Mahmud Barzanji revolts

Mahmud Barzanji revolts
Part of the Iraqi–Kurdish conflict

Mahmud Barzanji as Kurdish warlord (prior to 1919)
DateMay–June 1919; November 1922 – July 1924
Location
Result

Iraqi Victory

Territorial
changes
Kingdom of Kurdistan reconquered by the British
Belligerents

Iraq Mandatory Iraq
United Kingdom RAF Iraq Command

Assyrian people Assyrian levies

Kurdish state

  • Barzinja tenantry and tribesmen
  • Hamavand tribe
  • Sections of the Jaf, Jabbari, Sheykh Bizayni and Shuan tribes

Kingdom of Kurdistan

  • Kurdish National Army
Commanders and leaders
Iraq Faisal I Mahmud Barzanji  Surrendered
Strength
United Kingdom Two British brigades 500

Mahmud Barzanji revolts were a series of armed uprisings by Kurdish Sheykh Mahmud Barzanji against the Iraqi authority in newly conquered British Mesopotamia and later the British Mandate in Iraq. Following his first insurrection in May 1919, Sheykh Mahmud was imprisoned and eventually exiled to India for a one-year period. When returning, he was once again appointed a governor, but shortly revolted again declaring himself as the ruler of the Kingdom of Kurdistan. The Kingdom of Kurdistan lasted from September 1922 – July 1924.[1] With British forces greatly exceeding his in ammunition and training, the defeat finally subdued the region to central British Iraqi rule in 1924. Sheykh Mahmud retreated into mountains, and eventually reached terms with the independent Kingdom of Iraq in 1932, over his return from the underground. Sheykh Mahmud revolts are considered the first chapter of the modern Iraqi–Kurdish conflict.

After the conflict the king of Kurdistan mainly blamed Assyrians for his downfall

  1. ^ Prince, James M. (January 1993). "A Kurdish State in Iraq?". Current History. 92 (570): [page needed].