. The most important of these is the establishment and historical role of the Hamidiye Regiments.

THE ESTABLISHMENT AND HISTORICAL ROLE OF THE HAMIDIYE REGIMENTS

Established by Sultan Abdülhamid II in 1891, and thus named "Hamidiye" after the Sultan, the Hamidiye Regiments had a single purpose: to control and, if necessary, suppress rising Armenian nationalism in Eastern Anatolia. In those years, Armenian and Kurdish populations lived side-by-side, intertwined, in almost all cities and districts of Eastern Anatolia. The acceleration of nationalistic movements in the Balkans, supported by states like France, Russia, and England, worried the Sultan. Foreseeing that the sentiment of nationalism would spread among Armenians, the Sultan invited Kurdish tribal chiefs to the palace, gave them money and titles, and had them establish the Hamidiye Regiments. He even founded the Kabataş Erkek Lisesi (Kabataş High School for Boys) as a boarding school for their children's education.

Sultan Abdülhamid's foresight proved correct. Soon, Armenian nationalist and independence movements gained momentum in provinces such as Bitlis, Van, and Sason. The Hamidiye Regiments, under the command and administration of the Ottoman army, brutally suppressed these rebellious movements.

When the Constitutional Monarchy was declared in 1908, the Hamidiye Regiments were disbanded. And it was believed that the Hamidiye Regiments had become a thing of the past. Of course, this was a misconception! In 1914, World War I broke out. Armenians in Eastern Anatolia, receiving ammunition and logistical support from the Russians, organized and became a significant military force. Thereupon, the Committee of Union and Progress (Ottoman Administration) revived the Hamidiye Regiments. They showered them with money and titles. The Hamidiye Regiments played an important role in the Armenian deportation (or, according to some historians, genocide). They were tasked with implementing the deportation decision under the command of the Ottoman army. When the Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I, the Hamidiye Regiments also disbanded on their own.

When the Russian army, which had occupied Eastern Anatolia as far as Sivas, withdrew from the region in 1917 on Lenin's orders, it left its weapons and ammunition to the Armenian committees fighting against the Ottomans alongside them. Kazım Karabekir Pasha reorganized the army and started a war against the Armenian committees in Eastern Anatolia. Realizing that he could not defeat the Armenian committees alone, he revived the Hamidiye Regiments, gave them titles, and provided military support.

Since it concerns the history of Iğdır, I find it useful to list the Hamidiye Regiments that were reorganized and established in the Beyazıt Province and Ağrı, encouraged by Kazım Karabekir Pasha:

Hamidiye Regiments revived in Beyazıt province in 1918:

1. Birxkî (Bılgıkan) Celalî Regiment under the command of Sheikh İbrahim Bey: The center of this regiment was in Beyazıt province. Sheikh İbrahim Bey is the father of Mehmet Bayazıt. Mehmet Bayazıt was exiled to Istanbul under the 1926 Exile Law. Mehmet Bayazıt's son, businessman Selahattin Bayazıt, once served as the President of Galatasaray Sports Club.
2. Sakan Celalî Regiment under the command of Sheikh Abdülkadir (Kotan): The center of this Regiment was also in Beyazıt Province. Sheikh Abdülkadir participated in the Ağrı Rebellion in 1929. He became one of the three important leaders of the rebellion. When the rebellion was defeated, he took refuge in Iran. In 1946, when the Mahabad Kurdish Republic was established, he became the responsible person for the Maku region. He died in Iran. His tribe returned to Turkey in the 1940s. His son Hasan Kotan was a classmate of Shah Reza Pahlavi. His grandson Mahmut Kotan served as the Mayor of Doğubayazıt for a period.
3. Kotan Celalî Regiment under the command of Ahmet (Konyar) Ağa (Ahmet Hesso): The center of this Regiment was also in Beyazıt Province. He is the father of İsa Bey, who played an important role during the Ağrı Rebellion years. Hüsrev Konyar (Xosrof Beg), well-known by the people of Iğdır, is the son of İsa Bey. Hüsrev Bey's son Ali Konyar served as the Mayor of Doğubayazıt for a period.
4. Sipkan Regiment under the command of Abdülmecit (Öztürk) Bey: The center of this Regiment was Tutak. His son Halis Öztürk participated in the Ağrı Mountain Rebellion and was part of the leadership cadre. Years later, he was pardoned and returned to Turkey. In 1950, he became an Ağrı Deputy from the Democrat Party. He was tried for execution alongside Adnan Menderes in Yassıada.

5. Kör Hüseyin Pasha Haydaran Regiment: The center of this Regiment was Patnos.

He is the grandfather of Ağrı deputy Cemil Erhan. Kör Hüseyin Pasha waged the most effective struggle against the Armenian committees. He almost single-handedly conquered all of Eastern Anatolia. Secret forces, fearing his growing influence and power, had Kör Hüseyin Pasha killed by a person named Medeni.

1. Ademan (Haydaran) Regiment under the command of Ahmet Ağa: The center of this Regiment was Hamur. He is the father of former Ağrı Deputy Fecri Alpaslan.
2. Karapapak Regiment under the command of Veli Bey: The center of this Regiment was Taşlıçay. He is the father of Şeref Saraçoğlu.
3. Hamidiye Regiment commanded by Eyüp Pasha's son Resul Bey

Here I want to make a quick note. My reader might rightly wonder why Hamidiye Regiments were not established in the Iğdır region, because in those years, the Kurds in Iğdır were under Russian rule. Until 1900, all Kurds under Russian rule were loyal to Eleşref Bey, the leader of the Güneş Family. The Brukan tribe separated from the union in 1900. When Eleşref Bey unilaterally dissolved the leadership of the Güneş Family in 1917, only the Celali units loyal to Ali Mirze Bey and the Zilan units loyal to Kerem (Güneş) Bey remained.

Now I want to explain why I am giving you a detailed account of the Hamidiye Regiments. As I mentioned in my previous articles, an internal war took place in the Iğdır region between 1917 and 1920. In those years, the Ottoman army (or the Grand National Assembly established on April 23, 1920) was stationed in Beyazıt Province. There were military units under the command of Cavit Pasha and Firuz Bey, under Kazım Karabekir Pasha, but they were not strong enough to help Iğdır. When the late Hacı Ekber Tufan asked him for help, Cavit Pasha said he did not have the power to do so and asked Hacı Ekber Tufan to apply to the Hamidiye Regiment under the command of Sheikh İbrahim Bey. Sheikh İbrahim Bey had also sent Bıro Heski Telli (İbrahim Ağa), who was under his command, to Melekli to help the besieged Azerbaijani people.

Until the end of the summer of 1920, a coordination was finally established between the Muslim forces, who continued the internal war in Iğdır with difficulty and without help, and the Hamidiye Regiments and military units under the command of Kazım Karabekir Pasha. Iğdır was besieged from three sides.

From this point on, I want to quote from the column in the PAMUKOVA newspaper dated November 12, 1954, owned by Mecit Hun:

“After the Armenians were completely pushed back from the old border (Kars and Ardahan) into the Iğdır plain and partly across the Aras river, the organizing spirit dominated the entire Aras valley. The Hamidiye Regiments in Karaköse (Beyazıt Province) also began to march on Iğdır. In October 1920, the situation was as follows:

• Karakale-Küllük line: Honorary Ayrım units under the command of Şamil Bey (Ayrım), son of Hasanali Bey;
• Karakale-Tuzluca line: Hamidiye regiment under the command of Resul Bey, son of Eyüp Pasha;
• Küllük-Iğdır line: A cavalry company and 4 cannons under the command of District Commander Abdulkerim Bey;
• Orgof-Erhacı-Halfeli line: Honorary Zilan unit under the command of Kerem Bey (Güneş), son of Hamit Bey;
• Kültepe-Yarmalar line: Celalî Hamidiye Regiment under the command of Sheikh Abdükadir (Kotan);
• Karakoyun-Taşburun line: Celalî Hamidiye Regiment under the command of İsa Bey (Konyar), son of Ahmet Bey;
• Karakoyun-Taşburun line: Celalî Hamidiye Regiment under the command of İbrahim Ağa (Bıro Heski Telli);
• Taşburun-Hasanhan line: Honorary Celalî (Geloylu, Gıskanlı, Gelturanlı, Şemkanlı and others) units under the command of Ali Mirza Bey (Yiğit);

The local forces on the Iğdır-Taşburun line were reinforced by military units under the command of Firuz Bey, commander of the 17th Regiment, stationed on the Karakoyun hills, and the Saraçlı Hamidiye Regiment under the command of Veli Bey from Gilesor, İsrafil Bey from Gerger (Retired Chief Physician İsrafil Gökçe), and Hüseyin Bey. The division commander Cavit Pasha's headquarters was in Orgof (Suveren). The military and local forces, having taken their positions in an orderly manner, waited for a while for Kars to be liberated. However, minor skirmishes were taking place. The Armenians, realizing that they could not resist the National Struggle forces, crossed the Aras and defended Iğdır with a small force. Finally, after a 7-day armistice signed on November 5, the Liberation forces, marching on Iğdır from three directions, occupied this corner of the Homeland. Since there were no Armenian military forces in the town, there was no fighting, and thus Iğdır was annexed to the Homeland today, 34 years ago.”

Dear reader! As can be understood from the information I have conveyed above, the Hamidiye Regiments' stance in favor of the Muslim population in the internal war in Iğdır and their actions in this direction largely turned the internal war in Iğdır in favor of the Ottoman (GNA) side. The role of the Hamidiye Regiments has always been overlooked in the history of Iğdır. This needs to be remembered and re-evaluated.

Before concluding my article, I think it would be beneficial to look at the memoirs of the late Şefi Öcal, published in the PAMUKOVA newspaper on November 15, 1954, written by himself, as it also pertains to this period.

WHO IS ŞEFİ ÖCAL BEY?

During the Russian administration, the Azerbaijani population mostly lived in the region called Sultanabat. Azerbaijani beys lived in Sultanabat, located on the road from İdirmava to Erhacı. Şefi Öcal, as the Bey of Sultanabat, was an important figure in Iğdır at that time. The late Hamza Aygün writes about him in his book "Iğdır Sevdası" as follows:

“Şefi Öcal Bey was a bey with large lands in Iğdır. He and his family were enlightened people. During the Russian administration, he had studied up to high school and was a cultured person aware of world affairs. He followed Istanbul newspapers, and when he sat in coffee houses, his table would be overflowing with curious listeners. He attached importance to education. For this reason, he was closely interested in the education of his children. His eldest son, Yunus Öcal Bey, being a Forest Engineer, worked in various parts of the country and retired. Yunus Bey, who resided in Ankara, passed away there. His younger brother, Yakup Bey, was one of the drivers of the time. His third son, the late Behram Öcal Bey, was an Agricultural Engineer. He was very much loved and respected among agriculturalists. His friends and loved ones in Ankara were very saddened by his death. A room named "Behram Öcal Library" was opened in the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers in his memory. This room continues its activities and service. Behram Öcal became a Deputy from Kars in the 1957 elections. At that time, he served in the Budget Committee representing the CHP in the Parliament. Behram Bey, a valuable compatriot who had the honor of working with İsmet İnönü, unfortunately passed away on the spot with his son, daughter, and wife in a traffic accident with his own car on the Yalova road. We wish God's mercy upon all of them.”

Why did I mention the name Şefi Öcal out of the blue? Because while the internal war in Iğdır continued with full force, Şefi Öcal Bey was one of those who went to Beyazıt Province, like Hacı Ekber Tufan Bey, and asked for help from the Ottoman army.

I am quoting the memoirs of the late Şefi Öcal Bey from that period, written by himself:

“In the days preceding our liberation, we had fled to Beyazıt to escape Armenian oppression. There, we gathered and decided to pour out our troubles to Regiment Commander Firuz Bey. Firuz Bey had received orders for the occupation of Iğdır but could not give the order to move due to lack of means. We asked for his help, telling him that we were hungry and naked, and that our homes and villages were under enemy occupation. Firuz Bey, after explaining the existing impossibilities to us, said that if we could secure the camels of the Çobankerelis near Başköy, he would reunite us with our homes and land. I immediately took on this task. I took letters from Firuz Bey addressed to the tribal chiefs at the foot of Ağrı to deliver two soldiers given to accompany me to Başköy (Aralık), and we set off. The letters were to be given to the late Ali Mirza Bey (Yiğit), Ahmet Şemo (Hun), and Yusuf Ağa, the brother of Gur Hasso. We spent the first night at Ahmet Şemo's house. After welcoming us very well and providing the necessary help, he sent us to Ali Mirza Bey's house. The next day, after delivering Yusuf Ağa's letter, I went with the men they provided to Başköy for help and to the house of Hacı Cafer's son Mehmed from Çobankereli.”

I want to conclude my article here. In a later article, I will discuss Ali Mirze Bey and present to your attention the letter they sent in response to the Armenian notable Baron Haçador Ağa. This letter was signed by Ali Mirze Bey, Hamit Bey (the father of Fettah Bey, Kerem Bey, Abdürrezak Bey, Naci Bey), Ahmet Ağa (Hüsrev Konyar's grandfather), and Yusuf Ağa, the brother of Gur Hesso from the Şemkan tribe. If you ask who Gur Hesso is, that is another topic for an article.

NOTE: In my previous article, I had given a list of those exiled from the Iğdır region in 1926. My reader Mehmet Nuri Turan Bey added that Nadir Bey from the Gelturan Tribe and his brother-in-law were also among those exiled. I thank him for this valuable information.

I could not determine who Yusuf Ağa was. As for the slanders that the PKK threw at the late Mecid uncle, what are they compared to all the people they unjustly murdered? They tied and beat the late Mustafa Arası, who was 85 years old, in a sheepfold. Nothing can be expected from this mob.

In the days preceding our liberation, we had fled to D.Bayazıt to escape Armenian oppression. There, we gathered and decided to pour out our troubles to Regiment Commander Firuz Bey. Firuz Bey had received orders for the occupation of Iğdır but could not give the order to move due to lack of means. We asked for his help, telling him that we were hungry and naked, and that our homes and villages were under enemy occupation. Firuz Bey, after explaining the existing impossibilities to us, said that if we could secure the camels of the Çobankerelis near Başköy, he would reunite us with our homes and land. I immediately took on this task. I took letters from Firuz Bey addressed to the tribal chiefs at the foot of Ağrı to deliver two soldiers given to accompany me to Başköy, and we set off. The letters were to be given to the late Ali Mirza (Yiğit), Ahmet Şemo (Hun), and Yusuf, the brother of Gür Hasso. We spent the first night at Ahmet Şemo's house. After welcoming us very well and providing the necessary help, he sent us to Ali Mirza's house. The next day, after delivering Yusuf Ağa's letter, I went with the men they provided to Başköy for help and to the house of Hacı Cafer's son Mehmed from Çobankereli.